Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-04-30
AWFUL DEATH ROLL
IN TORNADO'S PATH
More Than us Killed and 400
Injured in Alabama, Missis=
sippi and Louisiana.
MANY TOWNS ALE DESTROYED
Property Damage Will Run Into Large
Figures-Mest OF Those Killed
We're Negroes.

Atlanta, Ca, April 26-Reports up
to midnight indicate that 225 persons
were killed and about 400 injured in
storms of great violence which passed
over sections of Louisiana, Mississippi
pi and Alabama yesterday. Several
towns were almost swept away and
the property damage was run into
large figures. Most of those killed
were negroes, whose cabins were
swept way like SO much paper.
Sixty-two Negroes Killed.
Natchez, Miss. reports that of six
ty-four persons killed in that section
only two were white.
Late reports from Amite City, a
small town in Southeastern Louisiana,
says that the town was almost entire
~ destroyed and the estimates place
the number killed at between twenty
five and fifty, while at least seventy
five were injured.
At McLain, Miss, eight are reported
to have been killed; at Vidalia, La,
one white woman and six negroes are
dead; at Quitman Landing eleven ne
grCe5 were killed.
Wires Are Down.
At Purvis Landing, Miss, three
whites and nine negroes were victims
of the storm, and reports from one
to five deaths came from many towns
scattered over the stormswept area.
New Orleans and Mobile were cut
OFF from wire communication with the
outside world for several hours last
night, and the telegraph companies re-
port wires down in all directions. It
is difficult to estimate the loss of life
or the extent of the destruction of
property, for there is little or no COM
munication with the points where the
wind and rain did its greatest damage
Many Towns Wrecked
In Louisiana it is estimated that
score o. small towns were destroyed
Or partially wrecked. They include
Amite City, Arcardia and Independ-
ence. Belle Grove, Melton, Lorman,
Pine Ridge, Quitman Landing, Fair
childs Creek, Purvis and Lumberton.
Miss, are reported seriously damaged
by the storm.
In Alabama Dora was the chief suf-
ferer This town is also known as
Bergen. Four or more persons were
killed. Fifty persons at the lowest es-
innate were injured.
At Bergen cars were blown from he
railroad tracks and considerable other
property was destroyed.
Much Property Destroyed.
Reports also say that the storDl
struck Albertville, Ala. and destroy
nearly the entire northern portion of
the town. A cotton mill was blown
down, the storm ranging northwHrG,
doing much destruction to life and
property. An unconfirmed report from
this section gives the death list as
from thirty to thirty-fve, with scores
of persons injured. A train was sent
from Birmingham last night, carrying
physicians and squad of state mill
tiament to the district. Aid is also
pouring in from all other directions.
From Meridian. Miss, comes Il 1e-
port that Mrs. John Minniece and her
child we're killed outright and John
Minniece was seriously injured, wnlie
number of other persons were hurt,
and there was considerable destcuc
ton of property
Sixty-four Dead in Louisiana.
Richland and Lamourie, La, were
struck by the storm and nearly a fifth
of their population injured.
Winchester, Miss, a small town, is
reported wiped out, though only two
persous are known to have been kill
ed
Natchez, Miss, reports sixiy-four
are known to be dead in the noctharn
Louisiana storm. Hundreds of plants-
tons cabins are reported destroyed
in this section.
Mobile reported nine dead in Hat
tiesburg, Miss, but this has not BEEN
confirmed.
s. "RURN AND kILlHIS CREED.