The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-01

Mammoth Springs (vicinity)-Eieht.
 Atlanta, April S0.-An epidemic of cy- clones and tornadoes, the like of which have not been known for years swept through the south last night and all to- day, leaving in their wake hundreds of dead and mangied bodies and the dis mantled wrecks of property worth many millions.
 An exact list of the dead and an ac- curate estimate of the monetary loss may not be compiled for days, but from all along the path of the storm come tales of fearful loss of life and desorip- tions of whole towns and villages com pletely wiped out.
 The storm wave seems to have had it's origin in the north and swept from the lake region south in irregular fashion, now moderating it's force as though spent, now growing more turbulent and angry
 The state of Tennessee was an especially heavy sufferer. At o'clock tonight care full estimates indicate that at least 50 people were killed in the Volunteer state alone, while the loss in dollars and cents will not fall short of $1, 100000. At Frank lin and in Hillsboro there was loss of life. The latter town Is said to be prac- tically destroyed while at Centrevlle and adjoining villages the damage is reported very heavy, both in lives and property Near Pulaski, In Giles county, the death list reaches 12 and many are injured. In the vicinity of Chattanooga the storm was felt at its worst. As in other parts of the state, the telephone and telegraph wires were blown down and the movement of trains was greatly hampered. The hurricane followed the Cumberland valley, wrecking small towns and destroying farm houses. At Ebenezer IS houses were blown down. At Knoxville the greatest damage was from interference with com merce. At Charleston the storm swerved see valley, destroying much property. At Fayetteville three are known to have per ished. At Cuba many houses were blown down and at Gilestown not even a shed was left standing. No fatalities were re- ported from either Rlace, but information is very meagre.
 Memphis reports heavy loss from towns within a radius of 100 miles in three states. At Horn Lake, Miss, half a dozen lives were lost and the property damage was very heavy. From neighbor- ing towns come tales of men, women and children killed and homes wrecked.
 The tornado swept over into Arkansas and killed eight near Mammoth Springs, besides wrecking score of buildings 9th CT points in Arkansas report heavy loss.
 Atlanta and most of Georgia escaped with only slight property loss during the blow. But two young people. q brother and sister, lost their lives this afternoon during a sudden squall.
 Soon after dark tonight the storm be- gan shooting across the rail, telegraph and telephone lines connecting Atlanta with Chattanooga and Knoxville, and wire communication, which had been kept up with great difficulty during the after noon, ceased entirely.
 The Western and Atlantic road offices here reported that south of Chattanooga, near Emerson, Ga, several big trees were blown across the railroad right of way, tearing down wires and holding up five trains.
 Scores of telegraph wires suddenly were lost in the vicinity of Rome, Ga, about dark, indicating that the storm was sweeping through that section.