Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-05-05
COUNTRY STORMSWEpT
Most Destructive And Wide
Spread Storm in Years
If Ever.
Millions OF Property, Many Lives
And Whole Towns are Destroyed
In its Path and Sweep
And The End Is Not Yet

Atlanta, Ga, April 30.-An epidem-
ic of cyclones and tornadoes the like
of which have not been known fol
years, swept through the South las
night and all today, leaving in theil
wake hundreds of dead and mangleG
bodies, and the dismantled wrecks O.
property worth many millions.
An exact list of the dead and al
accurate 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 descriptions of whole towns
and villages completely wiped out.
The storm wave seems to have had
it's origin in the North and swept
from the Lake region south in irregu-
lar fashion, now moderating it's force
as though spent, now growing more
turbulent and angry.
The state of Tennessee was an es-
pecially heavy sufferer. At nine
O'Clock tonight careful estimates in
dicate that at least fifty people were
killed in that state alone, while the
loss in dollars and cents will not fall
short of a million. At Franklin and
in Hillsboro, there was loss of life.
The latter town is said to be practi-
cally destroyed, while at Centerville
and adjoining villages the damage is
reported very heavy both in lives and
property. Near Pulaski, in Giles
county, the death list reaches II and
many are injured.
In the vicinity of Chattanooga the
storm was felt at it's worst. AS in
other parts of the state, the tele-
phone and telegraph wires were
blown down and the movement of
trains was greatly hampered. The
hurricane followed the Cumberland
valley, wrecking small towns and de-
stroying farmhouses.
At Ebenezer, eighteen homes were
blown down
AL Knoxville the greatest damage
was from interference with COM
nierce.
At CharlestoWn the storm swerved
. to the Hiawassee river from the Ten
nessee valley, destroying much prop
erty. AT Fayetteville three are known
to nave perished.
At Cuba many houses were blown
edown and at Gilestown not even a
shed was left standing. No fatalities
were reported from either place, but
inforKaation 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 dam
tagged was very heavy. From neigh
boring towns come tales of men, Wom-
zen and children killed and homes
wrecked The tornado swept over in
to Arkansas and killed eight persons,
near Mammoth Springs, besides
wrecking a score of buildings. Other
points in Arkansas report heavy loss.
Atlanta and most OF Georgia escap-
ed with only slight property loss dur
ing the blow. But two young people,
a brother and sister, William and
Pearl Withras lost their lives here
this afternoon by the capsizing of a i
roWboat during a sudden squall.
Striking Alabama and headed in al
southeasterly direction. the hurricane
continued upon it's course of destruc-l
tion tonight. Huntsville sends word
of heavy loss of property with prob
ably several lives sacrificed near theI
Tennessee line.
At Danville, in Morgan county, Ala
bama, the storm struck with terrific
force.
At Hartsell at least one is dead and
many hurt, while the indefinite in
formation coming now indicates that
the list will grow. The storm is still
raging and seems to be travelling al
most directly southeast.
Soon after dark tonight the storm
winds began shooting across the rail,
telegraph and telephone lines con-
meeting Atlanta with Chattanooga and
Knoxville and wire communication,
which had been kept up with great
difficulty during the afternoon, ceased
entirely.