The Caucasian., 1912-02-22
0From the Weekly Caueasian).

,oulhwest Tuesday afternoon al
,hout o'clock was the most deS-
ruetive in the history OF storm dis
,sters in Shreveport.
In the years gone there have been
experienced storms which were
more or less severe, when great
trees were rooted bodily, when fen
res were leyeled and houses OF slim
were overthrown, but, ex-
cepting the disaster experienced at
Gillian. the aggregate in the loss OF
life. of the number injured and OF
property destroyed on Tuesday al
terneon is without parallel In TINS
section of the State.
The tornado, as usual, was pre-
eeeded by high temperature, dark
and threatening clouds, with thun-
der and lightning, accompanied with
rain. which came in torrents. Ii
swept in its path, whirling at ve-
locity of eighty TO 100 miles an hour,
leaping from the ground towards the
sky and whenever it struck an OBJ
stacle in its eircumscribed path,
such obstacle, be it tree or fence or
house. was wrecked i'm the twinkiing
of the eye. The tornado's course
was swift and of short duration, lin,
|iied to few minutes but then how
great and appalling is the destruc-
|tion.
The approach of the tornado was
witnessed by hundreds of people.
The first sweep of the tornado was
noticed at the outskirts of the city,
then it leaped onward and as ii came
|earthward it struck the house of A.
|J. Mannheim, short distance from
the Centenary College, leaving un-
seathed the residences near by. In
Ian instant the house was wrecked
|and the debris scattered in every di-
Erection and the lifeless body OF Mr..
IManheim's baby was found near the
Ieollege. In its leaping from Bow
Iman's Lane to Gladstone the
tornado crossed over the river
Into Bossier where it wrought con-
siderable havoc TO individuals, as
well as to property on the Fullilove
plantation.
Gladstone was partly wrecked and
Freewater was left with only a few
houses standing.
II has been estimated, with reas-
enable accuracy that over fifty hou-
ses have been demolished in the
lpath of the storm and in some in
stances not yestige OF their con-
ltents can be found.
As in such disasters there were
tnotable escapes and incidents, es-
lpecially in the helping Of the unfor-
ltunates.
The mayor has appealed for con-
Itributions with which to assist the
sufferers who have lost all theil
possessions and are actually desti-
Itute. All such contributions may bt
sent to the mayor at the City Hall
The Dead
Infant child of A. j. Mannheim
florist.
Sallie Whitaker, aged negress
Freewater.
Virginia Williams, negro woman
blown into small bayou. Freewater
Margaret Isaacs, aged negress
iFreewater.
Sarah Gardner. negress, killee
near st. Vincent Convent. Fairfield
Road.
Two negroes on j. P. Fullilove
lplace. Bossier Parish.
Frank MCGOWAN, negro. on Smith
plantation at Abner. ten miles from
this city.
| Missing
Frances Robinson, old blind ne
gress; missing from Freewater
Thought 10 be dead.
Injured
| Mrs. Miller, nurse at Mannheim
home. seriously shocked, cut Oh
head and face, may result fatally
Is at Sehumpert Sanitarium.
A. j. Mannheim, florist, injured
when his home was wrecked. Hae
a narrow escape.
H. Z. Ratcliff, real estate. struck
lby piece OF wreckage at FreewateI
and rendered unconscious, is i'm
lproving.
James NJ. Cook. blacksmith, hur
about body and limbs. thought ser.
|seus.
Mrs. James NJ. Cook bruised T..
lWreckage when her home wa.
wrecked at Freewater.
Will Simon. struck in heal with
Ipiece Of wreckaee while fleeing.
Will Depree. Freewater, serieusl,
| injured.
Rudy Beasley, colored, Freewascr;
blown from her house. feeovcre.
from mudhole.
~ :. ~ = NJ <Is.x.