The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-13


 The five denominational col Alleges located at Talladega were Xlnot damaged, being out of the bath of the storm.
 Talladega was completely cut off from the outside world until ! XI11 o'clock yesterday morning ! when the telephone wires to Montgomery were put into com ! mission. hlladega. May 12.-(Special. )--What is lhably the worst calamity that has h befallen the city of Talladega, coun- seat of Talladega county, occurred e Saturday night at 8 o'clock when a hone swept through the business dis No with terrific force, causing an esti- ed damage of approximately s165.ooo. X To lives were lost. which is considered aculous as the streets were crowded lh the Saturday night shoppers when giant "twister'' swooped down on town sending people scurrying to er
 he storm struck the city on the south
 
 territory mile long and half mile lwidth. It swept through the heart he business district, doing heavy dan- to the electric light plant and the rthouse..
 The Damage
 he estimated damage done by the cy- sa is Ss5,ooo- distributed as follows: apAinR PoNer i5eselop aent cornps ay. :e traagformers. new suilding badly lagsd and other equipsnent out of com Sion, svs0ag
 amage to telephone exchange. wires equipment, s15.o0o.
 alf of business houses unroofed more less. Practically every store in the mess district suffered some damage. imated total damage, $25,0oo. hlladega county courthouse, giant ola blown down, damaging the roof, F massive pillars shattered and other iries, $10,000.
 Twenty-Five negro cottages, two negro lie halls, s11O00.
 alladega Machine and Foundry com ". new plant wrecked, s1o,O00. wo negro churches, 5000.
 ire station, $1000.
 first Baptist church. $10o0
 hland City cotton mill. stock blown Tn, west wall ripped up and roof badly naged $10,000.
 alladega cotton factory, west wall and f, $2500.
 ld building of Alabama SynodicaI col E, vacated Saturday morning for the E building. s2500. Ianters' Chemical and oil company, mill, gin and cordage mill damaged b. otal estimated damage, s1s5.ooo. one of the parties who had property 'aged carried any tornado insurance.
 Schools Unharmed
 he state schools located in the city -e undamaged by the storm, as they e out of it's direct path. The schools ch escaped were:
 he state school for the deaf, the state ool for the blind, Alabama Synodical ege and Talladega college. Two large TO colleges were also unharmed. he report this morning that the ools were demolished brought a great ny anxious parents to Talladega the first train from every direction. ,usands of visitors were today in Tal- ega and were much relieved to find ir fears groundless.
 he most anxiety was caused by the inous silence which hung over the cken city. It was not until Il o'clock morning that any communication was ablished with the outside world and en the telegraph wires were opened office was swamped with messages inquiry and reassurance. The majority the visitors left tonight for Birming- n, Montgomery and northern parts. cr -xxt 1 Talladega citizens to get in touch h Birmingham and Montgomery after storm but all attempts were ih vain. Southern trains coming into Talla- .a today were Jagged from Mumford e. owing to the lack of wires with ich to operate trains.
 Came Without Warning he fearful tornado swept down on the le city of Taladega, nestled between protecting hills. all unsuspecting. It been hot day with .he wind blow steadily from the south. The sky anne overcast as darkness approached d the wind was hushed. There was sultry. oppressive silence for perhaps minutes, when, without warning, the nado swept down on the southern part the town.
 he first buildings to suffer were the nan and Zion Negro Baptlst churches, the twinkling of an eye both buildings TO reduced to a mass of rubbish, part which was sucked into the vortex of storm and carried whirling along to further damage to windows and wires. building next in the path of the rm was the Highland City cotton mill. tapping itself around the tall stack tornado hurled it to the ground. fter breaking windows. tearing up bfs. blowing horses and drays across street. spinning men cltnging to posts md and round, the center of the dis bance passed up North street into the idence section of the city. While no at amount of damage was done here. greatest fright was experienced on cunt of the falling of giant trees.
 North Street Wrecked -ortb etreet here corresponds to High 'd avenue In Birmingham and before storm 1t was f''ni thoroush- e. Today it eet was lined tH
 Eday Today ff
 css the street, efif a''