The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-05-12
WROUGHT HAVOC At MARLBORO
DAMAGE is WORSE THAN AT
FIRST REPORTED.
-Four Dead and Others Expected to
Dfe-Many Houses Blown Down
and Many Left HOmelcss-Rclief
Association Formed to Aid Needy.

OF the suffering and destruction add
to the horror Of the storm which
swept Marlboro Friday. The four
deaths reported include all who have
died at this time, but little hope is
had for the recovery Of several others.
The first serious damage done by
the storm was on Crooked creek, east
of the Great Pee Dee river, on J.. X.
Matheson's Egypt plantation, about
seven miles west of Bennettsville. His
residence was wrecked, the residence
OF his o%verseer, Wesley Tart, destroy
ed, and his two children, Miss Inez
Tart and Carter Tart, were killed,
and other members Of the family
painfully injured. New tobacco barns
were destroyed and the flood gates on
the mill pond were blown out, in
ficting heavy financial loss. Moving
eastward the storm passed over Saw
Mill church and T. E. McCall's Hen
agan' plantation, touching a body of
timber on Crooked creek and wiring
ing the trees off about Is or 20 feet
from the ground, leaving the stumps
standing and throwing the tops and
branches in every direction.
1t destroyed a chapel, or church,
and then struck with full force T.. E.
McCalrs Stewart plantation" de-
stroying IA houses, including his barn,
gin and ove%rseer's home. Here tho
overseer, Mr.. Taylor, and his family
marvelously escaped death, several
members of the family, including Mr..
Taylor, being painfully injured. One
negro woman whose house was blown
down was bruised and so seriously in
Jured that the physician has no hopes
Of her recovery. Several houses on c.
s. McCalps "Appin" plantation were
destroyed.
n storm then continued ND
Crooked creek to c. E. Breeden's
plantation, where several tenant
houses were destroyed and one horse
killed, and two tenant houses on the
adjoining plantation Of ]. H. Lewis
were destroyed. Then the storm
passed over Bennettsville and struck
the plantation Of j. o. Breeder and
r. K. Breeden, where several houses
were destroyed, including the old
Weatherly home.
Just beyond this is the county home
and both buildings. which were erect
ed a few years ago and which were
a source Of some pride to the county,
were completely destroyed. One Of
the inmates, a negro man, was killed
and IL were painfully injured. Two
or three houses on Capt. p. l..
B~reeden's place adjoining the county
farm were destroyed. the depot at
B~reeden's siding was demolished and
several houses. including the gin and
barn on the plantations Of r. K.
Breeder and Holden Lilies. Consid-
cradle damage was done to the houses
ON the old Frank Breeder planta-
ton now owned by r.. X. Breeden.
several houses were destroyed on the
Green plantation and all of the hous-
es on Tom Huckabee's place except
his dwelling were demolished, hi,
dwelling being badly damaged.
Pritchard Adams suffered heavy loss
ny destruction of tenant houses and
injury to his dwelling. One tenant
house on the Smith Newton planta~
ton was destroyed, and the dwell
Ing and several tenant houses were
destroyed on the plantation of Mrs.
sylvester Adams. Striking the plan
tation of M. w. Adams several ten,
ant houses were blown down. This
Is not far from the North Carolina
line.
The loss and damage to timber is
considerable.
AS soon as possible after the storm,
the women Of Bennettsville made a
rapid canvass of the town for cloth
ing and relief articles. The inmates
OF the county farm have been brought
10 Bennettsville and temporary ar.
engagements have been made for them.
yesterday morning a relief associa-
tion was formed with an office on
Main street, and an organized effort
is In operation for the purpose of in
telligently giving what assistance is
possible. The death, by suffering AID
loss Is sad, but possibly the most pa,
thetlc and pitiablc scene was that of
the humble negro tenants all during
the afternoon. and even while the
heaVy rain was falling, searching
the wreck of hat which was
q snort time before home" looking.
as they said. for their things"