The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-13
MIRACLE OF PRAYER
ENACTED At DOTHANA

pothan. Ala. jaH ia.--What "A
looked upon as a miracle Of prayer
twas enacted during the storm which,
passed over this section OF Alabama
last night. leaving dcstruatton m m
path. and from which the people AZ
slowly recovering, when the dsAdtE
gale changed it's course at PleAeeM
| Plains schoolhouse. near Webb, Ala
while Miss FORESTER, teacher ut ths
lschool, prayed for the wind to turn
from its course,
Miss Forester gives a graphic aG
count of the horrors of the cyclone-
Hearing a great noise, she says Aise
Thought 1t was an explosion. Sis
/ went at once to the door OF the school
house and opened it, 1t was then that
she realized that the school was di-
rectly In the path of the cyclone. Tho
clouds were OF a greenish unge AMI
| the power of the devastating wfnde
! was. clearly marked along the path
| OF the storm.
Prayed for Aid.
| Huge pines In the path of the wind
were twisted off like matches Miss
Forester saw that the school building
was directly in the course OF the winds
and instead OF dismissing school, sfIv
hands stretched upward, and prayed
for the storm to turn its course. ~
she prayed the wind-funnel snatchen
/ gigantic oak by the roots. then
swe we'd to the right, changing ~
! course and leaving the school ana
children unharmer.
| One-haIf mile from Miss Forres-
I ter's schoolhouse her brother, u IA.
Forester, lives. The storm DESTROYED
his home completely, killing Mrs. jim
weeks, guest in the home. and irl@
Turing seriously their oldest boy. wh0
Vas picked up later near a barn thin
ty yards away, having been blown
from his living room. Other memoAT3
of the family received minor injuries
but Mrs. Forester, remembering tha8
there Is less danger in the roon4 ArsE
struck by gale, ran to the front a.
F., the house with her small children ~
although the wind blew down IT,
house about her, she and her children
remained unharmed.
Home Completely DESTROYED.
AT Cowarts. the home OF DR.. RyaI
was completely destroyed. Al ~
gale approached DIR. Ryals thought Ii
was the roaring of a train. His wt1&
and baby ran out and kneit beside ~
small chickenhouse, which II pr@H
ably all that saved their lives, ~ nlk
d plank Of the large two-story bulk
| ing was left standing. When he So
his wife and baby kneeling bestde ~
small chtckenhouse DIR. Ryals ran TT
| their side. and after the house ws
blown away he chung to his wife ax4
| baby and the three were blown eVxa
! erai feet. but were unhurt.
The Cowarts schoolhouse, where
! the pupils were assembled. wAa to-
| tally destroyed. j. w. Kitchinx
! principal Of the school, w1s intufS4
| internally and suffered broken -
He died soon after the wind pa1oe%
over the spot. His only child. o1x1
] OF elevSn years Of age. was tnntauftE
I Killed. Four other children were XII
ed on the spot
Board Through Her Heart.
Marion PARKER was found dead vii
/ a board through her heart AnofhGsF
xfrl was found with big pI1nff
| plunged through her body.
| Miss Anna May Powers. OF sM6l y
gomery. was . tsaeher In TIE u0l1@
At CowArts. The children 6ooo
4 frightened and rushed toward q
door. the floor giving way. carFHtq4s
human freight downward. The I'M
were blown down. leaving MI -
ers and the children who WeT0 &11
ling about her with only ~ hEt11
! In the next room 0vA Woro ktl1GG
lnv6 died slater. several ef ~ e.
.dren IN Miss poWeras r0om o1u3
! their books ana waHen re0pUS1
sSfll ciiugfng IL than, Il ia
/ One house Waa 01oUn A1<r:
Inn tn din1N1 z