The star-progress., 1921-04-13
STORM And FROST
DOES MUCH DAMAGE
TO FARM INTERESTS
Cotton Crop Washed Out by
Big Flood and Cold Bites
Vegetation
WIND CAUSE HAVOC IN
NEIGHBORING PARISH
Frail Structures Levelled
About Vile Platte and Oil
Derrick Destroyed

The storm of last Thursday night,
whcih brought along with the wind
terrific cloudburst, wrought consid-
cradle damage to farming interests
throughout this section of the state,
and from reports It appears that the
damge was especially severe N
Evangeline parish, particularly in and
around Vile Platte, eighteen miles
northwest Of opelousas.
A great portion Of the cotton crop
was totally destroyed by the flood and
will have to be replanted. Cotton
that had just been planted was wash
ed out of the ground and the cotton
that was already up and had been
workeded was also washed out by the
roots and went floating on the current.
Corn was badly bent by the high wind
but suffered little comparative damage,
according TO the reports of some far
mers. The sun has Strengthened the
plants up. and little serious future
effect isF expected in working the
crop.
The wind reached hurricane pro-
potions in some sections, and over IN
the adjoining parish Of Evangeline,
much destruction is reported. In and
around Vile Platte, according to d
news item in the last Saturdays is
sue of the Gazette, a number of frail
frame structures, and some fences
and small outbuildings went over
under the tremendous blast of old
Boreas. Gardens were ruined and
will have to be replan.ed. Old resi-
dents, continued the Gazette, stated
that the electrical display exceeded
anything they had ever witnessed,
and many of the old timid ones were
frightened by the vivid flashing of
lightning and the repeated clapp:ng
of thunder that lasted for some time
while the storm was raging.
The derrick erected by the Ameri-
can Oil and Refining company at its
location near the Village Of Chataig-
nier was blown completely over and
practically destroyed. 1t will be neces.
sary to rebuild the derrick before the
work of drilling for the oil en- be start
ed. Drilling was to have been start
ed this week but unless some fast
work is done in connection with the
rebuilding Of the derrick that now
seems impossible.
Dame Nature, not content with the
disastrous flood and windsto-m and AZ
the damage inflicted on the farming
interests thereby, sent, Monday morn
ing. a slight frost to further damage
the tender plants that escaped tbs
havoc wroght by the water and wind
The cotton that escaped the watel
went up under the bite of the cold
and this last visitation practically in
sures the replanting of the entire cot
ton crop of this portion Of the state
One farmer not viewing thing
through dark glsses, smillingly sait
that perhaps, after all, it might prove
a blessing in disguise, in that the far
mers would be compelled TO re
duce their acreage Of cotton owing t.
the time of the season and the fac
that late cotton is always damage'
more or less by the invasion OF tn
weevils. Many, he thought, woult
hesitate about planting large acre
age to cotton now because Of fear tina
the weevils would clean up thing.
this summer and make al land plant
ed TO cotton productive Of small re
turns for the amount of labor expend
ed on it.