The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-04-18
MANY ARE KILLED AND INJURED BY
TERRIFIC STORM THAT SWEEPS SOUTH
PROPERTY LOSS WIND AND RAIN AMOUNT TO MILLIONS
Southern STATES SWEPT BY SToRads-WlRE CoMMo
N,cA1,oN NOT YET ESTABLISHED WITH MANY SEC
T,oNs-HUNDREDS OF HOMES DEMOLISHED AND
ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE WASHED AWAY

Memphis, Tenn, April 17.-That
the death toll from tornadoes and
heavy rain storms which swept over
six Southern states late Friday ana
Saturday will reach 100 was indicated
hv reports from isolated sections to-
night while the loss to property and
,erops will run into the millions. The
known dead tonight total 81.
Many of the storm swept sections
are still shut off from wire communi-
cation and reports of additional cas-
ualties are slowly coming in from
relief parties.
Torrential rains which followed the
wind in all the states hit by lorna
does have delayed relief work and
hindered the compiling, of accurate
lists of casualties.
In Arkansas where the greatest
havoc was wrought, the Red Cross
"a at work in Hampstead and Miller
counties, where hundreds Of families
are homeless. Tents have been fur
nished by the national guard and
Blankets are being rushed to the sui
ferers. -
The extent of property loss can not
be determined for days. In Arkansas
on many plantations in Miller and
Hempstead counties, a rich farming
section, practically every building
was destroyed. Estimates of the prop
erty loss in these two counties TO-
night exceeded $2,000,00o. -
Heavy property loss in Tennessee
is reported at Newport, Lynnville and
Connersville. In Shelby county alone
the county commissioners tonight es-
timated the loss in roads and bridges
was $4,000. ",
In Alabama property loss in Bir-
raingham is estimated at 100000
with ten injured. Heavy rains and
high winds in several parts of North
Alabama, also are reported to have
caused heavy property and crop loss.
In Georgia, where heavy wind
and rain storm struck Rome, the
property loss will exceed 100000 it
is reported.
Birmingham, April 16.-Thirteen
are known dead, more than a score
hurt seriously, half hundred farm
houses destroyed and orchards, tele-
phone wires and forest trees razed
by a tornado that visited the north
western, eastern and central por-
tions of Alabama this morning. The
property damage will total $780,
900.
Ralph, settlement in the south
western part Of Tuscaloosa county,
was the hardest hit. Four are dead
there, a score injured, and the town
virtually demolished. Thirty, build
ings in the community are a total
wreck. The dead include Mrs. David
Barton, an 1S months old baby and
two negroes.
In Colburt county, northeast
corner of the state, the storm swept
over q vast area, killing five. At
Cave Springs, a small settlement
near TuScumbia, in that county, Bob
Mullins, his wife, Temple Davis and
two unidentified men all negroes,
are dead. Haf a score injured and
hundreds narrowly escaped serious
hurt. H.. .,,G1......,.
jefferson county in which is To-
Gated Birmingham, paid enormous
toll in property loss, but there were
no fatalities. The storm at this point
demolished houses, electric and tele-
phone and telegraph poles and wires
outhouses and other buildings.
The storm hit Birmingham at a
velocity of 60 miles an hour.
- Memphis, April 16.-Seventy-fve
persons dead, several hundred in
jured and property damages roughly
estimated in the millions made the
toll of a series of tornadoes which
broke late yesterday in northeast
Texas and swept eastward today
o,,or uantiona of five states into