Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-02-11
Wind LAYS
BARE PATH
NILE VIDE
AT OCONEF
Only 2 White Persons
Slain; School House
Wrecked, Is Scattered
for Miles; Doctors Are
Rushed to the Scene
of Devastation in South

Oconee, Ca, Feb. 10.-A
tornado that struck the Card
ner settlement, one mile from
here shortly after noon Thurs
day, brought death to two white
persons and nearly 80 negroes,
and serious injury to five white
persons and more than q score
of negroes.
A stretch of Land extending almost
to Toomsboro. nearly five miles long
and about half mile wide, is as barren
as prairie Thursday night, not q
building CT tree being left standing.
Youth Is Dscapitatsd.
Among the dead is BENJAMIN Orr.
IA. who was decapitated. The other
white person who met death was the"
3-year old daughter Of E. L. Minor,
manager of a cOmmissary Ut the plant
of the Cleveland -Oconee Lumber COM
pany.
Eighty-two children and three teach.
ers were in school building ON the
edge of the Gardner settlement when
the tornado struck. The building was
twisted to pieces and the fragmento
scattered for miles. Children wero
picked up by the wind and carried for
some distance, but it was announced
that only one was seriously bruised
Settlement Ra1ed.
Approximately 40 houses were blown
down in the Gardner settlement. Tho
commissary at the lumber plant was
reduced to kindling wood. Orr and four
negroes meeting death there.
The tornado spent its force locally
Immediately beyond the plant Of the
lumber company, in the settlement Of
forty houses and four stores. Most
These negro houses and stores faced
the tracks of the Central Of Georria
railroad. In the rear Of the honses
was an open field. extending for nearly
a mile from the Oconee station to the
lumber mill. It was into this deld
that men. women and children were
carried to their death from their seats
at dinner tables.
Aid Rushed to vlceI0s.
Ten minutes after the tornado had
wiped out the Gardner settlement q
freight train, running from Savannah
to Macon, arrived on the scene. The
conductor Immediately ordered the To-
comotive detached from the train and
with the crew. fastened to Tennille,
eleven miles away, for aid.
Coaches were commandeered from
the Wrightsville & Tennille railroad
and four doctors and q relief party
were brought here.
Doctors found one negro boy with
a board driven into his forehead. They
removed the board and gave temporary
aid. It is believed he viii Hive. The
,01v of fh roo Voc n.n1A ~A>~A a~A--A
was found at the roots of tree, the
top of which had been twisted off. The
.hild's head had been crushed in, hav-
ng been carried head foremost from
IS home against the tree.
Negroes Found Ia Trees.
The bodies of several small negroes
we're found In trees, out Of the path
II the tornado, suspended on the Gnbs
" their clothing.
Many of the injured are being cared
or in nearby towns and word waa
'eceived from Atlanta that nurses With
'ood and medical supplies are being
'ent here.
The tornado developed during per-
cd Of heavy rains throughout this en-
ire section. All rivers are at flood
stage and stu rising, and brief ad-
ices from Thompson, Thursday niRht
'aid that there had been I cloudburst
here
Descends At Macou.
After striking here the tornado con-
inued toward Augusta, according to
'eports. and was said to have de-
'cended again between Macon and
Jamak.
The negroes were employees Of the
Oconee Lumber company.
rhe storm struck during the noon hour
vhen scores Of the employees had gone
O their homes.
While the winds fury centered about
he plant Of tho Cleveland Oconee
ompany, the main building lust conn
'leted few weeks ego, was practi-
ally unharmed. One of the old build !
ngs was wrecked and 80 dweIlines.
omes Of negro employees, wexo de.
aolished. About two million leee az
lmber stacked In the yards ~ Nv
led to the ground. A rsHsf uSin
ook the injured TO SandArssills M
'ennille.