100 Years Ago – April 23, 1920
DOZEN DEATHS AND MANY INJURED IN TUESDAY MORNING TORNADO; 35 HOMES DESTROYED: The most disastrous storm this county has suffered in years. Seven Killed In One Family Near Claytown. Last Tuesday the 20th will evidently go down in history as the day of storms in the southern States especially in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. The day opened up blustery and stormy, and many people began looking for a cyclone in this section at an early hour, and were not surprised when news began to arrive at 10 o’clock that the southern portion of our county had been greatly torn up by a storm, and many people had been killed, between 8 and 9 o’clock.
It developed that a tornado had entered this county out of Neshoba county about Lake Burnside going in a northeasterly direction and passing into Noxubee county near Mashulaville on our east, leaving death and destruction in its wake. It is impossible for us to give an accurate account of the deaths in our county at this time, but from all that can be learned there were nine killed outright and possibly eleven, and 35 homes absolutely destroyed.
Dr. Montgomery, who went to the scene just south of Claytown, which is 12 miles south of Louisville, reports the following killed and the number of homes destroyed in a radius of two and a half miles: Killed: Tom Roberson and wife, his daughter, Mrs. Crockell and her husband and three children in one home, and two at Ervin Reed’s home. Wounded but not thought to be serious: Marion Miles, Doo Clark, Carlis Palmer, 3 of Willard Garrett’s family. Homes destroyed at this point besides those of the dead and wounded: Charner Barnes, Lee Chadwick, Jim Sanders, Allen Reed, Ervin Rives, Marion Miles, Glenn Womble, Mrs. Teck Chadwick, Doo Clark, Alford Arrington. Mr. Monch McAdory and little son, who were in the field, were badly wounded just as the storm entered our county.
Passing on east and crossing Nanawaya creek, a number of homes were destroyed and many wounded, but none killed outright. A number of homes of the black neighbors were destroyed at this point, and the next white settlement struck, as best we can get it, was the home of Mr. Tom Foster, which was absolutely destroyed, but none of the family seriously injured, save his daughter, who it is thought will recover. In this section much livestock seems to have suffered and the homes of a Mr. Reed, Mr. Haggard, Mr. Sterling Sullivan, Joe Sullivan, and others whom we are unable to get the names of. Some of the people here were wounded, but none thought to be seriously. The store building and residence of Mr. Jim Eichelberger and Miss Willie Eichelberger were destroyed as the storm left our county.
The usual miraculous happenings of a storm occurred all along its route. Homes were torn all to splinters in many instances everything inside and outside of a home was swept entirely out of sight and no one injured. The bark on the trees was blown off until they were white in many instances, and in some of the fields the earth was moved six or eight inches deep in places.
A mule colt was found east of Nannawaya creek with one or two legs torn off and parts of its body sticking to the timbers. Huge pine trees were found stripped of every twig and having been blown long distances from where they were uprooted or broken off. In fact, people who have visited the scene of destruction say they have never read of such havoc.
A committee from the Red Cross was sent to the storm swept section yesterday to make an investigation of damage and needs. A relief fund is being raised by public subscription, a nice sum already having been subscribed, but nothing like what is needed and everyone throughout the county who escaped this destruction should donate liberally to it.
As of Thursday night, the committee composed of Messrs. C. C. McNeel, G. W. E. Bennett, Claude Fair, and W. C. Hight, who visited every destroyed home today on an inspection trip, returned just as we go to press, and their report bears out the above account of the storm. They learned that Mr. Doug Clark and the little McAdory boy reported wounded above died today.
100 Years Ago – April 23, 1920
LOUISVILLE: Dr. Olyn Parkes left Tuesday for Philadelphia, where he will resume his work. - Mrs. Goodnight of Kentucky, who spent a few days with her friends Mr. and Mrs. Milton Woodward, returned to her home Monday. - Mr. and Mrs. Isador Gordon left this week for Merigold, Miss, where Mr. Gordon will engage in the mercantile business. - Frank Atkinson of Greenville, was called here last week by the illness and death of his aunt, Mrs. Ed Livingston. - We regret to note the serious illness of the little girl of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hughes, who is not expected to live through today. - We are glad to note the improvement of Miss Lorene Chappell who has been suffering from an attack of erysipelas.
DEATHS: It is with profound sorrow that we are called upon to chronicle the unfortunate death of Mrs. E. M. Livingston, who died on last Friday at 6 p.m., after suffering a stroke of apoplexy on the previous Saturday. Her remains were laid at rest in the Masonic cemetery, after funeral services were conducted at the Methodist church by her pastor, Dr. Dorman. Mrs. Livingston had been in ill health for some years and went with her husband to New Mexico last Fall, hoping for improvement; but soon found the climate was against her condition and had to return here. She was a daughter of the late Mr. J. F Hopkins and was in her 36th year. She leaves a devoted husband and many relatives to whom we extend sympathy.
Memorial services will be held for Poplar Flat church on first Sunday in May.
NOXAPATER: Miss Wilmer Goad of the Senior class of the State College for Women, Columbus, is spending a few days here with her parents, Rev. and Mrs. J. A. Goad. - Miss Hassie Jackson of Bay Springs spent the week end here with her mother and family. - Misses Margarett Young and Bessie Woodall attended, as delegates, the Hi-Y Club Meeting that convened in Meridian last week. - Mr. and Mrs. C. V. Stewart and little son Udell, and Mrs. H. F. Boswell and daughter Evelyn, spent a few days in Meridian this week. Mrs. Boswell and Mrs. Stevens went as delegates to the Grand Chapter of the O. E. S., which convened in that city. - Mr. J. W. Luke is in New Orleans on business this week. - Mr. and Mrs. Josh Stewart attended the funeral of some of their relatives at Philadelphia who were victims of the storm Tuesday. - Miss Ethel Ingram of Neshoba, is now a valuable attache at the depot. - Mr. G. F. Hooker, manager of the Bynn Yann Store, expected to have opened this week for business, but owing the fact that the fixtures for the store were so badly damaged in shipment, he has to wait for the shipment of another set of fixtures from the factory, which are expected in a short time.
