1909 tornado outbreak

6 Feb. 2021. Mrs. Welch and son, Byron, sustained slight injuries, the former being hit on the head and the latter had a gash cut in his cheek. Dickson was left to the right of the storm's pathway, and fortunately little damage was done here. It touched down during the dead of night between 10 and 11PM. The courthouse roof was blown off. - A terrific rain and wind storm swept this county last night and many reports of widespread damage and destruction are being received. The houses damaged were all unoccupied, except the one destroyed. The property loss cannot be estimated. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Following are some of the more serious losses: Lee Smith, house and barn; J. S. Bryan, house and barn; Werner Stevenson, house and barn; W. H. Watson, house and barn; Otha Young, house and barn; W. S. McLaurine, house and barn; Irby Scruggs, residence, outhouses and tenant houses; - barn escaped, Mrs. Eliza Wilkinson, residence; Hood Wilkinson, orchard, shop and barn, resident damaged, but not wrecked; T. J. Hardy, residence and barn; Ike Shapard, gin, The Scruggs' school house, near Conway, and the school house and church at Bee Spring were utterly swept away. One son, Oscar, was hit by falling timbers and considerably bruised. Andy Beshear said Saturday. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. "Storm's Dead Total 93." 10-18-1909, p. 2. Four houses are blown down in Franklin. The half-mile wide tornado moved across the Brewster Community causing two injuries (F2), then passed just south of Rugby into Scott County. Therefore a more accurate total of 6 deaths was used here, although the final number may have been even higher. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The tornado is included here with an estimated F2 intensity and 2 injuries based on the destruction of the Bush Brown home south of McEwen. One brick home was completely demolished. But several hundred dollars will be needed for relief work and the more fortunate should respond liberally. The listing is U.S.-centric, with greater and more consistent information available for U.S. tornadoes. [2], The April 1909 outbreak was part of an active and deadly year nationally for tornadoes. The poles were broken down and splintered and the wires were left in a tangled mass. The tornado continued into Giles County where nine more people lost their lives. Special thanks to Sam Shamburger from the National Weather Service office in Nashville, who did extensive research on this tornado outbreak. A large oak tree was lifted bodily and blown across it, crushing in the roof. "Some splendid homes were turned to rubbish.". US Dept of Commerce FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10, FROM M'EWEN: M'EWEN, Tenn., April 30. SHAMBURGER (2016): Despite the complete destruction of the home in Humphreys County as reported by the Nashville American, the tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes 1600-1991. Four houses are blown down in Franklin. At least fifty other persons sustained more or less serious injuries, and the recovery of three is doubtful. W. S. McLaurine's baby were also killed. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. At this time it is impossible to ascertain the damage and loss of life to stock; no lives so far reported. Damage: NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The deadliest tornado outbreak ever in Middle Tennessee struck the region from the evening hours of April 29, 1909, through the night and into the next day on April 30, 1909. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, 5 reported dead after severe weather in Kentucky,, Rollover crash on I-65N in Davidson County leads, Man hit, killed on Old Hickory Blvd. One massive grave contains the remains of an entire family. One brick home was completely demolished. (Bud) Hardy, Mrs. Louie Gordon, who was living with her mother, Mrs. Eliza Wilkinson, was cut and bruised about the face and arm. The storm extended over many states inflicting damage on widely scattered communities from the Great Lakes to the Gulf. One negro family, Nancy Smith and two children lost their lives in the wreckage of their little home, and one of Till Bledsoe's children was killed. From almost every section of Tennessee are reports of fatalities and property loss, while Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, and even Indiana and Illinois report touches of the cyclone. The damage in town is slight compared with the country. Elam Tucker, who lives at the old Suttle place, near Aspen Hill, lost his barn, also Will Coon, Billy Widene, and D. Biles, and the tenant houses on the Phillips place, south of Tucker's, were wrecked. This was the deadliest tornado outbreak in the U.S. since May 2011, when more than 170 people were killed. 22 people were killed here in Giles County from this tornado. Some homes were reportedly destroyed in six counties further to the ENE, but tornadoes there are not confirmable. The path length was estimated based on a beginning point in the Bushtown area and end point just past Algood. Fayetteville, Tenn., April 30. This particular cyclone began its work of destruction in the neighborhood of Conway, though several barns and tenant houses were blown down west of that place. The wind was from the southwest and first struck the west end of the city and blew down a number of houses in Bushtown, the negro part of the city. Greatest damage and the most horrible loss of life occurred in the community between Bunker Hill and Bryson, but the destruction was by no means confined to one place. However, for several hours a strong gale blew, and there was more or less excitement in the town throughout the night. after celebrating, Driver dead after Maryland tanker explosion, Ja Morant investigated by NBA after Instagram post, How NIL will affect local high school athletes, The right thing to do: College softball players, Forsberg, Giannis join Nashville SC ownership group, Ja Morant accused of making threatening statement, Arrest warrants issued for projected NFL draft pick. RUGBY. - A terrific cyclone passed through a portion of Maury, Giles, Hickman and Williamson Counties last night, and as a result thirty-five or forty known dead and a hundred or more injured, some seriously. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The deadliest tornado outbreak ever in Middle Tennessee struck the region from the evening hours of April 29, 1909, through the night and into the next day on April. Twenty-two others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. after celebrating, Driver dead after Maryland tanker explosion, Ja Morant investigated by NBA after Instagram post, How NIL will affect local high school athletes, The right thing to do: College softball players, Forsberg, Giannis join Nashville SC ownership group, Ja Morant accused of making threatening statement, Arrest warrants issued for projected NFL draft pick, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, 5 reported dead after severe weather in Kentucky, Rollover crash cleared on I-65N, injuries reported, Man hit, killed after celebrating birthday in Nashville, Driver dead after MD tanker explosion, fire, Ja Morant investigated by NBA over Instagram post, More than 21K NES customers without power, Downed power lines cause road closure in Goodlettsville, 1 killed amid turbulence event on business jet, Straight line winds damage buildings in Waverly, Portions of Calif. home hang over cliff after landslide, BBB: Beware of Storm Chasers in Middle TN, WATCH: Carjacking suspect caught after wild chase, Man dies after being hit by metal carport in Kentucky, Highest wind speeds from Fridays severe storms, Parent threatens teacher over book assignments, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. - The most horrible catastrophe ever known in Lincoln County was the cyclone which passed through the county last night about midnight, wrecking homes, destroying lives and injuring a large number of citizens. GRAZULIS: Twenty-three homes were destroyed, and a hotel and depot were unroofed at Decherd. The 77 killer tornadoes recorded in the year 1909 marked an all-time yearly record for the number of killer tornadoes, a total that was only equaled in the year 1917. The next place in Tennessee was the farm of Mrs. Kate Wall, where all the fences and outbuildings were blown away and considerable other damage wrought. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 2 1909, PAGE 4, section FOUR DEATHS IN MONTGOMERY: CLARKSVILLE, Tenn., May 1. It was the deadliest known tornado outbreak to affect Tennessee until March 21, 1952, when 64 . GRAZULIS: Moved ENE from 4 miles SW of Nolensville, passing south of Smyrna, just north of Walterhill and ending near Statesville. Two people were killed and 20 injured in that second storm. The several cashiers will take charge of same several cashiers will take charge of same and see to it that it is property and judiciously distributed among those who are destitute. SHAMBURGER (2016): Although Grazulis reported 10 deaths and 40 injuries from this major tornado, newspaper articles from the Nashville American and Williamson Herald indicated several more people were injured, killed, or eventually died from their injuries in the days after the tornado. All the houses there are damaged more or less, but no one was killed. There were no additional fatalities from these tornadoes. SHAMBURGER (2016): Despite the death of the child and significant damage to the two homes in Perry County, this tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. The Evans Mills, on Stones River, one mile north of Florence, were blown into the river and destroyed. 11 deaths were recorded in the Missouri storm, 5 near Texas City and 29 along the Alabama-Tennessee state line. The greatest damage was done in the Florence and Walter Hill sections. Aftermath of deadly April 1909 tornado outbreak in Centerville, TN (Tennessee State Library & Archives) 62 people were killed in the outbreak, with 31 of them dying when a massive F4 tornado. The Alex Mitchell family of five in Hillsboro was also reportedly all killed, but this could not be confirmed. But for the fact that the country is hilly and in places thinly settled the destruction would have been even greater. Damage: Many Lives and Much Property Lost in Giles County. There were also numerous reports of livestock killed by flying debris. It traveled through the Conway Community, destroying the local public school, Lancaster explained. Six people were killed in Hickman County, along a track through Shipps Bend, Centerville, and Little Tot. The second highest number of fatalities occurred from an F-3 tornado with winds of 158 mph or higher that ravaged Hickman and Williamson counties. The Bee Spring Church was destroyed and many graves in the cemetery are the resting places of those killed that fateful day. Another tornado or downburst later struck near Monterey in eastern Putnam County, as the Nashville American reported "one of the worst wind storms in the history of the town" unroofed houses and barns, but the description of the damage is unclear whether a tornado or downburst was the cause. One room was left of his home place, a seven-room dwelling, and it was in this room the family sought refuge. Striking the residence of Prof. W. H. Hooks it blew away all of his residence except the kitchen, his stable, outbuildings and shade trees. More than 320 died in the twister barrage . Coming as it did near midnight, when the people generally were asleep, many barely escaped in their night clothes. The damage reported in the far western and northern suburbs of Fayetteville along with the $5,000 damage to the Elk Cotton Mills north of Fayetteville indicates the tornado continued for several more miles before lifting northeast of Fayetteville, not 5 miles to the northwest as Grazulis stated. At Rudolphtown, which lies between Port Royal and Clarksville, one man was killed whose name has not been ascertained here. 30 - A heavy and disastrous cyclone passed through this section last night between the hours of eleven and twelve o'clock and struck one-quarter of a mile west of Franklin, killing an old negro woman and injuring three of her children, two of which may die. US Dept of Commerce A force of men from Scott and Morgan counties under the road overseers, cleared the road on May 3rd. 11, had his skull fractured by falling timbers. It then completely blew away Webb & Crawford's Planning Mills and the stock house of the Cookeville Roller Mills. Another one of Mr. Cox's sons sustained a broken leg and his wife is badly hurt. In its course from Rudolphtown to the Robertson County line the storm put out the eyes of several mules and other stock at Hinton, blew down the residence and stable of Joe Rosson, blew away the residence of Mrs. Ella Rosson and blew her over 100 yards. This particular cyclone began its work of destruction in the neighborhood of Conway, though several barns and tenant houses were blown down west of that place. This page was last edited on 12 March 2022, at 09:35. Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. Mrs. Hughes' house was torn into kindling wood, but she was not at home at the time. This tornado is estimated to have touched down in Fentress County southwest of Gatewood Ford Road just west of the Morgan County border, then moved northeast to near where the Crooked Creek and Clear Fork meet destroying a sawmill (F1), and then on into Morgan County. - A terrific cyclone passed through a portion of Maury, Giles, Hickman and Williamson Counties last night, and as a result thirty-five or forty known dead and a hundred or more injured, some seriously. A total of 22 people were killed in that area (Giles County), and seven near "Millville" (Lincoln County).