January 3, 1906 Montgomery County Tornado
January 3, 1906 Montgomery County Tornado
From The Montgomery Advertiser, January 4, 1906, pg. 3:
Cyclone On Vaughan Place
Wind Wreaks Havoc in Montgomery County.
Six Miles From The City
Houses Blown Down and One Negro Killed.
Loss to Prominent Farmer May Reach Several Thousand Dollars – Damage Also Done On Griel Plantation.
A cyclone which passed southeast of Montgomery about 9 o’clock yesterday morning left much property damage in its wake and at least one negro was killed. The damage was so scattered that it is impossible to secure an estimate of it.
On the plantation of W. Hunter Vaughan, President of the Montgomery County Cotton Growers’ Association, six miles from the city on the Carter Hill Road, the wind partially destroyed the residence of Mr. Vaughan, blew away four negro cabins, a barn, a windmill, a water tank, a store house, a blacksmith shop and uprooted trees. The people were terrified during the minute and a half that the cyclone lasted but despite the fury of the wind, no one was injured on the place.
The new residence of Mr. Vaughan was just nearing completion and the well-known planter was preparing to move into his new home from his present residence in the city. The cyclone demolished a wing of the house, in which was located the kitchen, a bedroom and several other apartments. The material was heaped up in a mass of debris and the loss on this part of the residence will be complete.
Houses Blown Away.
One of the negro houses was wholly blown away. Not even a vestige of the house could be found after the terrific storm had passed over and it was fortunate that the place was unoccupied. The other three negro houses were blown over and carried several feet, but they did not collapse sufficiently to imperil the lives of the occupants. The water tank, a part of the windmill, was lifted and carried a distance of 200 yards, landing in an open field. The barn, the storehouse and the blacksmith shop were torn to pieces by the wind and they represent a large loss to Mr. Vaughan.
It was reported here last night that the cyclone killed a negro about six miles out on the Woodley Road and reports were verified that the gale visited one of Griel’s plantations several miles out on the Norman Bridge Road, blowing away a number of negro houses and seriously injuring a negro, Clark Robinson. Several other negroes, it was learned, were slightly injured. Robinson was so badly hurt that it was necessary to summon a physician from the city to attend the negro. The physician said last night that the condition of the negro was serious.
The cyclone occurred about 9 o’clock yesterday morning, and it was evident in the city at that hour that a storm was blowing in this section. The atmospheric disturbances were great and a dark heavy cloud overhung the city. The darkness was so intense that lights were lit. It began to rain and the clouds finally burst forth in torrents.
Section Director Frank P. Chaffee did not record the cyclone, and, when called up last night, the director was surprised to learn that such a severe storm had visited the territory so close to the city.
Exciting Experiences.
The cyclone is vividly described by Alex Law, a bricklayer, and F.M. Langford, a painter, both white men, who were employed at work on the Vaughan residence.
“That was the first cyclone I have ever passed through,” said Mr. Law last night, “and I hope never to be in another. Langford and myself were at work when we observed that it was getting unusually dark. A few seconds later we thought the world was coming to an end. We could see the horrible monster speeding toward us. It looked like a vortex of flame and fire, intermingled with smoke and dust. When it reached us, we were certain that we were breathing our last on earth. With a fury it pounced down upon the plantation and then a person could hardly see forty feet in front of him. Langford and I went into a room of the house and were prepared for the worst to come. The cyclone must have lasted about a minute and a half, but that was the longest minute and a half we have ever spent in our lives. The cyclone was about 400 yards broad. I cannot tell how high it extended. I don’t know whether it damaged any of the adjoining places or made a bend and passed over them.”
Mr. Vaughan was in the city when the cyclone passed over his place, and, owing to the fact that the telephone wires were blown down, and it was late in the day before telephone connection could be resumed, he was not informed of the disaster that had befallen his place until a runner had been sent to the city to advise him of the calamity. Mr. Vaughan hastened to the plantation and was amazed to observe the debris and garbage strewn over his place. He was, however, gratified that no lives had been lost.
The loss of Mr. Vaughan has not been estimated, but it may reach several thousand dollars. It is expected that there may be reports coming in of the destructive work of the cyclone from other points.