February 18, 1881 Tuscaloosa County Tornado 

From The Tuscaloosa News, February 24, 1881, pg. 3:

The Storm.

A fearful storm of lightning, wind, hail and rain, passed over and near this city Friday night. It came from the south-west; and dividing, one cyclone passing over Taylorville, 4 south and the other 10 miles west of the city; both doing considerable damage to fences, cabins and stock. The hail was heavy, and the stones as large as hen’s eggs, in and about Raleigh, in Pickens. We have seldom seen more incessant lightning. It is said the storm was preceded by an apparent flame or column of fire, shooting out vivid flashes or jets; and finally taking the shape of a round ball, disappeared. Four miles north of here, the wind, blew down a stable on John Moore’s place, killing four mules, we understand; and at Taylorville stock were killed, and cabins were unroofed, without injuring the people in them. The rain was very heavy.