From The Age-Herald, Birmingham, Alabama, March 26, 1901, pg. 1:

The Tornado Deals Death And Desolation

Twenty Persons Killed And Hundreds Of Houses Are Torn Into Fragments

Terrific Cyclone Sweeps Across Southern Section of the City.

Prominent Persons Dead

 Dr. G.C. Chapman Was Instantly Killed by Flying Timbers and Mrs. Robt. J. Lowe and Babe Were  Crushed to Death.

A fearful tornado, in all the fury of its pent-up rage, swept down upon the southern section of the city shortly before 10 o’clock yesterday morning and in its ruthless course up the valley left death and destruction in its wake. The frowning storm king summoned all the wrath at his command and with an awful grinding roar tore hundred of houses into fragments and claimed twenty human lives, the price of his unwelcome visit.

             Twenty persons were crushed and killed by the flying debris and scores of men, women and children were mangled beneath the wreckage, which was strewn from east to west for a distanced of more than two miles.

             It is estimated that 500 houses were destroyed and damaged, entailing a property loss of between $300,000 and $500,000.

             Among the dead are Dr. G.C. Chapman, one of the most prominent physicians of the city, and the wife and child of Hon. Robert J. Lowe, chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee.

             The fearful catastrophe has cast a heavy gloom over the entire city, but willing hands have set to work to relieve the suffering and distress that sends up its pitiful cry from the pathway of the storm.

             Following is the list of dead and injured, reported up to a late hour last night:

The Dead.

             Dr. G.C. Chapman.

             Mrs. Robert J. Lowe.

             Infant child of Mrs. Lowe.

             J. Alexander, merchant, corner Avenue J and Twenty-fourth street.

             Little daughter of B.B. Hudson.

             F. Myro, colored, collector Union Mutual Association of Mobile.

             Carrie Hudson, colored.

             Maggie Blevins, colored.

             Carrie Henry, aged 8, colored.

             Lizzie Goodloe, colored.

             F. Steadmire, school girl, colored.

             Lizzie Glenn, colored.

             Unknown negro cook for B.B. Hudson.

             Unknown carpenter, struck by flying timber.

             Unknown negro, Pratt City.

             John Gardner, Irondale.

             Three negro children, Irondale.

Fatally Injured.

             Mrs. R.H. Thomas.

             Mrs. W.H. Thomas.

             Mrs. D.D. McLaughlin.

             Mrs. J. Ferguson.

             Mrs. Mylum, Professor Grambs’ mother-in-law.

             Carrie Elin, colored.

             W.P. Dickinson, medical student, concussion of brain.

Injured.

             Dr. R.V. Mobley, nose mashed.

             John Dillon.

             Hambright Detho, back of head cut.

             J.E. Minter, hands and head cut.

             Child of Mrs. McLaughlin.

             Mrs. Stephens, corner Avenue I and Twenty-third street.

             L.L. Holtan, arm broken.

             Sarah Adams, colored, right arm broken.

             Albert Glenn, colored.

             Jerusha Glenn, colored.

             Greena Curry, colored.

             Carrie Elmore, colored, not expected to live.

             Mary Goodlaw, colored, arm and leg broken.

             Sarah Thweatt, colored, arm broken.

             Dave and Sarah Elmore, colored, serious internal injuries.

             Mrs. Lynch and Daughter, internal injuries.

             Frank Krimsey, arm broken and head bruised.

             Lougine Martin, colored, struck by flying timber.

             Rehea Curry, colored, arm broken and head bruised.

             Mrs. F.G. Schaefer and Baby, slight injuries.

             Mrs. Kates and Daughter, slight injuries.

             Mr. and Mrs. Doerr, slightly injured.

             Mr. Minter, groceryman, arm cut and bruised on head.

             W.W. Dorr, bricklayer, bruised and shocked; badly cut lip.

             W.P. Dickerson, scalp wound and concussion; serious.

             Mrs. Joel E. Giaccopazzi, badly bruised.

             Mrs. Jane Lane, injured about the head; will recover.

             Jim Wilson, colored, sick in bed with pneumonia and was badly bruised.

             Mary Calloway, colored, badly fractured arm; will lose arm.

             Will Calloway, colored, scalp wounds.

             Ned Thomas, colored, face cut slightly.

             Lee Richardson, arm bruised and finger broken.

             Little Negro Boy, cut hand; calls himself “Lizzie’s boy.”

             Hambright Deathroe, back of head cut.

             Mr. Harvey, cut on head.

             Charlie Smith, negro porter, badly bruised.

             Harry Elmore, internally injured.

             Julia Blackman, arm broken.

Work of Relief.

             A terrific rain storm followed the wind and greatly retarded the work of relief, which was immediately begun by an army of volunteer rescuers.

             The fire department, under the direction of Chief Mullin, set to work without delay and rendered valiant service in removing the dead and injured from the wreckage. Every available man in the police department was pressed into service and with the assistance of citizens who volunteered their services order was soon brought out of chaos.

             Mayor Drennen and many of the city officials were soon on the scene and a relief station was established at the corner of Avenue I and Twenty-fourth street.

             A little cottage has been fitted up, and Mayor Drennen, Chief of Police Austin, Aldermen Jones and Camp and Commissioner McCartin are in charge. The private secretaries of the Mayor and the chief of police are keeping a record of the injured and suffering people, and are kept hard at work.

             The dead were removed to the various undertaking establishments while every available ambulance in the city was pressed into service in removing the injured to the hospitals.     

             More than twenty-five of the injured were taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital, while the Hillman and the private hospitals of the city opened their doors to receive patients. Drs. Davis & Davis, Copeland & Berry, Talley & Chapman and the Provident Infirmary, conducted by Dr. U.G. Mason, the well-known colored physician, each received a number of the injured, and every assistance possible was rendered.

Path of the Storm.

             The storm struck the city in the extreme southwestern corner and plowed its way eastward, leaving a path 150 feet wide through the entire southern section extending from Green Springs on the left to Avondale on the east. It continued its course onward until its fury was spent in the mountain beyond Irondale.

             The morning dawned cloudy and sultry and grew more threatening as the day advanced. Clouds began to gather and shortly after 9 o’clock sharp lightning flashed from the southwest. The air became heavy and stifling and it was evident that a storm was brewing, but no one dreamed that it would burst with such fury upon the city a few minutes later. The velocity of the wind began to increase and suddenly from out of the overcast sky the funnel-shaped cloud made its descent, and, hugging close to the earth, passed through the city in leaps and bounds, leaving death and desolation in its pathway.

             The altitude of the cyclone was not more than seventy-five feet. The negro shanties and cottages in the lowlands in the path of the storm were the principal sufferers. The larger residences on the higher ground suffered but slightly. The large trees on the hillside at St. Vincent’s Hospital were torn up by the roots, and large masses of stone were twisted out of the ground and broken, and scattered all over the driveways of the entrance to the institution.

Like a Rubber Ball.

             From Eighth to Tenth street the wind devil bounded like a rubber ball, and when it again descended it struck a two-story house occupied by Joseph Busenhelhner and almost razed it to the ground. The 11-year-old daughter of John Krimzy, a rolling mill man, was caught under the debris and was severely injured.

             A house occupied by Taylor Hanson nearby was unroofed and three small negro houses demolished.

             Onward the wind sped in its fury, demolishing trees and fences, until it reached Eleventh street, where a house occupied by John Hayes was leveled. Almost hugging the earth, it swept through a small pine grove, tearing the trees up by the roots and hurling them through the air like arrows.

             Beyond the grove the storm cloud swooped down upon a negro settlement and the frail cabins were crushed like egg shells, not one being left in the pathway of the tornado. Carrie Elmore, a negro woman, was buried beneath the debris, but most of the negroes escaped with slight injuries and after the storm had passed gathered around the wreckage apparently thankful that they had escaped with their lives.

             Eastward the storm swept, cutting its way through another strip of woods, striking the Second Presbyterian Church at the corner of Avenue H and Fifteenth street, almost demolishing the structure. The pews were piled on the top of the debris, a small oak table which was used in the rostrum being deposited on the topmost point of the wreckage.

Wrought Sad Havoc.

             East of the church, in direct line of the tornado’s path, is another negro settlement, and sad havoc was wrought among the frail shacks, seven of which were swept away. A number of small houses were leveled between Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets.

             In Alley H, between Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets, a small house occupied by negroes was completely demolished and Greena Curry, a negro woman, was caught beneath the timber and sustained serious injuries. Three other houses were blown down nearby.

             The storm then struck the more thickly settled residence portion of the city, and its work of destruction increased. A cottage occupied by Fred Schaffer at 814 South Eighteenth street and a small frame building a few doors north occupied by L.H. Stewart were badly damaged, but resisted the force of the wind, which at this point appeared to increase in velocity.

             The storm left the two blocks bounded by Eighteenth and Twentieth streets and Humbolt and Avenue H a total wreck. With a few exceptions all of the houses in that territory were hurled to the ground and the scene now presented to be one of complete desolation.

A Sad Fatality.

             One of the saddest fatalities of the day was the death of the little 4-year-old child of B.B. Hudson, near Nineteenth street and Humbolt avenue. Mrs. Hudson, accompanied by another child, had gone to the city at the time of the storm, leaving the younger child at home with the negro cook. Both were killed among the falling timbers of the house.

             Other houses in that block that were totally destroyed were those of W.M. Merritt, a member of the Birmingham fire department. None of his family were seriously injured. The families of Edward Mann, Roy McCollough, Charles R. Robison, Capt. N.D. Johnston, D. McRae, Mr. Hardwick, all had providential escapes from death, and none of their injuries are thought to be of a serious nature.

             In crossing Twentieth street the terrific wind snapped the big poles of the Bell Telephone Company as if they were pipe stems, and they fell to the street below, taking heavy cables with them, and seriously impairing the telephone communication for a large section of the South Highlands. This fact prevented the anxious head of many a family living in that district from communicating with their home, and the consequence was that great numbers of distracted husbands and fathers were soon hurrying to the Highlands to see what misfortune, if any, had happened to their loved ones.

Dr. Chapman Killed.

             It was just at this point that Dr. G.C. Chapman was killed. He was accompanied by Mr. W.P. Dickerson, a medical student, and the two had just been to make a professional call to a patient near Five Points. Seeing the threatening storm approaching and thinking it best to seek refuge from the terrible rain, Dr. Chapman and his companion stopped their buggy in front of Minter’s grocery store and went inside. The storm literally picked up this store building and threw it down in a heap in the yard of Mr. J.A. VanHoose. One of the falling timbers caught Dr. Chapman on the forehead and killed him almost instantly. His arm was also broken in the fall.

             Mr. Dickerson, who is from Mobile, Ala., was also struck in the head with falling timber, producing concussion of the brain. He is not expected to live.

             J.E. Minter, proprietor of the store, had his arm broken, and J.H. Detherew, a clerk, was injured on the head, though not seriously.

             The roof and sides of the store were lifted and carried several yards away, leaving the floor, counters and the heavy groceries intact.

             The handsome residence of Mr. J.A. VanHoose, which is next door to the store, stood the shock splendidly, the principal damage done was the ripping off of the slate roofing in front. This damage was repaired yesterday afternoon, so that comparatively little damage resulted.

Jumped a Block.

             The wind here seemed to veer upward and for a space of a block did but little damage. At Twenty-first and Humbolt, however, it unroofed the residence of R.H. Thomas, and blew down a number of chimneys and broke a number of windows in the neighborhood.

             In Twenty-first street, between Humbolt avenue and Avenue I, a house occupied by Mr. McLaughlin and family was demolished and Mrs. McLaughlin was seriously injured. Accompanied by a little child, she succeeded in reaching the house of Mr. Means, a neighbor, where she was given medical attention.

             John Dillon was struck in the face by a brick and was severely hurt.

             The residence of J. Ferguson, the well known saloon man, who lives in Twenty-second avenue, was almost razed, and Mrs. Ferguson, who is an invalid, was seriously injured by the falling timber.

             Here the storm seemed to gather fury as it swept down the hill across Twenty-second street and began its merciless onslaught on the district known as Brown’s Hill.

Destruction on Brown’s Hill.

             Brown’s Hill lay in the path of the storm, and within two or three blocks nearly a hundred houses were demolished and several lives lost and a number of persons more or less seriously injured. The houses in that part of town were mostly one-story cottages and went down with the first gust of wind, burying their occupants under the wreckage. In its eccentric course the tornado seemed to strike that section with renewed force. A great many of these cottages were owned by their occupants, who lost everything in the world they possessed when their houses and their furniture were destroyed.

             Colonel J.J. Altman, alderman from the Sixth ward, lives with his family at Twenty-sixth street, near Avenue H, but his residence was only slightly damaged. The servant’s house in the rear of the residence was torn down and part of the material carried away.

             Three blocks north of the storm’s pathway a timber fell across the roof of a cottage at Avenue F and Twenty-fifth street, crushing it in. No other house in that immediate vicinity was damaged in the slightest.

             Dr. R.V. Mobley, a member of the police commission, was driving along Twenty-fourth street, near Avenue I, when the storm passed that vicinity. He was blown out of his buggy and into a ditch, where he lay until the wind ceased to blow. While lying in the ditch a brick blown from some house, probably nearby, struck him on the nose, mashing that organ and causing him considerable pain. The horse became detached from the buggy, and the latter was blown against a fence and smashed.

Destruction of Lowe’s Residence.

             From Twenty-ninth street the storm plowed its way eastward through the block between Avenues H and I, tearing (pg. 2) away the roofs of a number of residences, smashing in windows, blowing down trees and fences, and crossing Thirtieth street, struck the residence of Robert J. Lowe at No. 815 South Thirtieth street, leveling it to the ground and instantly killing Mr. Lowe’s four weeks’ old child and fatally crushing Mrs. Lowe, who died within fifteen minutes after being removed from the wreckage. The cook was badly hurt and may die. Mr. Lowe and the nurse escaped with only slight bruises.

             As soon as the storm passed a number of men rushed to Mr. Lowe’s residence and made heroic efforts to rescue the buried bodies. All of the telephones and electric car lines were down and it was impossible to communicate with the people downtown. It was therefore impossible to secure medical aid for at least an hour after the terrible catastrophe.

             Mrs. Milam, mother of Mrs. Fred Grambs, who resided with Mr. and Mrs. Grambs, at 809 South Thirtieth street, was caught under some falling timbers and sustained a severe gash on the right temple and bled profusely. She was removed to the residence of A.A. Adams, 2931 Avenue I, where Dr. Moore dressed her wound.

             A number of other persons were more or less injured, but none severely or dangerously so.

Other Damage Wrought.

             The residence of Mrs. Pete Clarke, at Avenue H and Twenty-ninth street, occupied by herself and Hugh Martin and family, was badly damaged, windows being broken out and roofing torn away. P.G. Bowman’s residence, just across the street from the Clarke residence, was almost totally demolished, but there were no casualties.

             Other residences along Avenue H, between Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth streets that were more or less damaged were those of T.W. Gathright, Mrs. Lucy A. Miles, G.R. Harsh, G.H. Harris, P. Sid Jones, G.F. Jackson and the residence at the corner of Avenue H and Thirtieth street.

             In Avenue I, between Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth streets, residences occupied by J.C. Boles, I.W. McAdory, Mrs. Sowell, W.H. Moore, J.R. Adams, A.A. Adams and Mr. Williams were all more or less damaged.

             In Thirtieth street, between Avenues H and I, the residence of Robert J. Lowe was totally demolished and the residences of Fred L. Grambs, Richard Belser and W.G. Montgomery were badly wrecked.

             The Worthington residence east of Thirtieth street was blown away and one or two persons badly hurt, though none fatally.

             Continuing in an eastward direction, the storm swept everything in its path of seventy-five yards’ width until it passed beyond the city limits and struck the Lakeview hill about Thirty-fourth street. There were no houses of any description in its path after it had passed the city limits, and consequently there was no damage until it reached Avondale.

At Avondale.

             After leaving Birmingham the storm struck Avondale at the extreme southern end, and fortunately did not pass through a very populous district. The residents of Faggot’s Hill were the principal sufferers, though there were no deaths reported. Those injured were Miller Harbin, Mrs. Harbin and child, Mr. Flynn, Mrs. J.J. Hendon, Miss Jennie Sheldon, Mrs. Mann, Mr. and Mrs. Lowery, and others – less several injured.

             There were about twelve houses destroyed, and the property damage is estimated at about $5000.

             Soon after the storm a mass meeting of the citizens of Avondale was called for the purpose of rendering assistance and immediate aid to the sufferers in the storm-stricken district.

             The meeting was called to order by Rev. R.M. Hunter, and J.R. Ellard was elected chairman; E.E. Howard, secretary; and the following committee was appointed on subscriptions: R.M. Hunter, S.A. Jones, A.G. Frey, G.L. Lambreth, S.H. Bell, W.R. Starbuck, E.E. Howard, Tom Johnson, J.P. Spencer, J.B. Messer, R.C. Burris, W.W. Mitchell, McKinney and Faulkner, G.C. Estes and Drennen and Miles.

             On distribution – J.R. Ellard, chairman and treasurer; A.W. Smith, Rev. M. Hunter, Rev. Mr. Andrews, Rev. Mr. Curtis.

             A call for donations was made, and $234.75 was subscribed at once, of which $132.25 was paid and turned into the treasurer of the distribution committee.

At Irondale.

             After leaving Gate City, the storm struck Irondale, a mile or two further on, shortly after 10 o’clock, and very nearly demolished that prosperous little town. There were four killed, and the total property damage is estimated at about $18,000.

             The dead are George Gardner and three unknown negro children.

             The injured are Mert Triplet, Clay Gore, Willie Gardner, son of George Gardner, B.H. Crawford and a strange white man. John Despaine’s house was blown away, leaving him in bed raving with a high fever.

             M.T. Crawford of Irondale, land agent of the Alabama Great Southern Railroad, was in the city last night, and from him the following details were obtained:

             At the time the storm struck the place Mr. Gardner and his son, Triplet, Gore and Crawford were in the brick store of C.H. Moore. This building was demolished, and Mr. Gardner was buried under a load of brick. The others in the store were more or less seriously injured. Mr. Gardner was a carpenter, and was held in high regard in the community. He came to Irondale recently from Childersburg, and is thought to have lived a long while in Talladega.

The Property Loss.

             The storm passed almost through the center of the town, destroying every house it touched, but miraculously sparing the lives of nearly all the inmates. From Irondale the storm crossed the Alabama Great Southern Railroad track, and missed Trussville in its route to the northeast.

Near Lakeview.

             The small child of Mr. and Mrs. Fred L. Grambs, 809 South Thirtieth street, was caught by the wind and carried through the hall to the kitchen door, where it was caught by the cook. Mrs. Grambs ran after the child and grabbed the cook just a moment after the baby fell into her arms. The three were left standing there after the storm had passed over. The roof and one wall were torn away by the storm, but neither of the three were hurt.

             Mrs. J.J. Banks was in the R.H. Thomas residence when it was demolished. The debris buried her, but she extricated herself and escaped without injury.

             A negro driving a delivery wagon loaded with furniture was caught by the storm in Twenty-ninth street, between Avenues G and H. One by one the pieces of furniture were blown from the wagon and then the negro was picked up and carried almost a half a block up the street, where he managed to grab a small tree, to which he clung with all his might until after the storm passed over. The wagon and mule were turned completely around by the wind and started in the opposite direction to which they had been going before the tornado struck them.

Street Railway Damaged.

             The Birmingham Railway, Light and Power Company sustained heavy losses from the storm, which blew down its wires and poles along its pathway. All traffic was suspended on the Highland Avenue line, the Cottonwood Avenue line and the Highland Avenue loop. Cars on the North and South Highlands line had to turn back at Avenue G and on the Avondale line they could not go further east than Avenue F and Twenty-second street.

             General Manager McClary put a large force of men to work repairing the broken wires and putting up new poles in the storm-stricken district and stated to an Age-Herald reporter late in the afternoon that he hoped to have the North and South Highlands cars running through to Fourteenth avenue before midnight. He did not think traffic would be interrupted on any of the lines, except perhaps the Cottonwood Avenue line, longer than this morning.

             The money damage to the wires and poles is considerable, but no approximate estimate of the amount could be made last night as the entire route of the interrupted lines had not been inspected.

Railroads Escaped.

             Inquiries at the superintendent’s office of the railroads entering Birmingham elicited the information that none of the roads had suffered and losses from the storm. The passenger trains from all directions arrived as usual during the afternoon and night. It was reported in the city early in the afternoon that a train was blown from the track and turned over at Irondale, but this proved to be erroneous.

The Scene of Destruction.

             Probably the scene of the greatest destruction was at Nineteenth street and Avenue H. it was in this neighborhood that Dr. Chapman was killed. Houses on both sides of South Nineteenth street were demolished and the street itself filled with litter, shingles and timbers.

             Thousands thronged the streets and hundreds of vehicles made their way over a mass of wreckage, risking lockjaw in their horses from stepping on a plank with nails in it.

             On the north side of Ninth avenue, between Nineteenth and Twenty-first streets, many houses were demolished, and the whole pathway of the storm was a scene of desolation. Householders were busy trying to rescue their household effects and the sneak thief was not absent.

             In some of the smaller houses where the negroes lived, the whole family would occasionally be seen standing helplessly in the doorway of a house whose roof was gone, or standing around the ruins of their humble home.

             The storm proceeded eastward along Ninth avenue, the houses on the north side of the street receiving the most damage. One house on the south side of Ninth avenue, which was uninjured itself, held in the valley of its roof the remains of a brick chimney which had been blown from a house across the street.

             Proceeding east along Ninth avenue, and just before descending the hill at Twenty-third street, a scene of desolation met the eye. The valley below is not built up and here had been strewn hundreds of planks, window blinds and other debris which the storm had carried perhaps for several blocks. There were acres of such wreckage.

Played Strange Freaks.

             The storm played strange freaks, sometimes skipping a house and taking off the roof of the next one, repeating this several times in succession. Many houses were lifted up and moved several feet and then dropped. This, while it saved the lives of the inmates, damaged the house almost as much as if it were demolished. The plastering in all such cases was ruined.

             Many houses were damaged and some totally destroyed in the neighborhood of Beeler Station. It was near here that Mr. Robert J. Lowe lived, whose house was totally destroyed and whose wife and child were killed.

             On Juniper avenue the residence of Mrs. John Hine was badly damaged in the interior. P.G. Bowman’s residence was badly injured, the roof being blown off, but no one was hurt. Many other houses in the neighborhood were more or less damaged.

Outside the Path.

             The force of the storm in its eastward course extended as far southward as Tenth avenue. The residence of Solon Jacobs was damaged slightly, and also that of Maj. Charles J. Allison. Many houses lost chimneys, blinds, railings, etc.

             In several places vehicles were lifted out of their owner’s yards, and landed elsewhere. In these cases the tops had been left open to catch the wind. When they lit it is needless to say they were smashed.

             A hack was demolished at Twentieth street and Avenue H. The horse ran into a live wire, which had been blown down, and was so badly cut that he died. The hack was demolished in his efforts to extricate himself.

             The storm-swept districts were afterwards visited by thousands of spectators, drawn out of curiosity to see the scene, or by solicitation over the fate of friends or relatives. They waded through the mud caused by the storm and witnessed a scene of activity. Men with axes and spikes were busily engaged first in rescuing those caught beneath the rafters and timbers of the ruined buildings, and afterwards in rescuing what property or effects they could. Every horse and vehicle in town was engaged by persons anxious to view the scene, and every furniture van or wagon was in use, moving mattresses and the remains of household effects to new quarters.

Other Cases.

             Judge J.P. Stiles’ residence at Avenue I and Twenty-ninth street, was badly damaged by the storm. The roof was partially removed.

             The Worthington residence at Avenue H and Thirtieth street was damaged to the extent of about $1000. The rear of the building was almost entirely demolished.

             H.H. Mayberry’s residence at Avenue J and Twentieth street was partially wrecked. The chimneys were blown down and the brick were hurled with such force against the roof that they broke through and fell into the second floor, damaging some of the furniture.

             The chimneys were torn from the top of W.B. Leedy’s residence, 913 South Nineteenth street, and a number of window glass broken.

             The residence of former Mayor J.A. VanHoose, Twentieth street and Avenue (pg. 3) I, was right in the middle of the storm’s track, and it suffered considerably. The slate roof was badly damaged and windows smashed, but the body of the building remained intact. In speaking of this afterwards, Mr. VanHoose said that when the house was being built he told the contractor to construct it so that it would fall down and roll over and then not come to pieces. He says the experience of yesterday confirms his wisdom in giving this instruction to the contractor.

Work of Vandals.

             A negro who gave his name as John Means was arrested at Avenue I and Twenty-sixth street about midnight last night by a sentinel and carried to the jail by Officer Tomlin. When arrested he was carrying a lard tub which it is said he had stolen from one of the houses in that vicinity.

             Several attempts to loot were reported by the guards last night, but they were all frustrated.

             Dr. Chapman, who was killed at Minter’s store in Twentieth street, between Avenues H and I, had a valuable diamond pin in his shirt front and a large sum of money. When his body was picked up by Mr. Bell and Mr. May neither the money nor the diamond could be found. It is presumed that some thief had taken them before the rescuers could reach the dead man.

Marvelous Escapes.

             There were a number of marvelous escapes from death where it seemed an utter impossibility for human life to exist amidst the general wreckage. In some instances the roofs and walls of houses were blown entirely away and left persons standing or sitting on the floor uninjured.

             Mrs. P.G. Bowman of 2901 Avenue H, was picked up by the wind and hurled across the room and against the wall where she was pinioned by falling debris. She escaped with only slight bruises.

             Mrs. W.J. Worthington of 2981 Avenue H, when she saw the black cloud enveloping the house, and trees and houses going down all around her, ran to the east wall of the house against which she pressed herself. A falling chimney caught her and pinioned her to the wall. After the wind subsided she managed to crawl from under the brick and other wreckage and went to the aid of others less fortunate than herself. She sustained slight bruises.

             A small boy near Lakeview had climbed up a tree for some purpose just before the storm came on and remained there until the wind subsided. Trees fell all around him, but the one he was in remained standing with only a few limbs torn away.

             A messenger boy who had gone to the South Highlands to deliver a package was caught in Twentieth street near Avenue H. He was hurled from his wheel against the brick pavement and sustained a number of gashes on the face and arms. His wheel was carried several yards and lodged against a stone fence.

             Mrs. Kates, who resided in Nineteenth street, between Avenues H and I, had a miraculous escape from death. Her house was demolished, but she was protected from the falling debris by a bureau which caught the falling timber, and after the storm had passed was gotten out from beneath the wreckage through a hole which was sawed in the roof.

Other Places.

             North Birmingham was struck by a storm about 7:30 o’clock, and although no loss of life is reported, much damage was done. A number of houses were demolished and telegraph poles, fences and outhouses by the score were razed to the ground.

             The house occupied by Mrs. William Myers, an invalid, was most badly damaged. Mr. Herman’s store was spread apart. Many of the large, stately trees in North Birmingham Park were unroofed. The schoolhouse suffered considerable damage. The plastering was shaken down, sash blown out, and partly unroofed.

             About 10 o’clock a second storm struck the town, but beyond blowing down a few trees no damage was done.

             A number of houses at Powderly, west of the city, were damaged, but no one was injured.

             At Cleveland, Mrs. George Hall was struck by lightning and will probably die.

An Act of Kindness.

             Eugene Volimers, who lives in Avenue I, between Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth streets, last night invited the solider boys who are on guard in that part of the city to take their meals when sent to them and set them upon his table, where they can eat with more comfort than on stools and in the street. Mrs. Volimers and Miss Volimers volunteered their services to wait on the soldiers while they were eating. By this act of kindness the Volimers have endeared themselves to the boys who were standing guard over the devastated section of the city.

US Deadly Events - 1901, March 25, Tornado, Jefferson County (Birmingham/Avondale/Irondale), AL