January 11, 1885 Blount-Cullman-Marshall-DeKalb County Tornado
January 11, 1885 Blount-Cullman-Marshall-DeKalb County Tornado
From The Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, TN, January 13, 1885, pg. 1:
Terrible Tornadoes.
Death-Dealing Cyclone Visits North Alabama.
Farmhouses, Barns, Outhouses Blown Away and Totally Demolished – A Child Instantly Killed and Several Fatally Injured in Other Localities.
Special To Chattanooga Times.
Collinsville, Ala., Jan. 12. – Our country is again thrown into excitement and fear over the cyclone which passed over Sand Mountain, last night, at 8 o’clock. Its course was from northeast to southwest, and, from reports, has done great damage.
About four miles west of this place, the residence of Noble Gilbreath, together with all of his farm houses, located at the base of Sand Mountain, were completely demolished. His youngest child was instantly killed by the flying timbers, its body being terribly mangled. A young man living with the family was seriously and probably fatally wounded. The family had retired about an hour before. No other member of the family received any injury. Every article of household goods was blown away, not leaving wearing apparel for the grief stricken family to dress. It is reported from good authority than an anvil in the blacksmith shop nearby was blown one hundred yards. Great damage to other property in the neighborhood is reported.
Some three miles further off two other residences were completely blown away. In one of them were thirteen occupants, all of whom received more or less injury, but none as yet reported fatal. Great damage is reported to farm property generally.
Owing to high waters it is impossible to obtain accurate information as to the true extent and injury of the cyclone; but enough has been ascertained to report that while it is fearfully disastrous, it is by no means such a terrible scourge as the famous cyclone which passed through Cherokee and Calhoun counties last spring.
During all of yesterday and the greater part of last night a tremendously heavy rain fell, flooding all the streams and low lands, and making it almost impossible to travel or gain further information. The fearful cloud, which accompanied the wind, was seen from this place, and looked hideous indeed. There was a continual roaring in the elements like distant thunder for some thirty minutes before the wind passed. We learn that one family became frightened before the tempest approached, and ran to a neighboring house a short distance away, which was blown away, while their own house, from which they had fled, remained standing.
The track of the cyclone was about two hundred yards wide.
From The Chattanooga Daily Times, January 14, 1885, pg. 1:
The Terrible Tornado.
Fearful Details of Its Ravages Near Collinsville.
Special To Chattanooga Times.
Collinsville, Ala., Jan. 13. – The damage done by the cyclone of Sunday night is much greater than was reported yesterday. A gentleman living a short distance from Mr. Gilbreath stated to your correspondent today that the entire family, except one little girl, were seriously wounded.
Mr. Gilbreath is a well-to-do farmer, and lived a quiet life, surrounded by all the comforts of the farmer’s home. Today the family is in a most destitute condition. The citizens of Collinsville and surrounding country, with true hospitality, are contributing freely to the wants of the unfortunate family. Their youngest child, which met such a horrible death on Sunday night, was buried today. The young man living with the family is expected to live but a short time. Only meagre details can be learned from Sand Mountain. One man living near Albertville in Marshall county was killed, and several others seriously and perhaps fatally injured.