Three lives reported lost in Murfreesboro catastrophe.
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Tennessee, swept a week ago by a storm, which wrought untold damage to property and exacted a toll of 20 lives, was again visited at an early hour this morning by the hurricane.
Concentrating its fury on the historic little City of Murfreesboro, where a half a million dollars ($11,439,655 in today’s dollars) of damage was done. …
From Murfreesboro the storm traveled north of east, striking the towns of Alexandria and Liberty in DeKalb (County) and possibly others. South of Murfreesboro almost the same section of Maury county was visited, Marshall County was visited. Marshall County was a severe sufferer, three lives being lost. …
From Rutherford County comes the report of three deaths, which has not been verified. One man, however, Hall Jones, was seriously injured in Murfreesboro. …
The small list of casualties is remarkable in view of the widespread area covered and the extensive damage to property.
Half Million Damage
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Murfreesboro, March 21 – The tornado, which struck Murfreesboro this morning about 2 o’clock, it is now roughly estimated, inflicted a property damage of nearly $500,000 and caused three deaths so far as reported, but it is believed that death list will be increased when full information is secured.
The storm, which raged with savage intensity, came from a southwesterly direction and entered the town between the passenger and freight deports and passed diagonally through the city in a northeasterly direction. The public Square was wrecked with the exception of the south side. …
“Every building on the north side of the Square,” (Crockett) said, “was damaged, and five of them were razed to the ground … These buildings were brick and concrete and among the best in the town …
“I was awakened by the roar of the wind and the thunder and from my room I could see that a terrific storm was in progress. Before daylight the entire town was aroused and moving about the wrecked section of the city. It was at first thought that many lives had been lost, but so far as I could learn this morning, only one man was hurt, but his injuries was considered fatal.
“The Presbyterian Church, a brick structure, was blown down and practically ruined, only a part of two walls were left standing. Added to the wind damage was a fire that broke out out the wholesale grocery house of King, Ragland & Co., which completely destroyed it with a loss of about $40,000. It is supposed that this was set afire by lightning.”
Mr. Crockett says he never wants to run up against another such night as long as he lives.
Among the heavier loser by the storm is the firm of Ransom Bros., who had something like $50,000 of wheat and flour in their warehouse. The roof was blown off and the heavy rain played havoc with their grain and flour. The walls of the building are practically ruined.
The appearance of the Public Square is the most desolate feature of the calamity. The battered walls and fallen timbers, the
tangled telephone wires and posts, the mass of wreckage of every description that litters the Square, all combine to evidence the terrible power of the tornado and its ruthless sweep.
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People Stupefied
People seem stupefied at the awful destruction, and the only consolation they find in discussing the horror is that it fortunately occurred at night, when none of the demolished houses were occupied. Had the storm passed through the square in the daytime it is probable that 500 to 1,000 people would have been killed outright.
Hundreds of men have already gone to work removing the debris from the streets so they can be used.
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Street Blocked
Church Street from the Square north has been blocked with the wreckage. The Avent & Price building, which is owned by the estate of Judge H.E. Palmer, is laid out on the street a mass of mortar and bricks and broken timbers. The storehouse of Butler & Hooper … is a total loss.