Washington County GaArchives News.....Cyclone Struck Riddleville Farm May 31, 1934
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Mary Esther Smith messtogo55@alltel.net January 15, 2006, 12:28 am

Sandersville Progress May 31, 1934
  J.J. Page Reports Wonderful Sight. Roof of Barn Jerked Off and Scattered by 
the Pecular Force of Wind Last Thursday Noon. - Mr. Jas. J. Page reports a 
cyclone on his farm, a mile or two south of Riddleville which occurred last 
Thursday at noon. He was in the field with his plantation hands when he saw a 
very dark cloud rapidly approaching, and at first he thought that a house on a 
neighbor's farm was burning, as the cloud presented the appearance of dense 
smoke. He called to his hands to get the mules away from the barn, but they 
were so frightened they gave no heed to his instructions and all took to their 
heels to avoid the impending danger, and he sought refuge in a ditch, where he 
caught hold of a stump and saw the freak tornado as it lifted the tin roof of 
his largest barn and carried it up into the air like a ballon, making a 
terriffic and deafening noise which caused considerable fright. A young negro 
girl was picked up by the force of the wind and whirled around like a top for 
several feet, and she finally landed in the arms of her older sister who had 
sought safety in a chimney corner. She was bruised by contact with the ground 
as she alternately struck and was picked up again.
  Mr. Page stated that four days previously he was at Bowdon, Ga. where a 
tornado had torn the tin roofs off of several homes in that town, and remarked 
that he had never seen a cyclone in action, but would like to see one provided 
he could be in a safe place. His wish was gratified, much to his astonishment, 
but he admits that he was considerably frightened.
  Mr. Page stated that the cyclone would strike the ground and bounce several 
feet into the air, and then return to the surface of the field, while a 
brilliant light was visible at the bottom, which is attributed to the 
electricity generated by the unusual rapid motion of the air as it sped on in 
a  rotary motion. It passed over his place and went through the farm of Mr. 
T.J. Brett and from there on to Davisboro where it uprooted several trees, but 
no very serious damage occurred there according to reports.
  Half a century ago a cyclone did considerable damage at Davisboro, killed one 
citizenm and unroofed several houses. About fifteen years ago one struck Oconee 
in a saw mill settlement and killed thirty negroes and one white man, besides 
doing considerable damage to buildings, one of which was the school house.

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