NEWSPAPERS: Cyclone of 1917 Submitted by: Lisa & Don Howell The Daily Messenger Monday Evening May 28, 1917 Death and Destruction Follow In Wake Of Storm School House is New Hospital for Injured and Several Mayfield Physicians Tender Their Services for the Dying and Suffering. --------------------------------------------------------- Horrible Scenes Follow In Wake Of Funnel Shaped Cloud ------------------------------------------------------- Two Burgess Sisters First Found Lifeless Side by Side Near Where Home Had Been Swept Away , Nothing Being Left. ---------------------------------------------------- Hundreds of People Visit Devastated Path and Donations Freely Given to Those Who Lost Loved Ones, Their Happy Homes and Everything Else. ----------------------- THE DEAD ELLSON BURGESS, eight-year old son of George Burgess. MISS DOSHIA BURGESS, the 23-year-old daughter of Mrs. Mary Burgess. MISS VIRGIE BURGESS, 13-year-old daughter of Mrs. Mary Burgess. MISS ZULA KIRBY, 45-year -old daughter of Mollie Bone. MRS. MOLLIE BONE, 65 years of age. JOHN WOOTEN, 40 years of age (unmarried) MR. BROOKS WHEELER, MRS. BROOKS WHEELER, MISS MINNIE WHEELER, A CHILD of Tom Thompson, reported dead. JIM ANDERSON, 40 years of age, at the home of Harrison Toons, near Beulah. THE INJURED MRS. MARY BURGESS MRS. JONES BURGESS CHILD OF E.J.BURGESS VIRGIL BURGESS and son ALFRED OWEN and three children LOLA BARKLEY GEORGE BURGESS,wife and three children W.F. WILSON and wife MRS RUBY PITTMAN and baby JESSE BURGESS and wife JONES BURGESS MRS. JIM BURGESS and baby MISS CLIFTON SULLIVAN WILEY HIGGINS PAULINE BAILEY DOTTIE BROWER VASLINE BROWER MRS. ETTA THOMAS, wife of George Thomas, was so badly injured that her recovery is doubtful. Her skull was fractured and collarbone broken. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleven dead, many injured, several probably fatally, tells the tale of the cyclone that swept through the west part of Graves county, Sunday afternoon between 4:30 and 5:30 o'clock. The wind came across from Hickman and Carlisle counties passing through a section one mile from Dublin. There are hardly any two persons who give the same time of the storm, but it was late in the afternoon and swept everything in its wake. Houses were swept from their foundations, not even a brick or plank remaining to reveal that a house had stood there. Trees were crushed under the force of the twisting elements and stock killed and carried for some distance. In some sections hail followed the storm, and between Mayfield and Folsomdale there were drops as large as a hen egg. The little town of Dublin presented a terrible and heart-breaking scene as the dead and the mangled bodies of the injured were brought to the town for medical attention. Physicians from Mayfield were summoned and they hastened to the scene to render all assistance in their power. Dr. John Dismukes and Melvin Albritton were the first to reach there from Mayfield, and Dr. J.H. Shelton, Dr. H.H. Hunt and Dr. J.G. Puryear arrived shortly. They were kept busy for several hours dressing the wounds of the storm's victims. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- The following persons lost their homes and all building surrounding: Harve Gibson, George Thomas, Alice Keeling, T.F. Keeling, Aubrey Thomas, Rob Gibson, Mrs. Dill Bailey, Garnder's big stock barn, Bob H. O'Daniel, Elijah Potts, William Wilson, J.H. Sullivan, James H. Burgess, Jonah Mason, Jesse Burgess, Little El Burgess, Cris Hayden, Alfred Owens. Two head of stock belonging to Mary Boyd Burgess were killed. Jones Burgess was taken to the office of Dr. Lester of Dublin where the injuries were given attention. His leg was so badly crushed and fractured that it had to be amputated Monday. Jesse Burgess and wife were taken also to the office of Dr. Lester and it was discovered upon examination that they could not survive. Those assisting the physicians in caring for the injuried in Dr. Lester's home and other places were C.R. Dunivan, Miss Willie Smith, Miss Lester, Seigel Bailey, Clyde Lester, and Roy Elrod. According to a clock at the home of Alfred Owens the cyclone must have struck there at 6:10 o'clock, it having stopped at that hour. The people who witnessed the storm say that they noticed a funnel-shaped cloud with smoke coming out of the small end, sweeping through the country, making a loud roaring noise. Many people who saw the approaching cloud began to pray and some were swept out of the house while kneeling in prayer. A hot wave preceded the storm and as it swooped down and the houses seemed to melt away, the pieces being carried away so swiftly that it could hardly be realized what was happening. The path of the cyclone was described as being 400 to 600 yards in width, while some declare that it was much wider, some saying it was about a mile wide in some places. The cloud seemed to have gathered in the west and went north to northwest, about three-fourths of a mile from Dublin. Trees large and small were crushed and laid flat, while fences were wrecked and scattered across the farms and roads. Several orchards around Dublin were completely ruined and that entire section where the cyclone went presents a scene of ruin and devastation. The damage that has been caused cannot be estimated. The numerous dwellings were some of the best in that section and there was no storm insurance on any of them. The loss to nearly everyone is total and complete. It left many in a sorrowful plight and many are now in need of necessities. The moans, crying and weeping of the injured and relatives of the dead and injured could be heard for quite a distance. The rain did not follow very quickly after the wind and some say it was probably 30 minutes before the rain began to fall. The alarm first reached Dublin in a wild ride on horseback by Burous Might, a young man who had witnessed the wind in its fury and route, saw the dying and wounded, and the homes torn away like so much paper. He rode into Dublin and gave the news of the disaster and then it spread like wildfire, and soon Mayfield was all excitement and the physicians and others left on first news of what had happened. Telephone poles and wires were blown down and many phones were put out of commission. The two Burgess girls were found dead about 15 feet from their home, their heads being horribly bruised. They were taken to the home of Will Brown. The girls were buried Monday in the Dublin Cemetery. Both were members of the Baptist church and popular young girls, unsually attractive and accomplished. Two horses belonging to little El Burgess were killed. William Wilson had a most remarkable and danerous experience. He was picked up by the wind and taken high into the air, passing over a tall tree and being landed back to earth. He was injured but not thought to be serious. The wind did another unique stunt by miraculously taking a pocketbook containing $175 from his pocket and which has not been found. A horse belonging to W.P. Sullivan was caught in the wind and rolled for about one-half mile through fields, over and through wire fences, and escaped with only a few scratches. A fine orchard belonging to Wiley Higgins was demolished. Oliver Higgins lost everything, there being nothing left but a vacant spot to tell where a few minutes before had stood his happy home. Three daughters of Jim Neal, living between Dublin and Fancy Farm were found 75 yards from their wrecked home and they are badly injured. Watts Seay, Jean Lochridge, William Hunt, Misses Harris and Beasley of Mayfield motored to Clinton Sunday to visit friends and they came near being caught in the storm. They saw it and got out of the way by a few feet. The scene of the storm was partly in Graves and partly in Hickman county, the course being near a creek that divides the counties. It did damage on both sides. OTHER STORM NOTES The home of Mrs. William Wilson was blown away together with the out buildings. She was very badly cut and bruised. The home of Alfred Sullivan, where many of the injured ones are being cared for, was badly damaged about the roof and many trees across the road were blown down, but no one was in the house at the times. J.Henry Burgess and wife, together with their two children and two brothers-in- law, who were spending the day there Sunday and had a miraculous escape as the home was blown down and the belongings scattered. Several bones broken were all the injuries reported by them. The home of George Burgess was blown down and his son, Elson, was killed, and his daughter, Miss Ruby, is not expected to survive during the day six negroes living in Clinton were killed and many others expected to die soon. Jim Neely, living between Dublin and Fancy Farm, together with five of his children are badly injured and are being assisted by their friends in every way possible. The home of Wiley Higgins was partially damaged. No insurance being on any property has been reported by those suffering in the cyclone. The following doctors were in Dublin Monday assisting and taking care of the people who were injured during the storm: Dismukes, Hunt, Puryear, and Shelton of Mayfield, Y.Y. Miller of Pryors, Dr. Mullins of Wingo and Dr. Lester of Dublin. The strongest part of the wind struck near Lucas's Mill and about two miles northwest of Dublin and up the valley to Cane Creek. The roof of the store firm of Dick & Usher at Bardwell is reported to have been blown off, and John Dick has gone to that city in an auto to take charge of it at once. Several barns belonging to Ed Gardner, located three miles north east of Dublin, were blown down. The home and out buildings of Alfred Owen were blown, breaking his collar bone and seriously injuring several members of his family. The barns of jonah Mason were blown down together with all other things except his home. No one is reported hurt at his house. The home of L. Burgess (little) was blown down together with all other the family were injured. Jesse Burgess and wife and Jones Burgess were badly injured. Jones Burgess was removed to the Dublin High School building this morning. Which is being used as a hospital by all parties that are able to be carried there. Ruby Burgess, 9 years of age, and Mrs. Geo. Burgess, 50 years of age, were blown about 50 yards from the home . Miss Ruby Burgess is not expected to survive. The roads leading to Dublin from the surrounding country are crowded with people, walking, in autos, riding in buggies and wagons and most everyway to get there. Relatives are going there by the score to see if there are any of their kin hurt or in need of help. The Mayfield and Graves County Commercial Club have been taking subscriptions all day long to assist those in need in and around Dublin. The most damage is reported to have been done by the storm near Cypress, where several are reported to have been killed. Most everyone who was hurt in any way were very poor and need assistance as soon as possible. The home of Geo. Thomas was blown down and the injuries sustained by his wife are likely to cause her death at any hour. The out building of Frank Keeling were blown down and other property badly damaged. The Dublin High School is being used as a hospital by the doctors. Many cots were taken from Mayfield there this morning. Miss Woodward, the trained nurse, is in Dublin administering as much aid as possible to those in distress. C. Brooks Wheeler, wife and grand daughter were killed at Cypress, Hickman County. The former is a brother of E.L.Wheeler of Mayfield. He was 58 years old and a well known citizen of that section. The bodies were blown some distance from the house and found some time after the storm. Mrs. George Wade states that any person wishing to donate clothing, food furniture or anything that would be of any benefit to the storm sufferers are requested to leave them at the Wade Cafe on the east side of the square. Two children were reported to have been found dead between Dublin and Fancy Farm Monday morning, but it has not been learned where they were brought from as no one in that immediate section has been able to identify them. Their bodies were shockingly mangled. Mayfield undertakers have been sending coffins to Dublin today for the storm victims. More than 100 automobiles from Mayfield filled with people went to Dublin and the scene of the storm Monday. There has been a steady stream of the machines all day. A Chevrolet automobile driven to Clinton Sunday by Alvey Wilson and Ernest Joiner was carried thirty feet in the air by the cyclone and dropped about 100 yards away from where it was standing, completely wrecking it. The car was a new one, costing $568 and Vernon Johnson, the owner, had bought it only a few days ago. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ***********************************************************************