Hancock County-- The details of the calamity on Mr. S. D. Masseys place, near Sparta, are most pitiful!

There were sixteen houses on Mr. Masseys place, and of them all, there is not one piece of timber left upon another. His residence was built of hewn logs, weather-boarded outside and sealed on the inside. Some of these logs were blown in a distance of a mile and a half, and shingles on the roof were blown to the distances of several miles.

When Mr. Massey saw the storm coming, he made a frantic effort to save his wife and child. He ran into the house and attempted to get them out of doors, but before they reached the door the walls were crushed in. He thrust them toward the door, as he himself was being caught in the timbers. When the storm had passed he discovered his wife lying near him with her head crushed. His child, as only one, about two years old, he found in the garden, it was dead. Miss Sallie Berry had been blown into the top of a pine tree, which had fallen near by. Her legs were broken in seven places and she was otherwise awfully mangled. She lived four hours. Another man on the place ran to the nearest house for help, and when the neighbor arrived, they found Mr. Massey, who was badly hurt, sitting beside his dead wife, with his dead child in his arms and the dying girl lying near him. No words can describe the horror of the spectacle. Another women, on this place had her knee broken and her right arm so badly hurt that amputation would be necessary.

A fields in which the wheat was six inches high was cleaned as bare as if they had been burned and the ashes swept off. Wildlife and farm stock were found dead near the house. Mr. Masseys coat tails were blown off, and his shoes and socks were blown from his feet and have not yet been found. A considerable amount of money which he had in the house was blown away, so was his silver, in fact everything down to his clothing. H e had to borrow clothing from his neighbors.

The places of Mr. Thomas Little and Mr. Carpenter were badly torn to pieces, and a number of employees were wounded.

The following houses and plantations were wrecked in Hancock County: John T. Massey, Jessie Reynolds, Carter P. Whaley, G.T. Rhodes, also two fine orchards were totally destroyed.

Glascock County--- 1:00PM--The loss of life and property was immense. It is reported that thirty-five persons were killed. Mt. Zion M.E. Church, four miles below Gibson, was struck by the tornado and totally demolished. Much property was destroyed in the same vicinity. The dwelling of Mr. Mathis, an old citizen of the county, was blown down, and Mr. Mathis, his wife, and children killed. Mr. Vincent Davis house, one to two miles from Mr. Mathisa was destroyed and Mr. Davis killed. Sunday, while Dr. Barton was preaching at Zoar Church, he received a message from J.L. Usry seven miles below Gibson, asking for help, as sixty persons had been killed or wounded in that vicinity. Another man reported twenty-five to thirty had been killed. Hail five to six inches had fell.

It is rumored that from eight to thirty were killed and fifty wounded. Mt. Moriah camp ground was demolished, it was reported that out of eight in a family living there seven were killed.

Warren County---When the tornado swept over this section Saturday, the members of the Baptist congregation were holding their usual Saturday afternoon services at the Elam Church, a short distance from Camak. The storm struck the building before the people could perceive their danger, and leveled it to the earth. Three persons were found dead among the ruins, and many made narrow escape from death. A great many were injured by falling timbers. The number of wounded was put as high as twenty-five though doubtless many of these were only slightly injured. Mrs. Louis Jones was killed. Mrs. S. Robinson, Mrs. Martha Howell, Mr. Benjamin P. Atkinson were dangerously wounded.

The storm crossed the Ogeechee two miles and a half above Mayfield and struck and demolished the Linn place. It reached Mrs. Virginia Huberts killing three and wounding two others. They were blown from their home for a half a mile into a field. The homes of John W. Hubert, Mrs. Catherine Nelson, R.W. Nelson, and Rev. T.J. Pilcher were destroyed by the storm.

McDuffie County and Columbia County---There were two different tornados. One came from Milledgeville, Glascock County, traveling almost due east, but veering a little north passing trough Hancock, Warren, McDuffie, the Columbia Counties across the Savannah River near the mouth of the Uchee Creek into South Carolina. The second coming from the direction of Foot Valley passing through the lower edge of Hancock, then the center of Glascock into lower end of Warren, McDuffie ,and Columbia Counties. It struck and demolished the house of John Bartlett, killed his child and wounded several others. It destroyed the farms of George Dorsey and George Batson. At Appling, Columbia County, it demolished the house of Dr. Wiley wounded Miss (unreadable) mortally. At the (unreadable) place on the Petersburg road, fifteen miles from Augusta, Richmond County, the tornado swept away everything. The Negro Quarters were completely demolished and eight or ten others killed, with a number also wounded. Mr. Ellis Waltons house near that of Mrs. J. Walton was picked up by the wind, carried forty feet and set in the middle of the road. One of Mr. Waltons children was killed.

At Mr. George Grays place every vestige of the highway was obliterated. Trees were blown down, fences carried entirely away, and the face of the country left a desolate waste. Mr. Grays place is on the Thompson road, about two miles from Appling, Columbia County. At the courthouse the tornado raged with terrific violence. The courthouse itself, one of the finest in the country, was badly damaged. One end was blown in. The Ordinary was in the building at the time. Mr. Wm. Benton, who was in the courthouse, also was badly bruised. His horse, standing outside, was killed. The school house, Methodist and Baptist Churches were demolished. A Mr. McCay was driving his wagon along the road when the storm struck him. He was blown some distance from his team and had his shoulder severely fractured. At Mr. George Grays a young child was picked up by the wind and carried sixty yards, at least, from the house and dashed to death.

Mrs. Waltons dwelling was one of the costliest and handsomest houses in Columbia County. The loss here will be very great. On this place the loss of life was absolutely fearful. Three others were killed and from twenty to twenty-five wounded, some of the injuries sustained being of a savage character.

On Dr. Hamiltons place the damage was also heavy. Ten houses and all the barns, stables, etc. were destroyed. Edmund Kelly had his arm broken. Two more have died at Mr. J.E. Smiths place. The suffering is very great. The people are without houses and as many as twenty persons, some of whom are wounded are huddled together in small houses.

Richmond County--- Fourteen miles from Augusta, the damage was great! The path of the tornado was about six hundred yards wide. An eye witness was some distance outside the path describes the scene as fearfully grand. The tornado was a cylindrical shape and rotated with a fearful velocity. It would rise to a dizzy height and then swoop down like a bird of prey with terrific force, tearing up trees, grass, fencing and everything else as it struck the earth. At Col. A.C. Walkers plantation, sixteen houses were destroyed. At Mr. Barney Greiners three buildings were demolished. Mr. Henry Kellys houses were all blown down. At Mr. John Elliots the tornado struck the dwelling and tore it down, Mrs. Elliot was sick in bed at this time. She was nearly crushed as timbers fell and crushed the bed. The storm struck Mr. T.F. Branchs and Mr. Collins places all was demolished, but no one injured. Two churches were destroyed. Loss of property was very great. The storm crossed the river, passed into Beach Island and played terrible havoc at Mr. Foremans place. Every house, tree and fence were leveled and five others killed. It is probable that there were other disasters at the island.

South Carolina---- The Storm crossed the river at Furys ferry, sunk the ferry boat, tore the top off Mr. Dearmans house as it passed on into Edgefield County. The Currytown section was completely desolated. The Catholic Church in Aiken was demolished and pictures carried several hundred yards away. Between Williston and Windsor the South Carolina railroad accumulated great damage. The storm raged on in South Carolina, for the purpose of my article I am stopping hear as we leave Georgia. Much more damage was done in Georgia that was not reported. This report only covers the timeline of March 20th to reports made by March 24th, 1875.

County Name: Killed: Reported injured:

Harris 16 8

Talbot 4 5

Upson 0 0 no reports sent in

Monroe 2 1

Jones 4 1

Baldwin 11 14

Hancock 3 2

Glascock 11 1

Warren 5 32

McDuffie 7 8

Columbia 20 26

Richmond 5 4

Newspaper reports claim 100 killed foot up and 123 wounded. The End

Georgias Great Tornado March 20th, 1875. Thanks Ron

 

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