Cass County swept by cyclone

The most destructive cyclone in the history of this country struck this section last Friday afternoon, April 15, 1921 It came from the Southwest and traveled in a Northeasterly course doing damage at Mineola, Gladewater, Gilmer, in Harrison county, striking Cass county at Avinger an passing out about Stone Coal Bluff or Sulphur station, cutting a path estimated from a half to a mile wide clear across the country, doing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and taking a toll of eleven lives, with several more seriously injured and many slightly injured. Something over one hundred homes were destroyed in Cass County.

The destruction left in the path of the cyclone is beyond description. In many places large trees are twisted off at the ground and the trunks carried for hundreds of yards. Houses were totally destroyed, and the timbers blown completely away.

A heavy hail storm accompanied the cyclone and caused untold damage to growing crops where the wind would not have damaged them.

A part of the roof of Frank Haynes barn was found on Hickory Ridge, about four miles from his home. It had been stuck up in the ground and then broken off and the balance of it carried away.

Acres of shingles, leaves, twigs, etc. were twirling through the air in Linden 20 minutes before the full force of the wind hit there.

The roaring of the wind was heard many miles away from the stricken section.

It is said the school house at Spences’s Chapel was so torn up that not one piece of timber from it has been found. It was the last day of school there and teachers and pupils had gone to the creek fishing that afternoon.

The work of relief was delayed on account of the roads being impassable it being necessary for crews to take saws and axes and cut away through before the homes of those living in that section could be reached.

QUEEN CITY

Thousands of people saw the destruction in the rural districts Saturday and Sunday. They went by Cars, buggies, wagons an on foot, and after seeing the need surely no one could refuse to give aid.

Fourteen members of the W. M. S. were present Monday in the home of Mrs. J. B. Wells. All donations are to be made to the local Red Cross and stored at Queen City Bank for distribution.

The Will Roberts home was destroyed. His family are with his mother and sister, Mesdames Ida Roberts, and Will Lee in Queen City. Stewart Simm’s home, close to Will Roberts was completely destroyed.

The W. C. Powell family received solicitous telegram and phone messages from Mrs. Estel Vance Tulsa, and Mrs. Bailey Daughety, Dallas, on reports of the storm.

Mrs. Grady Guyton and children are in W. N. Dupree home for several days, until their home at Anti can be repaired. It was partly wrecked by the storm.

One pair blue mare mules, missing, notify Jim Jett, Atlanta PINEY GROVE

The west side of our community was hit by a cyclone Friday evening, doing considerable damage. Wilbur Stovall’s and J. D. Ward’s residence was blown away. Messrs. V. P. Lyle’s, Scott Lovelady’s, J, E , McCarty’s, and J. J. Hobb’s residences were severely damaged. There was also quite a lot of timber, fences and out building blown down. We were truly fortunate, as there was no one seriously injured or killed.

AT AVINGER

The cyclone struck the residence district in the south part of town, swept every house in its path, and claimed the lives of six people. Thirteen homes were destroyed. Several persons were injured and a number of horses and cattle killed. Among the dead are Mrs. R.L Dunbar and one son of R. L. Jenkins. Every member of the Jenkins family sustained injuries, some of them being seriously hurt. Thirty-five houses were damaged, six people are dead, two are dying and eight are in the hospital with nurses caring for them.

The home of Bart Clark was severely damaged, and several members of his family were injured.

A gin belonging to A. M. Rhyne was demolished.

The homes of the following are known to have been destroyed or badly wrecked; C. A. Webb, George Alford, S. J. Fowler, C. F. Powell, Ernest Felker, Tuna Barnes, Frank Wilson, and the Riley residence.

A tenant house belonging to Mrs. Fred Hall was blown away and Era Johnson home was severely damaged. Most of the persons who were killed were white, A number of Black people sustained serious injuries.

THE STORM DAMAGE

Below we give a list of the damage so far as we have been able to ascertain. There may be other homes destroyed and wrecked that we were not heard of as yet. Numerous horses, mules, cattle, and poultry were either killed or injured. The timber damage is very great. Fences and crops were torn up and damaged. The loss so far cannot be estimated.

B. F. Draper out houses and sheds destroyed. W. E. Smith, on Jesse Dupree farm, the home partially wrecked and caught on fire but extinguished, out houses were destroyed. John Wood home wrecked. Cub Moore, top off home, and timber blown down. Frank Haynes, home, barn, tenant houses and timber were blown down and destroyed. Mrs. John M. Robinson and Mrs. Mollie Thompson, windows of home and out buildings destroyed. Need Help Four little children. Will Roberts, home and out buildings destroyed; wife and child injured. J. C. Rhea, wife and daughter were injured. Stewart Sims home and everything destroyed. Wilbur Stovall, on Greene and Willis farm , house and everything destroyed. J. M. Thompson, on Clabe Coats farm, house and everything blown away. Allen White, home and destroyed everything. Mary White home destroyed. Ben Whitehead, home and tenant houses destroyed. W. R. Womack out houses and fences were destroyed. Gracie Heath, house damaged and barn blown down. Lee Adcock, living on Griffin-Brewer farm. Home destroyed. W. C. Henderson, home, barns destroyed. I. S. Kilgore living on Whitehead farm, destroyed the house and lost everything. Wife and three children. D.A. Lyle, home blown off the blocks, Wife seriously hurt. John C. Adams, home and tenant house destroyed, one cow killed. Joe Harris home destroyed. Joe Harris killed, lost everything, leaves wife and three children. Jim Austin on Johnson estate home destroyed Buck Betts, home and everything destroyed Ewell Brazell, on W. N. Dupree farm, home and destroyed everything. Mrs. N. E. Coats, home was destroyed. Mrs. Enda Lou Eliza Russell’s farm was wrecked. H.C. Coats, home and everything destroyed. Byrd Coats, two rooms of home blown down. M.S. Clark, home was destroyed and wife slightly injured. LeRoy Foster, house blown off blocks. Grady Guy ton, home’ destroyed. Billy Mazingo, living on Roger’s place, lost everything. Little girl Adellia Mazingo killed, and Billy Mazingo injured (girl’s father) Mrs. M.A, Rogers and daughter, home tenant houses, barns, etc. destroyed. J. F. Lam-on, home demolished; six in family. O.S. Pate & Son feed store was destroyed. Perkins old homestead and out houses wrecked. Jim Taylor renter on W. R. Caver farm, eight in family, lost cow, household effects. P. M. Moore, on W. C. Henderson farm, home and everything blown away and child slightly injured. Pink Coleman on Henderson farm, home and everything destroyed. Scott Lovelady home and out building wrecked and other losses. V. P. Lyle, home and out houses blown away. Bethena Hunt home and destroyed everything. T. Woodson and Mary Austin’s home and everything destroyed. Goode Hunt home and all out houses destroyed. Goode hurt in the back. Burl Mickens home and everything destroyed. Wife and baby killed. He lived on Frank Haynes farm. V. D. Glass farm, storm cut a swath through the timber striking Cook Lumber Co. mill, tearing sheds down and blowing down about a dozen houses belonging to Mr. Glass.

April 15 is a day that will live in infamy in East Texas. On this day in 1921, during the afternoon and evening hours, five tornadoes swept through East Texas and Southwest Arkansas. 59 people were killed, 300 were injured, and damage was set at $2 million.

According to the National Weather Service, the tornadoes were first reported in Wood and Upshur counties. Additional twisters were reported near Marion, Cass, and Bowie counties.

The longest tracked tornado traveled 112 miles from Marion County to Hempstead County in Arkansas.