1909 tornado outbreak

- A terrific cyclone passed through a portion of Maury, Giles, Hickman and Williamson Counties last night, and as a result thirty-five or forty known dead and a hundred or more injured, some seriously. NWS The home of Wilson Estes was also destroyed, together with the livery barn of Russell Estes, owner of Primm Springs Hotel. The property loss will mount into the thousands. GRAZULIS: Moved ENE from somewhere west of Shipps Bend to north of Clovercroft. This large outbreak of tornadoes included an EF3 tornado that caused significant damage to homes, business, schools and infrastructure in Jacksboro, Texas. A tornado destroyed 23 homes and damaged a depot and a hotel in Decherd. One-half of the house where Attorney J. Based on all this information, the path location was adjusted to the south of Franklin, with the path width added as 300 yards based on reports in the Nashville American. With the exception of several street lights being burned out, the damage at McEwen was slight. The description of the tornado path by Grazulis does not match the reports in the Nashville American and Williamson Herald, which indicate the tornado passed around 1 mile south of Franklin, not north as Grazulis wrote, with heavy damage in Hillsboro, Southall, on Carter's Creek Pike, between Winstead Hill and the Battleground Academy on Columbia Pike, at the Historic Carenton Plantation, and on Lewisburg Pike. National Weather Service SHAMBURGER (2016): Based on the narrative by Grazulis and the reports in the Nashville American, the path of this tornado was adjusted to begin on the Humphreys County border around 9 miles west of Dickson, pass between Tennessee City and Dickson, go through Charlotte, and end between Charlotte and Bellsburg. All the houses there are damaged more or less, but no one was killed. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 12, "PERHAPS FATALLY HURT": McEWEN, Tenn., April 30. Please try another search. 22 others lost their lives that fateful night across Middle Tennessee in tornadoes that struck Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Wilson, Grundy, and Fentress Counties. W. C. Greer lost his large barn and two mail hacks. Four people are known to be dead and two are missing, supposed to have been blown away as their home was demolished. The desperately injured are: R. H. Thompson, a son and daughter of Mrs. Money, Hiram Prince and Prof. R. S. Ballen. Two people were killed and 20 injured in that second storm. In the end, this first tornado, an F3, cut a path 45-miles long through Hickman, Maury, and Williamson counties. This large tornado then passed 2 to 3 miles south of Nolensville, moved 1 mile northwest of Florence Station, passed over Wards Mill (also called Evans Mill or Nice Mill) around 4 miles southeast of Smyrna, then damaged homes and barns just south of Walter Hill. That tornado appears to have begun west of Aspen Hill, passing near Aspen Hill and Conway, where the school was destroyed, between Bunker Hill and Bryson, and through Bee Spring. These pictures show the damage in Centerville in Hickman County where there were 9 deaths and 32 injuries. As soon as neighbors could be informed of the disaster, they hastened to the relief of the suffering. Several parties sustained slight injuries. Intensity was unclear but probably F2 based upon descriptions. The wind was from the southwest and first struck the west end of the city and blew down a number of houses in Bushtown, the negro part of the city. The dwelling of Lon Dowell was unroofed, and the house of Will Hickman was blown fifty yards and caught fire and was consumed. It touched down during the dead of night between 10 and 11PM. A. Hickerson a house barn, buggies and fences. To this day, the 1909 outbreak remains the second-deadliest on record in Tennesseeeven the April 34, 1974 Super Outbreak and the February 56, 2008, Super Tuesday outbreak produced just 45 and 31 deaths each in the state.[1]. The cyclone followed the course of Dog Creek, a small stream close to the springs, and followed it until it came to the mouth of the hollow, when it entered the hollow and laid waste everything in its path. - This place was visited Thursday night about 1 o'clock by a cyclone traveling in a southeasterly direction. Show. The timber for 250 yards wide in the path of this tornado is down for many miles. J. One negro family, Nancy Smith and two children lost their lives in the wreckage of their little home, and one of Till Bledsoe's children was killed. The greatest damage was done in the Florence and Walter Hill sections. For a strip more than two miles in width along the railroad between here and Tennessee City, and on through that portion of the county traversed by the storm, scarcely a tree is left standing, but all lie as flat as if rolled over by some immense road roller. This tornado is estimated to have begun southwest of Statesville, then moved east-northeast into DeKalb County, passing 2 miles south of Alexandria before ending near Smith Fork - roughly around 15 miles. Damage: Will McGrew's family consisted of ten. Although not specifically stated in the article, Mr. Henry Reed of Cross Roads died from his injuries per death certificate records. As soon as a message could be sent to Pulaski, local doctors and citizens hastened to the scene of disaster to aid as much as possible in the work of relief. On Lick Creek the house of Frank Hunter was badly wrecked and one member of his family blown for a short distance without serious injury. GRAZULIS: Twenty-three homes were destroyed, and a hotel and depot were unroofed at Decherd. All missing people in Kentucky have been accounted for, Gov. So one family that lived here in Bee Spring near the cemetery lost seven members of the family including the mother and six children. But for the fact that the country is hilly and in places thinly settled the destruction would have been even greater. - April 29, at 8:15 p.m., Charlotte was visited with an electrical storm and tornado about 300 yards wide, taking all in its path. Grazulis and some newspapers reported 4 deaths in Franklin County from Owl Hollow to Decherd, but newspaper articles indicate at least 2 more people died from their injuries several weeks later after the tornado, with other people still in critical condition. The large marble shaft erected to the memory of the Collier family, and in the private ground, was thrown to the ground. GRAZULIS: Moved NE from just over the Alabama line, crossing extreme SE Giles County to 5 miles NW of Fayetteville. Eight-year-old boy of Paulina Farris, colored, Centreville. Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. The path of the cyclone at this point is about 300 yards wide, and was accompanied by a heavy rain and thunder and electrical display. The cyclone wrecked the house and killed Mrs. McGrew and six children, while Mr. McGrew, a son and a baby escaped with serious injuries. Here it blew away the barn in which Duff was sheltered at the time, breaking three of Duff's toes, but otherwise he was not injured. Parts of the planning mill were blown through F. H. White's residence, some 200 yards away, and Mrs. White was slightly injured and their house considerably damaged. SHAMBURGER (2016): Based on the reports in the Nashville American, the number of deaths and injuries cited by Grazulis is too low, and the reported 4 deaths and 50 injuries in Montgomery County were used here. BEE SPRING, Tenn. (WKRN) On April 29th and 30th in 1909, Middle Tennessee suffered its deadliest tornado outbreak in history. - Dickson County was swept by a terrible storm last night, and as a result more than fifty houses lay wrecked today, and the damage to property will run far into the thousands of dollars. But several hundred dollars will be needed for relief work and the more fortunate should respond liberally. The farms lying on the hillsides are washed in deep gullies and the low land is completely flooded. On March 21-22, there were 108 tornadoes that impacted several states most focused across Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Alabama. Near Cross Roads, one man was killed and two more people were severely injured (F2) before the tornado lifted somewhere northeast of that community, a distance of roughly 20 miles. The most frightful wreckage and loss of life occurred in the little valley through which passes the road from Bunker Hill to Bryson, and in which were located the homes of Bud Guffey, Will McGrew, Lee Smith, J. S. Bryson and others. 63 people lost their lives, and more than 200 were injured from a total of 12 tornadoes. It went on record as an F2 tornado. P. M. Greenwood had a small house blown away. January's largest single outbreak happened over the course of two days when 129 tornadoes were spawned, mostly in the South, in the record year of 1999. Result of the Work of the Storm in Dickson County": DICKSON, Tenn., April 30. A colored child on W. R. Anderson's farm was killed, making the fourth death so far reported. The path length was extended from Grazulis' 15 miles to 20 miles and path width added as 1/4 mile based on the information in the Nashville American, along with the time being adjusted to 8 PM from 830 PM. The storm was about two miles south of Alexandria, and the following farmers had their barns demolished entirely or unroofed: James Dinwiddle, J. S. Turner, J. D. Griffith, Oby Jenkins, G. G. Gibbs, Vick Groom, Bob Vannatta, John Midgett (two), Mort Foutch, and Hanison Self. A relief committee was organized with John W. Young, Elkton R. 1, as chairman, and in a little while enough funds were in hand to provide food and clothing to supply the immediate necessities of those who had lost everything. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, May 1 1909, PAGE 4, "NOLENSVILLE SECTION": NOLENSVILLE, April 30. [3] However, the 1909 outbreak did not produce any F5 tornadoes on the Fujita scale; only one such event occurred in Tennessee on April 16, 1998. It is reported that one man is dead, but his name cannot be ascertained. Many narrow escaped from death are reported, but only one person is known to have been injured, an old lady, Mrs. Upchurch, but the extent of her injuries is not known FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 4, "SMYRNA IS STRUCK": SMYRNA, Tenn., April 30. The deadliest tornado outbreak ever in Middle Tennessee, and one of the worst tornado outbreaks in the history of the United States, struck the region from the evening hours on April 29, 1909, through the night and into the next day on April 30, 1909. The Elk Cotton Mill was damaged about $5,000. There were also numerous reports of livestock killed by flying debris. The home of the widow Speight was also destroyed. A large number of cattle and hogs were killed and telephonic communication south of the town has been entirely cut off. The two main outbreaks alone were responsible for at least 145 of these tornadoes. 20th Century 1909 Oct 14, Tornado Outbreak, AL (11-21), AR (2), GA (1-2), TN (42-50) -56-75 lornajarrettblanchard October 14, 1909 95 Daily Telegraph, Atlantic, IA. Some homes were reportedly destroyed in six counties further to the ENE, but tornadoes there are not confirmable. At Florence, a village about six miles from here, the large mill known as "Ward Mill", on the Stones River, was blown completely into the river. This tornado appears to be from the same long-track supercell which tracked from the Memphis area and later produced the tornadoes in Hickman, Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, DeKalb, Putnam, Fentress, and Scott Counties. Greatest damage and the most horrible loss of life occurred in the community between Bunker Hill and Bryson, but the destruction was by no means confined to one place. It is thought that the dead and injured list will be increased by further reports. So far as reported, no lives were lost, but on the farm of Mrs. Charles Ward all of the outhouses were blown away and a Mr. Gannon and his wife were injured. The late-April 1909 tornado outbreak was a deadly tornado outbreak that affected much of the central and Southern United States between April 29 and May 1, 1909. The most terrible cyclone in the history of Giles County struck with great fury between 11 and 12 o'clock Thursday night. Here is an opportunity in my judgement, for an exhibition of true Christian benevolence. - M. C. NORTHINGTON, Mayor.". There have been. The cyclone struck Rudolphtown about 8 o'clock and traveled in a northeasterly course. The next place in Tennessee was the farm of Mrs. Kate Wall, where all the fences and outbuildings were blown away and considerable other damage wrought. The tornado was a mile wide at times, and its winds reached 300 mph, putting it at the top of the Fujita scale for tornado intensity. Aftermath of deadly April 1909 tornado outbreak in Centerville, TN (Tennessee State Library & Archives) 62 people were killed in the outbreak, with 31 of them dying when a massive F4 tornado. The second largest was the Super Outbreak of April 3-4, 1974, which was credited with producing 148 tornadoes in the central and southern United States (though 4 of these were later . It came from the northwest, traveling with great momentum. The property loss will mount into the thousands. 1909: A tornado moves the Algood Methodist Church off its foundation. There is no information about the tornado path from Lascassas into Wilson County, so the tornado is estimated to have lifted somewhere southwest of Statesville. Damage: 30 - A heavy and disastrous cyclone passed through this section last night between the hours of eleven and twelve o'clock and struck one-quarter of a mile west of Franklin, killing an old negro woman and injuring three of her children, two of which may die. Mrs. Speight, one mile from Charlotte, suffered a severe loss. Six people were killed in Hickman County, along a track through Shipps Bend, Centerville, and Little Tot. Two of the couple's sons were blown over a 20-foot bluff and into a nearby creek. Late-April 1909 Tornado Outbreak - Confirmed Tornadoes - April 29 Event April 29 Event Read more about this topic: Late-April 1909 Tornado Outbreak, Confirmed Tornadoes Famous quotes containing the word event: " When we awoke, we found a heavy dew on our blankets. The cyclone struck Primm Springs, a summer resort in Hickman County, and devastated the country. Many of the inhabitants here moved to Bryson, a few miles away, and that community grew a little bit larger. Jack Pope's home was wrecked and he and his wife were killed. It is impossible to obtain details, as the wires are all down. Damage: This historical footage of Oklahoma's worst-ever tornado outbreak was assembled using News 9's on-air broadcast along with storm tracker footage and some images/interviews with viewers. Almost every dwelling was rendered unsafe. FROM THE FENTRESS COUNTY GAZETTE, MAY 6 1909, "Local News": The storm of last Friday morning, which was so severe in different parts of the state, did no damage in this immediate vicinity. It is impossible to estimate the property loss, probably not less than a hundred thousand dollars. A family of tornadoes also affected later Hickman and Williamson Counties southwest of Nashville and later moved into Cookeville and Putnam Counties. 1 could not continue on account of the wreckage of the roadways. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 4 1909, PAGE 5, "HEAVY DAMAGE AT CHARLOTTE": CHARLOTTE, Tenn., May 3. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The 77 killer tornadoes recorded in the year 1909 marked an all-time yearly record for the number of killer tornadoes, a total that was only equaled in the year 1917. His mother, who was seriously injured, and a little boy were rescued with much difficulty from the ruins. The several cashiers will take charge of same several cashiers will take charge of same and see to it that it is property and judiciously distributed among those who are destitute. The clouds rolled like tremendous waves out of the southwest, and the thunder's crash was deafening, while the electric flashes played incessantly, lighting up the dark-canopied earth like a refulgent monster meteor. SHAMBURGER (2016): This tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. - The most horrible catastrophe ever known in Lincoln County was the cyclone which passed through the county last night about midnight, wrecking homes, destroying lives and injuring a large number of citizens. The Alex Mitchell family of five in Hillsboro was also reportedly all killed, but this could not be confirmed. The Bee Spring community after the tornado was never quite the same and never really recovered. Several negro families lost their homes. Despite the significant damage, death and injuries, this tornado was not included in Grazulis' book Significant Tornadoes. The missing are Mr. and Mrs. Bob Stevens, whose home was torn to pieces. The writer went across the country to Sulphur Fork, following it up, and through Charlotte, on the west side of town. The storm seemed to reach the proportions of a tornado at a late hour of the night, sweeping from northeast to southwest, carrying down many farm buildings, but fortunately it passed through a sparsely-settled section and in about twenty minutes it completely reversed its course, turning from the northeast to the southwest, and many of the buildings were blown back in the opposite direction. B. Thompson lives was blown across the street and his barn turned over, but his family was not hurt. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 2 1909, PAGE 4, section FOUR DEATHS IN MONTGOMERY: CLARKSVILLE, Tenn., May 1. A total of 22 people were killed in that area (Giles County), and seven near "Millville" (Lincoln County). Mrs. Will Adcock and her daughter are reported killed, but not verified. At this time it is impossible to ascertain the damage and loss of life to stock; no lives so far reported. Please Contact Us. Coming as it did near midnight, when the people generally were asleep, many barely escaped in their night clothes. The town of Statesville, six miles from here, was struck last night by a tornado. A large oak tree was lifted bodily and blown across it, crushing in the roof. It next struck the farm of Judge B. C. Batts, near Sadlersville, blew down his barn, his shade trees and other valuable timber, striking next the farm of Jervy Grubbs, where it demolished his tobacco barn, fences and other buildings; then struck the farm of Tom Sanders and his residence, barns and other buildings were destroyed. The horror of the storm was greatly increased especially were people were (sic) severely hurt by the darkness and torrents of rain, which followed. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 10: ALGOOD, Tenn., April 30 - At this place, four miles east of Cookeville, the Southern Methodist church was demolished. FROM THE NASHVILLE AMERICAN, MAY 1 1909, PAGE 12, "ON THE MOUNTAIN": MONTEAGLE, Tenn., April 30 - Much damage was done in this section by the storm of last night. At Leiper's Fork, in Williamson County, a mother and three children were killed in their home. B. Barnes'. Mrs. Brown was seriously if not fatally injured. Mr. Parkes had a cow killed, fruit trees destroyed and barn blown down. A horse owned by Rev. - Following the trail of the storm which passed through Centreville April 9, the tornado last night between 10 and 11 o'clock was one of the most appalling that has visited this section probably in half a century. Nashville, TN500 Weather Station RoadOld Hickory, TN 37138615-754-8500Comments? As soon as neighbors could be informed of the disaster, they hastened to the relief of the suffering. The clouds rolled like tremendous waves out of the southwest, and the thunder's crash was deafening, while the electric flashes played incessantly, lighting up the dark-canopied earth like a refulgent monster meteor. Mr. McNutt, wife and three children, near Fayetteville. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. - The house of Bush Brown, on Hurricane Creek, three miles from McEwen, was destroyed by a heavy wind last night. Thousands of trees were downed and cattle were killed. The Tri-State Tornado occurred on March 18, 1925. His entire family was wiped out of existence. The majority of the 34 deaths caused by this F4 tornado were in the residential areas of the east and south areas of the town. References National Weather Service. Some North American outbreaks affecting the U.S. may only include tornado information from the U.S. It traveled through the Conway Community, destroying the local public school, Lancaster explained. And then coming through Bee Spring destroying homes and families and a local church here by the cemetery.. 63 people lost their lives, and more than 200 were injured from. The most notable result was the destruction of the Web & Crawford Planing Mill. One massive grave contains the remains of an entire family. In all there were 12 tornadoes that caused 62 fatalities in Middle Tennessee. J. D. Butler's house was damaged considerably, and the Methodist Church, South, had part of the roof blown away. A force of men from Scott and Morgan counties under the road overseers, cleared the road on May 3rd. Columbia, Tenn., April 20. A thorough reading of the Nashville American, Nashville Tennessean, and Pulaski Citizen newspaper articles for several days after the tornado outbreak indicates 22 deaths occurred in Giles County and 9 deaths occurred in Lincoln County, for a total of 31 deaths from this tornado. I call upon all persons in this community who will contribute to this object to leave contributions at either of the banks. In town here a number of window panes were broken. One son, Oscar, was hit by falling timbers and considerably bruised. It is impossible at this time to estimate the damage. Some homes were reportedly destroyed in six counties further to the ENE, but tornadoes there are not confirmable. Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, 5 reported dead after severe weather in Kentucky, Rollover crash cleared on I-65N, injuries reported, Man hit, killed after celebrating birthday in Nashville, Driver dead after MD tanker explosion, fire, Ja Morant investigated by NBA over Instagram post, More than 21K NES customers without power, Downed power lines cause road closure in Goodlettsville, 1 killed amid turbulence event on business jet, Straight line winds damage buildings in Waverly, Portions of Calif. home hang over cliff after landslide, BBB: Beware of Storm Chasers in Middle TN, WATCH: Carjacking suspect caught after wild chase, Man dies after being hit by metal carport in Kentucky, Highest wind speeds from Fridays severe storms, Parent threatens teacher over book assignments, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Ten homes were destroyed. This tornado is estimated to have touched down in Fentress County southwest of Gatewood Ford Road just west of the Morgan County border, then moved northeast to near where the Crooked Creek and Clear Fork meet destroying a sawmill (F1), and then on into Morgan County. April 29, 1909 Tornado Outbreak. RUGBY. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. Three other tornadoes killed four people in the Memphis coverage area, including in St. Francis and Lee Counties in Arkansas and Haywood County in Tennessee. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. - This section was visited by a cyclone last night at 11 o'clock, leaving suffering and destruction in its path. This page was last edited on 12 March 2022, at 09:35. Part of a larger outbreak that started a few days earlier, the unrelenting barrage of . Damage: A few barns and other outhouses were totally destroyed, and a dwelling occupied by Sol Bates, near Linden, was utterly demolished, several members of his family being more or less hurt and one child was killed. The old McGavock home is wrecked. Andy Beshear said Saturday. The rear flank downdraft of the parent supercell also caused significant damage up to 2 miles south of the tornado path, such as the numerous trees blown down across Winchester. This particular cyclone began its work of destruction in the neighborhood of Conway, though several barns and tenant houses were blown down west of that place. Fortunately no one was killed, but several were wounded. 11 deaths were recorded in the Missouri storm, 5 near Texas City and 29 along the Alabama-Tennessee state line. Greatest damage and the most horrible loss of life occurred in the community between Bunker Hill and Bryson, but the destruction was by no means confined to one place. Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. Four-year-old child of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Thompson, Totty's Bend. The tornado destroyed homes on at least three farms and killed an elderly man and a child in separate homes. [1] And five days later, Mrs. Marlin died from her injuries at a Nashville hospital. "Some splendid homes were turned to rubbish.". Historian John Lancaster with the Giles County Historical Society recalled that fateful night. Mrs. Will Adcock and her daughter are reported killed, but not verified. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The seriously injured are M. J. Farrar and daughter, of Gyruston, the former having a broken collarbone, and the latter a broken arm and leg; residence wrecked and burned. US Dept of Commerce The tornado outbreak of late-April 1909 was a deadly tornado outbreak that affected much of the central and Southern United States between April 29 and May 1, 1909. Four houses are blown down in Franklin. A tornado outbreak March 24-25 dropped several long-track, powerful tornadoes in Alabama, one of which impacted cities like Greensboro, Brent and Centreville and stayed on the ground for more than . One of the saddest stories was of two brothers in the Hillsboro/Leipers Fork area who were blown over a 20-foot bluff and into a nearby creek, according to the Nashville American newspaper. Another one of Mr. Cox's sons sustained a broken leg and his wife is badly hurt. It is impossible to estimate the property loss, probably not less than a hundred thousand dollars. The Bee Spring Church was destroyed and many graves in the cemetery are the resting places of those killed that fateful day. - The windstorm in this county Thursday night was probably the worst in its history. The cyclone went from Primm's on to Centreville. A large oak tree was lifted bodily and blown across it, crushing in the roof. Four people are known to be dead and two are missing, supposed to have been blown away as their home was demolished. Besides the loss of property, which is now estimated at $100,000, seven known dead are reported, and injured. The barn of Dr. Neely, representative from this county, was blown away. The total list of those killed in Giles County, so far as could be learned the day after the storm was eighteen white people and four negroes, making twenty two in all. Telephone lines are a mass of wires and poles. Coming into Robertson County the storm struck the barn of Mrs. Laban Warfield on the place occupied by Mr. Duff. The plate glass show windows stood the shock, but a number of other smaller lights in the windows were broken. Col. Pendergrass' residence was blown from its foundation. More than 320 died in the twister barrage . National Weather Service. This is the first storm of the kind that ever visited this section, although in 1878 much timber was blown down. Wires all down everywhere and communication with the country cut off. Jack Pope's home was wrecked and he and his wife were killed. The houses damaged were all unoccupied, except the one destroyed. M. Gilbert, 1909 Natural Disasters: 1909 Atlantic Hurricane Season, 1909 Earthquakes, Tornadoes Of 1909, Late-April 1909 Tornado Outbreak|LLC Books . The tornado tore apart eight or nine farms and damaged or destroyed 25 buildings in Charlotte. Affecting particularly the Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys, it killed over 150 people, 60 of them in the U.S. state of Tennessee alone. The courthouse was unroofed, and sixteen of its beautiful shade trees uprooted. ": Dickson, Tenn., Apr. Following is a partia (?) From there, it crossed over to Columbia Avenue, where it completely wrecked everything along both sides of the pike, from Winstead Hill to the area just adjacent to Battle Ground Academy. The tornado outbreak this week featured more than 400 tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings that spanned nearly two-dozen states. A large warehouse and storehouse were wrecked. - The little town of Smyrna was close to the path of a terrific storm that swept through this section last night, causing much damage to property, and it was miraculous that no lives were lost. North of Memphis, Tennessee, two F3 tornadoes killed a total of 22 from Crittenden County, Arkansas, to Carroll County, Tennessee.