Twisters of Fate

Tornadoes whirled through the deep South last week. Half a dozen separate twisters struck Vicksburg, Rolling Fork, Tulles. Dry Prong, Paradis. Ouachita City and dozens of hamlets and rural areas in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Georgia, leaving an estimated 41 dead, 263 injured.

Hardest hit was proud Vicksburg, on the bluffs overhanging the Mississippi. The tornado struck the city (pop. 27,948) with a noise like a fast-moving freight, toppled markers along the Confederate trenches used during the Civil War siege of Vicksburg, flattened the flimsy shanties of the Negro section, roared through the heart of the business district, demolishing or damaging nearly every store in a twelve-block area, then capriciously hopped several blocks to a northern part of the city before spending itself.

In the Saenger Theater, six or more children were killed when the roof collapsed. The bodies of two four-year-olds were removed from the wreckage of a day nursery. People in automobiles were crushed. Electricity and gas were knocked out. and for a time the darkened streets were lighted only by the fires flickering in the ruined homes and stores.

Next day the city of Vicksburg counted its casualties: at least 30 dead, 230 injured, 1,200 homeless, total damage at least $25 million.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.