The storm last Friday did great damage, especially in the north part of the county. the storm came just at the close of (William Jennings) Bryan's lecture at the ball park and in less than fifteen minutes after the crowd had dispersed the shed under which hundreds of people had been seated was blown down, but fortunately all had made a run for home and no one was hurt. The roof was torn and R. N. White's Store was flooded.

At Celeste, the top story of the ill-fated cotton mill of that town was blown down, the machinery greatly damaged by wind and water, the damage being estimated at $4,000 or more. The Christian Church there was blown from blocks and the Henslee Hardware lost some roof and the store was flooded, doing great damage to goods. The residence of John Stallings, north of Celeste, was damaged and two houses on the Brawley place were blown from the blocks. Bunch Brothers Store was damaged and through the country north and east of Celeste more of less damage was reported.

At Kingston, the awning of the Rose (Ross?) Building was blown off and fell on S. L. Richie and little son, John Holiday, James Scott, and J. H. Hodge, slightly injuring them. The home of Mr. Parmley was damaged by lightning and many outhouses and sheds suffered at Kingston and in the surrounding county.

The residence of C. M. McGaughey of Jacobia community was blown at one end and sheds, barns, and trees were blown down at many places in the northern part of the county. One-half of I. N. Huffaker's barn was blown away while the other half was left in tact.

Heavy hail was reported at some places and in some instances men are reported to have thrown in the sponge and gone from their crops being so disheartened after planting cotton three times and seeing the third planting destroyed.

Squire Edwards Tells of Storm

June 24--Last Friday evening we had a water spout accompany... ...were thoughtful enough to go up to Mr. Green's storm cellar, otherwise, they undoubtedly would have been killed as the house was picked up bodily and carried about fifty years, dropped, and smashed into kindling. Household goods were scattered several hundred years. O. P. Mothers nearby lost a barn, scattering the lumber several hundred yards. Loss of about $100 and Clarence Kennedy nearby, on the old Mitchell farm, lost his house and contents. The family members were all in the house at the time and a rather strange occurrence, the floor of the house was left intact, which saved the lives of the family perhaps. All were more or less injured save the baby but none seriously.

Next we come to Sherman Gray's on the old Biggerstaff place, his house was badly wrecked and S. L. Wright on the Galbreath place, house partially wrecked and cow sheds blown away.

At the (White) Rock M. E. Church wrecked, lost of about $1,000, school building, and Woodmen Hall damaged about $50; Baptist Church off blocks, damage of about $100; Willie DeFee's residence in west White Rock a wreck, damage of about $500. All manner of crops on this line are destroyed and hundreds of acres outside of the hail district is washed out and lost. Your scribe has never witnessed anything like this before.

Some sickness prevailing yet in this community.

Dr. P. S. Pearson is quite sick.

Wayne Green's little boy, Connor, is very low as is also Miss Mayme Simmons.

Ask Mr. Rodney Granberry if the water in Tidwell Creek was cold last Saturday evening and why he remained in the water so long? SQUIBB

(June 28, 1907, The Greenville Messenger)

Submitted by Sarah Swindell

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