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Alabama
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WEATHER RELATED
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1920 - April 21 - Montgomery
Advertiser
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ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI SWEPT BY GREAT
TORNADO
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Hamilton, Ala., Apr. 20 - Sixteen are known to be
dead, scores injured, many so seriously that others will die
and property loss estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars as
the results of a tornado which swept over the northwestern part of
Marion County this morning about nine o'clock.
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The dead thus far known, all of whom were killed within ten miles
of Hamilton, are as follows: SAM TAYLOR and wife, JIM TAYLOR and
wife, Mrs. TAYLOR, mother of the TAYLOR boys, Mrs. TOM BYRD,
COLBURN child 8 years old, MAX CANTRELL, RUBY CANTRELL, Children
of E. L. CANTRELL, Mrs. MINOR, mother-in-law of E. L. CANTRELL,
Mrs. VIVIAN CANTRELL, Mrs. IDA CANTRELL, Mrs BESS CANTRELL, Son of
J. T. SANDERSON, CLOVIS SULLENS, DECIE BLANCHARD,
negro.
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The dead and injured were brought into Hamilton during the
afternoon and the courthouse here has been converted into a
temporary hospital. Men and women of Hamilton and of this
entire section not affected by the storm have worked heroically
all day and far into the night to give such relief as they
could.
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All of
the telephone wires into the stricken section were down so that
the only communication with the scene was such as was brought back
by those making the trip. Fences, trees, and debris were
blown across the roads in every direction, making it difficult as
well as hazardous to negotiate the seven miles which separate
Hamilton from the devastated area.
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Most of
the dead brought here were terribly mangled. Arms and legs and
many cases had been blown completely off. It was quickly seen that
Hamilton alone was not able to cope with the situation and help
was called for. As a result this afternoon and tonight
physicians and surgeons are here from Guin, Winfield, Haleyville,
Jasper, and Carbon Hill and there is plenty of work for them all
to do.
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The stricken community will undoubtedly have to call upon the
outside world for aid. Hundreds of homes have been
completely leveled to the ground. Scores of people, though
uninjured, are without shelter. Their barns have all
been destroyed. Dead cattle, horses and mules are found
everywhere. It would be impossible to exaggerate the condition
along a stretch of several miles.
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Hamilton is the county seat of Marion county, but it is off the
railroad. ---- the worst storm area is between ---
and ten miles west of this place.
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It is
impossible tonight to prepare a list of the injured as their
neighbors and friends are caring for them in the best way they
can. It is known, however, that the number of injured is
many times that of the number of the dead.
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The storm
came suddenly about nine o'clock and moved
northeast.
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