Wilkinson County, MS
Territory News Items

MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY
DARING OUTRAGE!
NATCHEZ, SEPT. 6

    We are informed by a gentleman from the neighborhood of Pinckneyville, that a party of armed Spaniards (number not known) entered that place, late on Monday evening last, and forcibly seized and carried off Messrs. Reuben and Samuel Kemper. - When our informant left home he understood that Col. Baker was employed taking depositions respect this event , for the information of the executive.

    An agent of Mr. Edward Randolph's, who kept a store, at the mouth of Rayan Sarah, has been also driven from thence at an hour's notice. [New England Palladium, Boston, Massachusetts - October 15, 1805 - Submitted by Nancy Piper]

NATCHEZ, July 5.

    Near Pinckneyville, the daughter of a man advanced in years, and bearing the title of Colonel, was addressed by a wretch, (whose only recomendation (sic) was being in possession of property) - who was every way disagreeable to the lady. - Neither the humanity of the father nor the delicacy of the lover were awakened by this circumstance - the avarice of the one and the selfishness of the other, overlooked every objection of the unhappy girl, though urged with all her power - even at the very altar.  She was forced by threats and even blows, into the arms of a man she despised, to suffer, lingering torture, in comparison with which death would have been merciful.  To the praise of those in authority in the Spanish dominions, no one could be found to perform the ceremony. [Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia, PA - August 29, 1805 - Submitted by Nancy Piper]

TORNADO
From the Mississippi Herald, of May 20. (1806)

        Pinckneyville, May 19, 8 p. m. - Yester there passed through this place a violent tornado, which has nearly destroyed the village; a heavy rain had fallen on the evening of Tuesday, and the morning of Wednesday was cloudy.  About a quarter before 7 o'clock the firmament became much darkened, and in a few minutes the awful approach of this whirlwind was announced by the falling of trees in the vicinity.  The general course of the tornado was from the south west to the northeast, and its duration about a minute, accompanied with some hail and a torrent rain; the following statement comprises the damages-commencing at the south west end of the village. ----- Mr. Curtis and a journeyman sought and found safety in a neighboring cluster of woods, by laying flat on the earth -- the dwelling house of Mr. John Horton unroofed; the top of his kitchen blown a way, and several hundred feet of paling tore down; Mr. Horton, his wife and children were injured in the dwelling house, and several servants were in the kitchen.  A small frame store house belonging to Mr. Mace, in which his clerk, Mr. Morrow was in bed, was blown 16 feet into the street.  A large building of captain Randolph's occupied by Messrs. F___, and who were in it at the time, was unroofed.  The roof of the meeting house was crushed in, and the body of the house with its contents, raised from the blocks and carried one hundred and seventeen feet, in a course of north, 54 degrees west.  A new heavy log building, 22 by 18 feet belonging to Esquire Dawson, was leveled, and not a vestige standing but the chimney; at the time of its tumbling, Thomas Lilley, his wife, and three children, who had moved into the house but the day before, were in one corner of it.  Mr. Samuel Perry blown down, and a considerable party of the fence carried away; to this house was a woman and child  -- A log building occupied by William Dawson as a saddler's shop, blown down.  Capt. Randolph's building occupied by Mr. Nathan Kemper as a tavern, a stable, and some small buildings were unroofed; in this house were Messrs. Kemper & six other persons.  One side of the dwelling of Mr. Lyons was uncovered and a corn house and his fence blown down; 1200 feet of new cypress paleing from around Capt. Randolph's lots blown down; and two brick chimnies (sic) from his dwelling, to the hips, a small covered way between his warehouse and store crushed in & the warehouse which was large and contained a quantity of heavy goods, moved five inches on the blocks.  A pigeon house underpinned with bricks and one other small building blown down.  A small log stable belonging to Dr. Backus unroofed; and two of buildings belonging to John Wall, Esquire, were blown down, and the building of John Sampson was unroofed.

        Fortunately no lives were lost, and with the exception of Thomas Lilley's wife, and Mrs. Simpson, who was in Mr. Perry's house, no one was hurt, and these but slightly.  How it could happen that in this general wreck of matter so little personal injury was sustained is cause of astonishment, and to be attributed only to Divine Providence.

        The place for a few hours looked gloomy, but some of the humane planters of the neighborhood, having sent in some of their negroes, and a few houses that were susceptible of temporary repairs have undergone them, which had afforded a shelter to the distress citizens during the torrent of rains that have since fallen.

        We have been informed that considerable damage has been done by the Tornado, on the 18th, on the Bayou Pierre and other parts of the territory, also that a number of boats have been lost. [New York Herald, NY - July 12, 1806, page 3 - Submitted by Nancy Piper]