1929 — April 10, Tornadoes, esp. Sneed (23), Princedale (15), Guion (7), Lorado, AR –54-55

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 2-10-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–55  Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 241 and 824

—  9  Stone/Izard Counties, 16:50 F4.

            –2  Herpel

            –7  Guion

–23  Independence/Jackson Counties, Send community, 18:00, F5.

—  8  Jackson/Craighead/Lawrence/Greene Counties, 19:00, F3. 

            –8  Lorando. Seven in one house [Lowthorp family] and one in another.

–17  Cross County, 19:30, F4. 

            —    1  Smith’s Chapel area

            —>15  Princedale

            —    1  Parkin

–54  Encyclopedia of Arkansas (Mark K. Christ). “Sneed Tornado of 1929.” 11-21-2023 update.[1]

            –Many of the 12 in Cleo and Lessie Nicholson home at Swifton, Jackson County.

            —  4  Sneed community. Charles DeFries family members.

            –23  Jackson County

            —  8  Lorado, Greene County.

            —  3  Guion, Izard County.

            –13  Cross County

–52  AP. “2 Deaths Today Bring Tornado’s Toll To Fifty.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-12-1929, 1.

–23  (Jackson F5). NWS WFO, Little Rock, AR. “The F5 Tornado of April 10, 1929.” 

 Narrative Information

National Weather Service, Little Rock, AR Weather Forecast Office: “Late on the afternoon of April 10th 1929, a tornado ranked as F5[2] (the maximum intensity on the Fujita scale of tornado intensity) struck northern Jackson County. This is the only F5 tornado ever documented in Arkansas. It has come to be known as the “Sneed Tornado”. The death toll was listed as 23, with at least another 59 people injured. Some of the injuries were quite severe, including skull fractures….

“The tornado reached its maximum intensity in Jackson County around Pleasant Valley, also known locally as Possum Trot, and then on through the community of Sneed. Both of these communities, located about 2 1/2 to 3 miles north of Swifton, were virtually destroyed. Historical accounts, as well as the report of an eyewitness who is still alive today, indicated that the tornado was 1/2 mile wide at this point. The tornado then began to weaken and passed on just to the south and east of Alicia (Lawrence County)….

“The twister went through timber places as though nothing was in the way, tearing up or breaking off huge trees and laying everything flat that happened to be in its path….

“Pictures taken after the storm bear out the destruction that occurred. Some of the photos show debris scattered around so badly that it was impossible to determine exactly what type of structure had been destroyed.” (NWS. “The F5 Tornado of April 10, 1929.”  Little Rock, AR Weather Forecast Office.)

Newspapers

April 11, AP: “By Associated Press. LITTLE ROCK, April 11 – Forty-two persons are known to be dead, several missing and believed dead, and nearly 100 injured in a tornado which swept through sections of north-central Arkansas last night.

“Twenty-one persons are dead at Swifton, 20 miles north of Newport, and five at Guion. The latter town is reported to have been blown away. All victims were white.

“Six negroes were reported killed in the vicinity of Parkins and four negroes at Princedale.

“The storm struck at Alicia and Swifton, small towns north of Newport. The dead included a Mr. and Mrs. Riley and children, Mr. and Mrs. Riley Long, Miss Viney Long, Mr. and Mrs. Cleo Nicholson. A partial list of dead at Swifton includes: Charles Defries and daughter, Genee; Mrs. J. A. Rowlett, Mrs. Esther Riley and children, Ruth and Buster; Mrs. Russell long and daughter; Howard Watts, Thurston Hudgens and John Loy.” (Associated Press. “43 Known Dead Toll of Arkansas Tornado.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 4-11-1929, p. 1.)

April 12, AP: “LITTLE ROCK, April 12 (AP) – The toll of the tornado which struck North Arkansas Wednesday today stood at 52 dead and approximately 200 injured, while national guardsmen searching in the vicinity of Guion for additional bodies came upon a group  of about 30 persons who had taken refuge from the storm in caverns. The group entered the caves immediately after the storm broke and remained in them for several hours. They ventured out to find their homes gone and returned. They had little food until today when national guardsmen provided for them.

“There were no more bodies or injured found in the Guion area but the storm’s toll was increased to 52 early today with the deaths in a Paragould hospital of Norman Lowthorp, 4, and Geneva Lowthorp, 5, who were the sixth and seventh victims in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lowthorp of Lorado. Both parents and three children were killed instantly in the tornado.

“A city of tents appeared today on the site of Guion, swept away by the storm, as members of the Arkansas national guard began organizing relief work in the district. A special train early today took tents, blankets, food and supplies, as well as Red Cross nurses from Batesville to Guion. Governor Parnell announced he would issue a proclamation over the radio tonight for funds for victims of the tornado. He said relief work was well under way and that all the homeless in the various communities were cared for last night….” (AP. “2 Deaths Today Bring Tornado’s Toll To Fifty.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-12-1929, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “2 Deaths Today Bring Tornado’s Toll To Fifty.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-12-1929, p. 1. Accessed 2-10-2025 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/blytheville-courier-news-apr-12-1929-p-1/

Associated Press. “43 Known Dead Toll of Arkansas Tornado.” Fayetteville Daily Democrat, AR. 4-11-1929, p. 1. Accessed 2-10-2025 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/fayetteville-daily-democrat-apr-11-1929-p-1/

Encyclopedia of Arkansas (Mark K. Christ). “Sneed Tornado of 1929.” 11-21-2023 update. Accessed 2-10-2025 at: https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/sneed-tornado-of-1929-8098/

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Little Rock, AR. “The F5 Tornado of April 10, 1929.” NWS, NOAA, 1-16-2008 update. At:  http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lzk/html/tor041029a.htm

Also accessed 2-10-2025 at: https://www.weather.gov/lzk/tor041029a.htm

[1] Lists twelve sources, none of which were Grazulis, thus number of 54 dead arrived at independently of Grazulis.

[2] F5 tornadoes would have winds of 261-318 mph.