Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 1-25-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–20 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 241.

— 8 03:30 30inj 250y 30m F3. “Moved NE from near Tichnor to beyond Lambrook.”

–12 04:00 60inj 200y 10m F3. “…destroyed a section of Elaine…killing at least 12…”

–17 Blytheville Courier News. “Where Tornado Killed 12 at Lambrook, Ark., Sunday.” 5-20-1930, p.1.[1]

–16 AP. “16 Known Dead From Tornado, Many Homeless.” Harrison Daily Times, AR. 5-19-1930, p1.

–16 Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Tornadoes. “Phillips [county].” 1-8-2025 update.

–16 UP. “Creeks Run Wild; Seventeen Negroes Perish in Tornado.” Anniston Star, AL. 5-19-1930, p1.

— 3 Elaine.[2]

— 2 Elaine, named fatalities.[3]

–12 Lambrook, hotel.[4]

–11 Lambrook, named fatalities.[5]

— 2 Wabash, named fatalities.[6]

Blanchard: We show a range of 16 to 20 deaths, despite the fact that Grazulis, a reliable source, shows 20, in that the largest death toll we could find in newspapers at the time was 17, with most noting 16. Perhaps there were deaths from injuries afterwards that we could not find reported, or deaths we could not find reported, or perhaps Grazulis is mistaken (though, if true, a rare occurrence).

Narrative Information

May 19, AP: “Little Rock, May 19 – (AP) – Stricken by floods, windstorms and a tornado all in a brief period, Arkansas today had a known death list of sixteen, many injured, more than 2,000 homeless and vast property damage. A re-check of tornado-stricken Phillips county showed that 16 negroes were killed and 34 injured at Elaine and neighboring plantations.” (Associated Press. “16 Known Dead From Tornado, Many Homeless.” Harrison Daily Times, AR. 5-19-1930, p. 1.)

May 19 UP: “Helena, Ark, May 19, (U.P.) – Red Cross relief workers moved into the tornado-stricken area South of here today to care for scores of homeless negroes whose plantation cabins were swept away by an early rising tornado yesterday. Sixteen negroes were killed and from 50 to 75 injured, 20 critically, during the twister which swept down on Lambrook, Elaine and Wabash at 4:30 a.m. ….The Dead:

“At Lambrook: [We place names in single lines alphabetically]

Andrew Atkins [or Aikin][7]

Emma Kirkwood

Mary and Eunice Kirkwood.

‘Butto’ Moore

Emma Moore

Maggie Moorehead

Long Fitzpatrick and two children

Pearl Williams

“At Elaine:

David Hannon and

Minne Robertson

“At Wabash:

Jim Glenn

Marry Perry”

….

“Greatest damage resulted at Lambrook, a plantation owned by Gerard Lambert, of the Lambert Pharmacal Company, St. Louis. Twelve houses there were completely destroyed and two negroes blown several feet into a nearby wood.

“Seven Helena ambulances rushed back and forth all day Sunday bringing the injured to Helena on improvised beds and cots. They jammed the hospitals and a negro hotel and eight others were taken to private homes here for treatment.

“Thirty houses and the general store operated by George Lum were destroyed at Elaine, and five houses at Wabash were wrecked. One row of eleven houses at Elaine were swept up so thoroughly that even foundation posts were missing….” (United Press. “Creeks Run Wild; Seventeen Negroes Perish in Tornado.” Anniston Star, AL. 5-19-1930, p. 1.)

May 20, Blytheville Courier News, AR: “…12 persons were killed when a tornado ‘cone of death’ shot out of a leaden sky at 5:10 a.m. Sunday, sweeping buildings before it, at Lambrook, Ark. The photo [which we omit] taken from a plane Monday morning, shows the debris scattered over the landscape. The ruins of the building in the center of the picture shows what is left of a hotel. The 12 persons were killed when the tornado struck this building…After the tornado hit Lambrook, it split and dipped down at Elaine, Ark., and Warsaw, Ark., where a total of five more persons were killed. A total of 54 were injured by the tornado.” (Blytheville Courier News. “Where Tornado Killed 12 at Lambrook, Ark., Sunday.” 5-20-1930, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “16 Known Dead From Tornado, Many Homeless.” Harrison Daily Times, AR. 5-19-1930, p. 1. Accessed 1-26-2025 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/harrison-daily-times-may-19-1930-p-1/

Associated Press. “Tornado Relief is Pushed in Arkansas.” Hattiesburg American, MS. 5-21-1930, p. 1. Accessed 1-26-2025: https://newspaperarchive.com/hattiesburg-american-may-21-1930-p-1/

Blytheville Courier News. “Where Tornado Killed 12 at Lambrook, Ark., Sunday.” 5-20-1930, p. 1. Accessed 1-26-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/blytheville-courier-news-may-20-1930-p-1/

Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Tornadoes. “Phillips [county].” 1-8-2025 update. Accessed 1-26-2025 at: https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/tornadoes-2377/

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

Hope Star, AR. “Where 16 Were Killed By Tornado.” 5-20-1930, p. 1. Accessed 1-26-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hope-star-may-20-1930-p-1/

United Press. “Creeks Run Wild; Seventeen Negroes Perish in Tornado.” Anniston Star, AL. 5-19-1930, p. 1. Accessed 1-26-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/anniston-star-may-19-1930-p-1/

[1] Have reservations about credibility. Shows photo of “hotel” destroyed. There was no hotel. Photo may have been of the remains of a store or of homes, or both, but not a hotel.

[2] Hope Star, AR. “Where 16 Were Killed By Tornado.” 5-20-1930, p. 1.

[3] UP. “Creeks Run Wild; Seventeen Negroes Perish in Tornado.” Anniston Star, AL. 5-19-1930, p1.

[4] Blytheville Courier News. “Where Tornado Killed 12 at Lambrook, Ark., Sunday.” 5-20-1930, p. 1.

[5] UP. “Creeks Run Wild; Seventeen Negroes Perish in Tornado.” Anniston Star, AL. 5-19-1930, p.1.

[6] UP. “Creeks Run Wild; Seventeen Negroes Perish in Tornado.” Anniston Star, AL. 5-19-1930, p1.

[7] Associated Press. “Tornado Relief is Pushed in Arkansas.” Hattiesburg American, MS. 5-21-1930, p. 1.

1930 — May 18, Arkansas Tornadoes, especially Elaine, Lambrook and Wabash, AR -16-20