1933 — March 14, Tornado outbreak, esp. Nashville, Pruden, Kingsport area, TN –45-52

Compiled by B. Wayne Blanchard, Dec 2016; revised Jan 2020 for website: Deadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-Of-Life Events. https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–47-57  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

–45-52  Blanchard estimated range.*

—     52  Jones, Robbie D. “15 Years Later. 1998: Not the First.” East Nashvillian. Circa 2013.

—     45  Blanchard tally of identified fatalities (though includes two unidentified individuals).

—     44  Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 847-848.

—     39  Kingsport Times, TN. “Fatality-Toll Totals 39 for Tennessee.” 3-17-1933, p. 1.

 * Blanchard note: We use range of 45-52 even though our locality breakout range is 47-57 because of the probability of double-counting we perceive in the locational names of several of the victims (same death reported for different locations). Though Grazulis, who is a reliable source, notes 44 deaths, we are fairly confident in our breakout of deaths by individuals named (45). In that a local and more recent reporter of events (Jones in 1998), reports 52 total deaths, we choose to rely on this number as the high end of our range, due to the fact we have only been able to substantiate 45, and thus do not feel confident in the high-end of the locality breakout figure of 57 — thus 45-52 as our range.

 

Breakout of Tennessee Tornado Fatalities into Localities:

—     12  Campbell, Claiborne Counties, TN; Bell Co., KY. F4 tornado, 17:30 beginning.[1]

—       1  Campbell County, Oswego, Jellico area.[2]

–1  Infant of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hollers.[3]

–15-18  Claiborne County. Blanchard estimate based on locality breakouts below.[4]

—  2  Harrogate, 3 miles south of Cumberland Gap.[5] Cadle baby girls.[6]

—  1  Lonesome Valley, near Arthur. Mrs. Minnie Freeman, in “wrecked” home.[7]

—  3  Powell’s Valley. American Red Cross figure.[8]

–12  Pruden.[9] UP. “Tennessee Tornado Toll Mounts to 44.” Anniston Star, AL. 4-8-1933, 1.

–1  Baby, 9-months; father identified as Charles Butterini.[10]

–?  George Ellison (crushed chest/punctured lung) physicians not hopeful.[11]

–5  Mr. and Mrs. Omar Keith; 3 children — Irene, 16, Tom, 14, girl, 6.[12]

–1  Richard Lawson, 70, March 16. Exposure and pneumonia.[13]

–1  Robert Mason, 30.[14]

–1  Lillian Mason, 15. Pruden. Died in Middlesboro, KY hosp., March 15-16.[15]

–1  Mrs. J. W. Quintrell (died of injuries on or about April 8).[16]

–2  Children of Leonard Terry.[17]

—  1  Claiborne County, F2. Woman killed, 4 children injured. Grazulis 1993, 847.[18]

–11-15  Davidson County.

–15  East Nashville.  Jones. “1998: Not the First.” The East Nashvillian.[19]

–11  Davidson County, Nashville, 19:15 F3 tornado. Grazulis 1993, p. 847.[20]

–10  Nashville. Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933, p. 1.

–1  Mrs. Armstrong.

–1  Mrs. T. L. Benderman.

–1  M. A. Ellison.

–1  Juanita Foster.

–1  Mrs. S. O. Foster.

–1  Margaret Johnson.

–1  B. B. Lanier.

–1  Christine Sanders (black).

–1  Doris Smith.

–1  Edward Smith (black).

—   2-3  Hancock County.

–3  Hancock County. American Red Cross figure.[21]

–2  Hancock County, “Fox Branch” near Kyles Ford. Grazulis 1993, p. 847.

–1  Emmett Moore, Short Mountain section, Hancock County.[22]

–1  Mrs. Thorbin Sexton, in wreckage of home, Sneedville area.[23]

—   3-4  Hawkins County.

–4  Hawkins County. American Red Cross figure, April 2.[24]

–3  “Caney Valley” in northern Hawkins Co. Grazulis 1993, p. 847.

–1  Caney Valley, about 10 miles NW Kingsport. Rev. Arthur Barrett, 40.[25]

–1  Caney Valley. Infant son of Kelly Bradshaw.[26]

–1  William Turner. Died March 21 at Cook’s Place near Marshall of injuries.[27]

–2  Rogersville. Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933,1.

—     10  Hawkins and Sullivan Counties.[28]

—       9  Hawkins and Sullivan Counties, Kingsport area.[29]

—       8  Hawkins and Sullivan County, north edge of Kingsport. Grazulis, 1993, p. 847.[30]

–4 Cherry Hill.[31]

–2  Mr. R. S. Calhoun, 57, and Mrs. R. S. Calhoun, 48.

–1  Dewey Lawson, Sr. 35.

–1  Lonnie E. Meadows, 30. (Another source notes death of Emmet Meadow.)[32]

–1  Rev. W. H. Ramey, 75. Kingsport Times, TN. “Rev. W. H. Ramey Dies.” 3-17-1933, p1.[33]

—       3  Sullivan Co., outside Kingsport “mostly in the Reedy Creek valley.” Grazulis 1993, 847.

–1  Mill Point, ~10 miles east of Kingsport on Reedy Creek rd. Mrs. Alice Hodge, 75.[34]

–1  Ship Springs, on Reedy Creek road, 2 miles from Kingsport. Tate G. Crockett, 35.[35]

–1  Four-year-old son of Tate Crockett, thus supposedly at same location.[36]

—   5-6  Wilson County. (Bellwood 1-2 and Lebanon 4.)

–2  Bellwood. In a store. Grazulis 1993, p. 848.

–1  Bellwood. John Harris. Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933, 1.

–2  Lebanon. In a house “at the edge of Lebanon.” Grazulis 1993, p. 848.

–4  Lebanon. Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933,1.

–1  Jim Cooksey.

–1  Comer Harris.

–1  Edgar Wallace

–1  Unidentified man, about 60.

 

Recap of Identified Fatalities in Locality Breakout Above

 

  1. Armstrong. Nashville, Davidson County.
  2. Arthur Barrett, 40. Caney Valley, northern Hawkins County.
  3. T. L. Benderman. Nashville, Davidson County.
  4. Infant son of Kelly Bradshaw. Caney Valley, northern Hawkins County
  5. Charles Butterini’s 9-months old baby. Pruden, Claiborne County.
  6. Cadle baby girl. Harrogate, Claiborne County, 3 miles south of Cumberland Gap.
  7. 2nd Cadle baby girl.
  8. R. S. (Roby) Calhoun, 57. Kingsport vicinity, Sullivan and Hawkins counties.[37]
  9. R. S. (Anna “Sis”) Calhoun, 48. Kingsport vicinity, Sullivan/Hawkins counties.
  10. Jim Cooksey. Lebanon, Wilson County.
  11. Tate G. Crockett, 35. Ship Springs, Reedy Creek road, 2 miles from Kingsport.
  12. Four-year-old son of Tate Crockett, thus supposedly at same location.
  13. George Ellison (crushed chest/punctured lung) physicians not hopeful.[38]
  14. A. Ellison. Nashville, Davidson County.
  15. Juanita Foster. Nashville, Davidson County.
  16. S. O. Foster. Nashville, Davidson County.
  17. Comer Harris. Lebanon, Wilson County.
  18. John Harris. Bellwood, Wilson County.
  19. William Turner. Died March 21, Cook’s Place ~Marshall, Hawkins Co., of injuries.
  20. Alice Hodge, 75. Mill Point on Reedy Creed road ~10 miles east of Kingsport.
  21. Infant of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hollers. Oswego, Jellico area, Campbell County.
  22. Margaret Johnson. Nashville, Davidson County.
  23. Omar Keith. Pruden, Claiborne County.
  24. Omar Keith. Pruden, Claiborne County.
  25. Irene Keith, 16. Pruden, Claiborne County.
  26. Tom Keith, 14. Pruden, Claiborne County.
  27. Unidentified Keith girl, age 6. Pruden, Claiborne County.
  28. B. Lanier. Nashville, Davidson County.
  29. Dewey Lawson, Sr. 35. Kingsport vicinity, Sullivan and Hawkins counties.
  30. Richard Lawson, 70, March 16. Exposure and pneumonia. Pruden, Claiborne County.
  31. Lillian Mason, 15. Pruden, Claiborne County. Died of injures within two days.
  32. Robert Mason, 30. Pruden, Claiborne County.
  33. Lonnie E. Meadows, 30. Kingsport vic., Sullivan/Hawkins counties. (or Emmett Meadow)
  34. Emmett Moore, Short Mountain section, Hancock County.
  35. J. W. Quintrell (died of injuries on or about April 8). Pruden, Claiborne County.
  36. W. H. Ramey, 75. Kingsport vic., Sullivan/Hawkins counties. March 16.
  37. Christine Sanders (black). Nashville, Davidson County.
  38. Thorbin Sexton, Hancock County.
  39. Doris Smith. Nashville, Davidson County.
  40. Edward Smith (black). Nashville, Davidson County
  41. Leonard Terry child #1. Pruden, Claiborne County.
  42. Leonard Terry child #2. Pruden, Claiborne County.
  43. Edgar Wallace. Lebanon, Wilson County.
  44. Unidentified man, about 60. Lebanon, Wilson County.
  45. Unidentified Nashville person (sources note 11 or 15 deaths and we have 10 names.)

 

Narrative Information

 

Rose: “It was an unusually mild late-winter day in Nashville. A warm, moist air mass covered most of the southeast. A powerful cold front lay to the northwest, and centers of low pressure sat over the Great Lakes and western Arkansas….

 

“The cold front was fast-moving. It swept through the city rather quickly, dumping 0.81 inches of rainfall in a relatively short time. But what accompanied the squall line of severe thunderstorms was the deadliest tornado in Nashville’s history.3 It all happened after dark. (The sun set that afternoon at 5:53 p.m.) By the early evening, thunderstorms threatened, accompanied by shifting winds.[39] Then, while the air was still warm and humid, destruction began four miles west of downtown over the rim of hills, near Charlotte Pike and Fifty-first Avenue. The damage between this point and downtown was not great, but the twister quickly intensified. It passed either directly over or very near the State Capitol, on Charlotte Avenue, shaking glass from its windows. Then the storm hit with force on the north side of the Public Square, significantly damaging several buildings….

 

“At 7:28 p.m., torrential rainfall and large hailstones came with a sudden veering of the wind from southeast to southwest. The wind continued from that direction for around a minute. Wind equipment at the Weather Bureau registered an increase in speed from 15 mph at 7:20 p.m. to 65 mph at 7:28 p.m.[40] ….

 

“The tornado thereafter crossed the Cumberland River above the Woodland Street Bridge, and traveled eastward. The path widened from 200 to 400 yards, and damaged a row of four-story factory buildings along First Street, and a large portion of a brick wall of the building occupied by the National Casket Company, located at Second Street and Woodland. From this point, the path of destruction spread out to a width of 600 to 800 yards. For three miles, the tornado tore through a district of homes, churches, schools, and stores.  

 

“Property damage was extensive, numbering 1,400 homes, 16 churches, 36 stores, five factories, four schools, one library, and a lodge hall….

 

“Altogether, eleven persons in Nashville and its suburbs died in the storm. That the death toll was not higher is remarkable, considering the extensive devastation, with property losses adding up to $2,000,000, and that the area covered by the storm was populated by around 10,000 residents.[41]  (Rose, Mark A. “The Nashville Tornado of March 14, 1933.”)

 

Sources

 

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

 

Jones, Robbie D. “15 Years Later. 1998: Not the First.” The East Nashvillian. Circa 2013. Accessed 12-27-2016 at: http://theeastnashvillian.com/article/15-years-later

 

Kingsport Times, TN. “5 Killed Here. 30 Injured in Wind Storm,” 3-14-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-29-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/tennessee/kingsport/kingsport-times/1933/03-14/page-7?tag

 

Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-28-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/tennessee/kingsport/kingsport-times/1933/03-15?tag

 

Kingsport Times, TN. “Agencies Ask Funds for Relief Work in Storm Lashed Area. Hospitals are Still Caring for 37 with No More Deaths — 6 Not Expected to Live.” 3-16-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-29-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/tennessee/kingsport/kingsport-times/1933/03-16?tag

 

Kingsport Times, TN. “Fatality-Toll Totals 39 for Tennessee.” 3-17-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-29-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/tennessee/kingsport/kingsport-times/1933/03-17?tag

 

Kingsport Times, TN. “Rev. W. H. Ramey Dies — Brings Sector’s Total Deaths to Nine.” 3-17-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-29-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/tennessee/kingsport/kingsport-times/1933/03-17?tag

 

Kingsport Times, TN. “Tenth Storm Death in This Sector Recorded as Wm. Turner Dies in Hawkins.” 3-23-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-29-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/tennessee/kingsport/kingsport-times/1933/03-23/page-5?tag

 

Kingsport Times, TN. “Work of Red Cross Disaster Group Comes to Close Here…” 4-2-1933, p. 3. Accessed 12-28-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/tennessee/kingsport/kingsport-times/1933/04-02/page-3?tag

 

Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Cadle Babies Buried Thurs.” 3-17-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-27-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/kentucky/middlesboro/middlesboro-daily-news/1933/03-17?tag

 

Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Hurricane and Hail Levels Fifty Homes (continued from p. 1), 3-15-1933, p. 2. Accessed 12-27-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/kentucky/middlesboro/middlesboro-daily-news/1933/03-15/page-2?tag

 

Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Injured Show Improvement.” 3-17-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-28-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/kentucky/middlesboro/middlesboro-daily-news/1933/03-17?tag

 

Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Pruden is Almost Wiped Out by Storm.” 3-15-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-27-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/kentucky/middlesboro/middlesboro-daily-news/1933/03-15?tag

 

Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Richard Lawson is Eighth Victim of Pruden Tornado.” 3-17-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-27-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/kentucky/middlesboro/middlesboro-daily-news/1933/03-17?tag

 

Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Tornado Moves Across Cumberlands” (Continued from p. 1.). 3-15-1933, p. 2. Accessed 12-27-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/kentucky/middlesboro/middlesboro-daily-news/1933/03-15/page-2?tag

 

National Weather Service, Louisville, KY Weather Forecast Office. Violent Tornadoes in Kentucky. Accessed 12-26-2016 at: http://www.weather.gov/lmk/violent_tornadoes_kentucky#March_14__1933

 

Peters, Steve. “Sullivan County, TN — Miscellaneous — The March 1933 Tornado.” usgwarchives.net. Accessed 12-29-2016 at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/sullivan/history/tornado.txt

 

Rose, Mark A. (Meteorologist). “The Nashville Tornado of March 14, 1933.”  NOAA, National Weather Service, Old Hickory, TN.  Accessed 12-26-2016 at: https://www.weather.gov/ohx/nashvilletornadomarch1933

 

United Press. “Tennessee Tornado Toll Mounts to 44.” The Anniston Star, AL. 4-8-1933, p. 1. Accessed 12-26-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/alabama/anniston/anniston-star/1933/04-08?tag

 

 

[1] Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes…, 1993, p. 847. Grazulis notes there were 12 deaths attributable to this tornado which travelled 30 miles while “devastating the coal mining town of Pruden. Sixty homes were destroyed and another 275 damaged. The funnel dissipated just over the Kentucky state line after damaging college buildings at Cumberland Gap. Large and small homes alike were destroyed at Pruden….” Pruden is unincorporated community partly in Claiborne County, TN and partly in Bell County, KY. Grazulis does not breakout the 12 deaths he notes into any of the three counties through which the tornado travelled. However, a National Weather Service webpage notes that “All fatalities and most destruction were in Tennessee. In Kentucky [Bell County listing] the tornado damaged buildings at Southeast Kentucky Community College.” (National Weather Service, Louisville, KY Weather Forecast Office. Violent Tornadoes in Kentucky.) Highlight in yellow to denote we are not using in tally in that this combines deaths in two counties, and our breakouts for these two counties show 16-19 deaths.

[2] Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Tornado Moves Across Cumberlands” (Continued from p. 1.). 3-15-1933, p. 2.

[3] Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933, p. 1.

[4] References to localities can be rather general or overlap with fatalities noted differently. Are unsure of this entry.

[5] Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Pruden is Almost Wiped Out by Storm.” 3-15-1933, p. 1.

[6] “Funeral services for the two little daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Othneil Cadle of Harrogate, who died during the storm Tuesday evening, were conducted Thursday…” (Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Cadle Babies Buried Thurs.” 3-17-1933, p. 1.)

[7] Kingsport Times, TN. “Fatality-Toll Totals 39 for Tennessee.” 3-17-1933, p. 1.

[8] Kingsport Times, TN. “Work of Red Cross Disaster Group Comes to Close Here…” 4-2-1933, p. 3.

[9] “Pruden, Tenn., April 8. (U.P.) — Tennessee’s tornado death toll today had reached 44. Mrs. J. W. Quintrell died in a Middlesboro hospital. Twelve of the 44 dead from the tornado of three weeks ago lived in this little mining community.” (United Press. “Tennessee Tornado Toll Mounts to 44.” The Anniston Star, AL. 4-8-1933, p. 1.)

[10] Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Hurricane and Hail Levels Fifty Homes (continued from p. 1), 3-15-1933, p. 2.

[11] We put a question mark in that we do not know if he died — only that he was expected to die. We note a source indicating 12 deaths and we do note 12 identifiable deaths. It is noted that his was the most serious injury on March 17. (Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Injured Show Improvement.” 3-17-1933, p. 1.)

[12] Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Hurricane and Hail Levels Fifty Homes (continued from p. 1), 3-15-1933, p. 2.

[13] “The man whom the Middlesboro Scouts found suffering from exposure on the top of a hill near the Pruden coal camp died at the Middlesboro Hospital late yesterday afternoon from pneumonia. Richard Lawson, 70, a retired miner, had been undiscovered in the wreckage of his home for fourteen hours through the long, black night following the storm and up into the morning of Wednesday, when a party of Middlesboro Boy Scouts found him and his wife both injured and in a critical condition from exposure. The cabin in which they lived had been demolished, and being some distance from the main section of the Pruden community, they had been left to lie in the rain and the cold through the night. The exposure brought on pneumonia from which he succumbed.” (Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Richard Lawson is Eighth Victim of Pruden Tornado.” 3-17-1933, p. 1.)

[14] Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Hurricane and Hail Levels Fifty Homes (continued from p. 1), 3-15-1933, p. 2.

[15] Kingsport Times, TN. “Agencies Ask Funds for Relief Work in Storm Lashed Area.” 3-16-1933, p. 1.

[16] United Press. “Tennessee Tornado Toll Mounts to 44.” The Anniston Star, AL. 4-8-1933, p. 1.

[17] Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933, p. 1.

[18] This death is a different event then the Campbell, Claiborne Counties, TN; Bell Co., KY tornado which Grazulis ascribes 12 deaths to.

[19] “On March 14, 1933, an F3 tornado left a 45-mile-long swath of damage through Davidson, Wilson and Smith Counties, killing 15 and injuring 45 in East Nashville alone….”

[20] Also: Rose. “The Nashville Tornado of March 14, 1933.”

[21] Kingsport Times, TN. “Work of Red Cross Disaster Group Comes to Close Here…” 4-2-1933, p. 3.

[22] Kingsport Times, TN. “Agencies Ask Funds for Relief Work in Storm Lashed Area.” 3-16-1933, p. 1.

[23] Kingsport Times, TN. “Agencies Ask Funds for Relief Work in Storm Lashed Area.” 3-16-1933, p. 1. We note Sneedville in that in the paragraph above in the article it is noted that there were two deaths in Hancock County. This next paragraph notes there were 2 deaths in Sneedville [which is in Hancock County].

[24] Kingsport Times, TN. “Work of Red Cross Disaster Group Comes to Close Here…” 4-2-1933, p. 3.

[25] Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933, p. 1.

[26] Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933, p. 1.

[27] Kingsport Times. “Tenth Storm Death in This Sector Recorded as Wm. Turner Dies in Hawkins.” 3-23-1933, 1.

[28] Kingsport Times. “Tenth Storm Death in This Sector Recorded as Wm. Turner Dies in Hawkins.” 3-23-1933, 1.

[29] Kingsport Times, TN. “Rev. W. H. Ramey Dies.” 3-17-1933, p. 1. Paper writes that the Ramey brought “the death toll in the Kingsport section to nine.”

[30] Kingsport is mostly in Sullivan County, but the western side is also in Hawkins County. In that Grazulis writes (under the heading of the Hancock/Hawkins/Sullivan” county 19:15 tornado) that there were 8 deaths in Kingsport and that the tornado “passed along the north edge of Kingsport,” we cannot break the deaths into counties. [The Kingsport Times, TN. (“Work of Red Cross Disaster Group Comes to Close Here…” 4-2-1933, p. 3), also notes that according to the American Red Cross, 8 died in Kingsport and vicinity.

[31] Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933, p. 1. Article notes that Cherry Hill was in Kingsport area. In that Kingsport is mostly in Sullivan County, but some in Hawkins County, we make assumption it was within either Sullivan or Hawkins County.

[32] Kingsport Times, TN. “5 Killed Here. 30 Injured in Wind Storm,” 3-14-1933, p. 1.

[33] Died March 16th from injuries when his home was “twisted into a mass of wreckage…”

[34] Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933, p. 1.

[35] Kingsport Times, TN. “35 Known Dead in Twister.” 3-15-1933, p. 1.

[36] Kingsport Times, TN. “5 Killed Here. 30 Injured in Wind Storm,” 3-14-1933, p. 1.

[37] The reference to Roby and Anna Calhoun is from Steve Peters. “Sullivan County, TN — Miscellaneous — The March 1933 Tornado.” Usgwarchives.net.

[38] We put a question mark in that we do not know if he was one of 12 fatalities, only that there were 12 reported for Pruden and we have notes on eleven of those. It is noted that his was the most serious injury on March 17. (Middlesboro Daily News, KY. “Injured Show Improvement.” 3-17-1933, p. 1.)

[39] Cites Robert M. Williamson, “Tornado Characteristics: The Nashville Tornado of March 14, 1933; A Brief Review of Tornadoes in Tennessee.” Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science, 240.

[40] Cites Williamson, “Tornado characteristics,” 241.

[41] Cites Williamson, “Tornado characteristics,” 245.