1935 — Feb 8, Tornado, Leon and Houston Counties, south and east TX — 12-13
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 12-8-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
12-13 Blanchard. Several sources note 12 deaths. We have found only one source noting 13 (the United Press). It is quite conceivable, nonetheless, that this is accurate in that four persons were “perhaps fatally injured” and another two thought to be near death. If one of these injured people died then the death toll would be 13. If not, then the definite death toll remains at 12.
–13 UP. “Build Shelter for Homeless After Tornado.” Amarillo Globe, TX. 2-12-1933, p. 7.
–13 UP. “Grapeland is Worst Hit in Grim Disaster.” Mexia Weekly Herald, TX. 2-15-1935, p.8.
–11 Joe Murray farm near Grapeland, Houston County.
— 2 Livingston. Mrs. Kay Parker, about 40, and her 18-month-old baby.
–12 AP. “Red Cross Active in Storm Torn Section of Texas.” McAllen Monitor, TX. 2-11-1935, 1.
–12 Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock, TX. “Twelve Killed, 70 Injured by Tornado.” 2-10-1935, p1.
–12 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 438.
–12 Port Arthur News, TX. “Storm Ravages South and East Areas of State.” 2-9-1935, p. 1.
–10 Murray farm, 15M west of Grapeland, Houston County.
— 2 Livingston. Mrs. Kay Parker, about 40, and her 18-months old baby.
Narrative Information
Feb 9, Port Arthur News, TX: “At least 12 persons were killed and 71 injured by a tornado that skittered across South and East Texas last night. Property damage ran high into the thousands of dollars.
“Four persons were injured slightly at Orange shortly before midnight….
“Ten negroes were killed ant 40 injured when the tornado wrecked a tenant community on Murray farm, 15 miles west of Grapeland in Houston county, the Associated Press reported. A number of the injured may die.
“At Nineveh, in Leon county, 15 other negro tenants were hurt and numerous tenant houses wrecked, press reports said.
“At Groveton 12 persons were hurt slightly when the violent winds, accompanied by heavy rain, hit that community, the A.P. announced.
“At Livingston, Mrs. Kay Parker, about 40, and her 18-months-old baby were killed when the storm wrecked their home, United Press reports said….” (Port Arthur News, TX. “Storm Ravages South and East Areas of State.” 2-9-1935, pp. 1 and 3.)
Feb. 9, AP: “(By The Associated Press). Grapeland, Tex., Feb 9. – Tornadic winds, ripping an erratic trail of destruction through East Texas and part of Louisiana last night, brought death to 12 persons, injured more than 70 and caused untold property damage. A driving rain storm, extending into other parts of Texas and accompanied by thunder squalls, was raging when a funnel-shaped cloud vented its fury on a negro plantation community in the Trinity river bottoms 15 miles west of Grapeland. Nine negroes, caught in their cabins, lost their lives and 40 others were injured there, some so badly they may die. The community is on the Murray plantation in Houston County. The dead:
- M. Bass, adult.
John Campbell, adult
Sam Johnson, adult.
Ardell Lewis, adult, died en route to a hospital.
Cosie Lewis, girl.
Emma Lewis, girl.
Another Lewis child.
Aunt Lissie Murphy, adult.
Chester Warfield, boy.
“In Reynard community, a few miles away. Ella Hayden was injured fatally. Dying today in a Palestine hospital
“Mrs. Guy Parker and her baby were killed when a tree fell on their house as Schwab City in the Livingston oil field.
“Four negroes, crushed beneath the wreckage of their roofs when fierce winds ripped into their tenant houses, were perhaps fatally wounded at Nineveh. A young negro boy and girl, names not known, were reported near death tonight.
“The negroes, tenants on the Dorsey ranch in Leon county, were dragged from their homes. A commissary, five tenant houses, a 100-year-old stone ranch house with rock walls four feet thick and other property was destroyed at Nineveh.
“A survey today revealed that the winds struck communities and towns scattered from the gulf to Marshall, hundreds of miles north….” (Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock, TX. “Twelve Killed, 70 Injured by Tornado.” 2-10-1935, p. 1.)
Sources
Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock, TX. “Twelve Killed, 70 Injured by Tornado.” 2-10-1935, p. 1. Accessed 12-8-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/avalanche-journal-feb-10-1935-p-1/
Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.
Associated Press. “Red Cross Active in Storm Torn Section of Texas.” McAllen Monitor, TX. 2-11-1935, p.1. Accessed 12-8-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/mcallen-monitor-feb-11-1935-p-1/
Port Arthur News, TX. “Storm Ravages South and East Areas of State.” 2-9-1935, pp. 1 and 3. Accessed 12-8-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/port-arthur-news-feb-09-1935-p-1/
United Press. “Build Shelter for Homeless After Tornado.” Amarillo Globe, TX. 2-12-1933, p. 7. Accessed 12-8-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/amarillo-globe-feb-12-1935-p-7/
United Press. “Grapeland is Worst Hit in Grim Disaster.” Mexia Weekly Herald, TX. 2-15-1935, p. 8. Accessed 12-8-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/mexia-weekly-herald-feb-15-1935-p-8/