1939 — April 16, Tornadoes, TX (6), AR (33) and LA (8) — 47
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 10-28-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 47 Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.
–>47 UP. “Tornadoes Claim at Least 47 Lives.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-17-1939, p. 1.
— 45 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 242, 883-884,
Arkansas (33)
–01 Grazulis. “14:00 1k 2 inj 2m F2 Miller/Lafayette [counties].” Woman’s home near Red River.[1]
–27 Grazulis. “14:40 27k 62inj 400y 22m F4 Drew [county].”
–11 Center Point area church
— 9 On a plantation [no identifying locale noted].
–01 Grazulis. “15:30 1k 7inj 200y 10m F3 Cleveland [county].” Man killed in home at Calmer.
–04 Grazulis. “16:00 4k 23inj 200y F2 Jefferson [county].”
–2 Bayou Bartholomew
–2 Unidentified plantations.
–19 Center Point community near Collins.[2]
–13 Center Point country church. (“…the pastor and at least 12 of his flock.”)[3]
–1 Rev. Thomas West, 52, at the church.[4]
–1 Elbert Hart.[5]
–5 Virgil Phillips, 34, wife, children Adrian, 16, Merrell, 14, Bonnie Jean, 10.[6]
–4 Grazulis. Homes in the area.
— 1 Tillar. Mrs. J. A. Gabbie.[7]
Louisiana ( 8)
–8 Grazulis. “13:55 8k 50inj 200y 5m F4. Claiborne [county].” “Dawson subdivision”.[8]
–8 Haynesville.[9]
–7 Haynesville residential and business area.[10]
–1 Dewey Bolin, 17.
–1 Mrs. Bolin.
–1 Mrs. Wren Braden, 47
–1 Dennis Carter
–1 Pat Norton.
–1 Mrs. W. M. Rigdon.
–1 E. H. Steizig
Texas ( 6)
–6 AP. “Five Southern States Hit By Weekend Storm.” Northwest Arkansas Times, 4-17-1939, 1.
–3 Pipe Creek (Felix Clay, Henry Steelman, 59, and Frank M. Steelman, 11-months)
–2 Gladewater (Steve Chartless, 55, and Henry Clay Hasking, 43.)
–1 Athens (Mrs. Hubert H. Skinner, 27)[11]
–4 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp, 883-884,
–2 “15:30 2k 4inj 300y 2m F2. Navarro [county].” Home ~Richland blown apart.[12]
–1 “06:05 1k 4 inj 100y 8m F3. Henderson [county].” Woman near Athens.[13]
–1 “11:30 1k 48inj 300y 5m F2. Bowie [county].” Texarkana area.[14]
Newspaper
April 17, AP: “Tornadoes ripped into five southern states, killed more than 42 persons, injured more than 250 and caused weekend damage estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars. Searchers picking their way through wind-torn debris in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama slowly raised the death toll through early Monday darkness. Greatest toll was counted at the small cattle-raising community of Center Point, near Collins, Ark., where at least 19 persons were killed.
“Rain of near-cloudburst proportions accompanied the winds in Arkansas, where a dozen communities were struck. The mud it left made rescue work precariously slippery. Flood warnings were issued for the Ouachita and Petit Jean rivers.
“In Louisiana, seven persons were killed when a twister whipped at Haynesville residential and business property, leveling a score of homes and tearing away portions of a brick power plant.
“Texas counted six deaths – three at Pipe Creek, two at Gladewater and one at Athens.
“One persons was killed at Tillar, Ark., yesterday and in northwest Oklahoma early Saturday seven persons died when a tornado struck Capron and its vicinity. Every building at Capron was wrecked….
“At least one woman was killed and two persons injured near Boligee, in western Alabama early today. Several houses were leveled and some damage done to stores in the Boligee business section….” (Associated Press. “Five Southern States Hit By Weekend Storm.” Northwest Arkansas Times, 4-17-1939, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Five Southern States Hit By Weekend Storm.” Northwest Arkansas Times, 4-17-1939, p. 1. Accessed 10-29-2024 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/fayetteville-northwest-arkansas-times-apr-17-1939-p-1/
Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.
United Press. “Thirteen Die When Storm Strikes Rural Church Near Dermott.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-17-1939, 1. Accessed 10-29-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/blytheville-courier-news-apr-17-1939-p-1/
United Press. “Tornadoes Claim at Least 47 Lives.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-17-1939, p. 1. Accessed 10-29-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/blytheville-courier-news-apr-17-1939-p-1/
[1] Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. 1993, p. 833.
[2] Associated Press. “Five Southern States Hit By Weekend Storm.” Northwest Arkansas Times, 4-17-1939, p. 1.
[3] UP. “Thirteen Die When Storm Strikes Rural Church Near Dermott.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-17-1939, 1.
[4] Associated Press. “Five Southern States Hit By Weekend Storm.” Northwest Arkansas Times, 4-17-1939, p. 1.
[5] UP. “Thirteen Die When Storm Strikes Rural Church Near Dermott.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-17-1939, 1.
[6] UP. “Thirteen Die When Storm Strikes Rural Church Near Dermott.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-17-1939, 1.
[7] UP. “Thirteen Die When Storm Strikes Rural Church Near Dermott.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-17-1939, 1.
[8] Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. 1993, p. 833.
[9] UP. “Thirteen Die When Storm Strikes Rural Church Near Dermott.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-17-1939, 1.
[10] Associated Press. “Five Southern States Hit By Weekend Storm.” Northwest Arkansas Times, 4-17-1939, p. 1.
[11] UP. “Thirteen Die When Storm Strikes Rural Church ~Dermott.” Blytheville Courier News, AR. 4-17-1939, 1.
[12] Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. 1993, p. 833.
[13] Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. 1993, p. 833.
[14] Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. 1993, p. 833.