1929 — April 25, GA and SC Tornado Outbreak, especially Statesboro & Metter, GA– 55
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 2-10-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–55 Blanchard compilation from Grazulis of GA and SC deaths. [We use as the toll we note.]
–49 Georgia. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 264 and 825.
–08 Bleckley, Dodge and Laurens Counties, GA. Grazulis 1993, p. 264 and 825.
–01 Tattnall and Candler Counties, GA. Grazulis 1993, p. 264 and 825.
–40 Emanuel, Candler, Bulloch and Screven Counties. Grazulis, pp. 264, 825.
— 6 South Carolina. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 825.
–4 Approximately nine miles north of Anderson.
–2 West edge of Pelzer.
–54 Blanchard tally. 52 reported dead on 27th and buried by 29th. Two injury deaths on 28th.[1]
–52 AP. “Storm Ravished Communities Are Returning Normal.” Times-Enterprise, 4-29-29, 1.[2]
Statesboro vicinity: 22 [Bulloch County] [Two injury deaths reported later.]
Metter vicinity: 18 [Candler County]
Cochran: 4 [Bleckley County]
Dexter: 2 [Laurens County]
Hentz [Rentz?]: 1 [Laurens County]
Anderson, S.C. vicinity: 4 [Anderson County]
Hobbyville, S.C.: 1. [Spartanburg County]
Narrative Information
April 25, AP/NYT: “ATLANTA, April 25 (AP).–Two tornadoes that struck South Georgia and South Carolina today and tonight, dipping at intervals, caused the deaths of thirty-nine persons, injured 200 or more others and left property damage running into the thousands of dollars.
“Striking first in Georgia, the storm wrecked scores of houses in a half dozen towns and rural sections, then skipped into South Carolina, striking in three places. A second tornado tonight struck in Georgia, Increasing the list of dead and injured.
“Of the dead thirty-three were in Georgia and six in South Carolina as follows:
Cochran, GA. – 17 dead, more than 100 injured.
Metter, GA. – 12 dead, 20 or more hurt.
Dexter, GA. – 3 dead, 40 injured.
Rentz, GA. – 1 dead, several injured.
Pelzer, S.C. – 2 dead, an undetermined number injured.
Anderson, S.C. – 4 dead, more than 20 injured, 3 probably fatally.
“Several hundred persons were made homeless by the tornadoes, which wrecked scores of dwellings. Damage to growing crops will run high.
“The first storm this afternoon struck near Cochran, and apparently it was the same one that struck Pelzer. The second tornado struck in Georgia about 100 miles east of the first.” (New York Times/AP. “Tornadoes in South Kill 39, Injure 200. Two Storms in One Day Strike Southern Georgia…Seventeen Die in Cochran, Twelve More Peris in Metter…” 4-26-1929, p. 3.)
April 26, AP/Thomasville Times-Enterprise, GA: “Atlanta, Ga., April 26 (AP) – Fatalities from the tornado swept districts of south Georgia and South Carolina had mounted today to 71, with hundreds of other persons reported injured by last night’s disasters. South Georgia bore the brunt of the destruction and all but four of those reported killed were from that section. The other four were from South Carolina, three members of one family named Patterson were killed in Pelzer and an unidentified death was reported in Anderson.
“The twisters bounding in a zig-zag course, struck first at Cochran, Ga., sixty miles south of Macon. There five persons were killed and more than a hundred injured. Later tornadoes were reported several hours apart at Metter, in Candler County, and Statesboro, in Bulloch County, near Savannah. The death list in both places was heavy.
“Paths of over two hundred yards in width were cut by the tornadoes which levelled houses and spread wreckage throughout the countryside.
“A revised list of the dead and injured follows:
Cochran, five dead, more than one hundred injured.
Dexter – two dead, over fifty injured.
Metter – 25 dead, over 100 injured.
Rentz – One dead, dozen injured.
Statesboro – 30 dead, more than 100 injured.
Norristown – two dead, several injured.
Reports of two other deaths came from Emanuel County.
Penzer, S.C. – Three dead.
Anderson, S.C. – One dead.
….
“In some cases several members of families were killed. Mrs. C. O. Newton, living in the Hagin district of Bulloch county, was awakened by rain beating in her face. Her home had been blown down while she slept and scattered about her the bodies of her four children, Emma, 28; Little May, 25, Edward, 16 and Grady, 18.
“Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Coleman and their three children were killed when their farm home in Candler county was destroyed.
….
“At Statesboro, Ga., nine negro children were killed in one house.
“The greatest destruction took place in South Georgia, sixty five of the reported dead being from that section. The other six in the death list were from South Carolina.
“Statesboro, Ga., county seat of Bulloch county, near Savannah, was the heaviest hit. The hospital there reported that over thirty were known dead and many others injured…
“Metter, the county seat of Candler county, reported nineteen known dead from two tornadoes which were accompanied by hail and a downpour of rain. One struck at 8:10 last night and the second at 11 o’clock.
“Cochran, county seat of Bleckley county, approximately sixty miles south of Macon, reported five dead and injuries to approximately fifty…” (Thomasville Times-Enterprise/AP. Tornado Deaths Now Total 71. Cochran, Dexter, Metter, Statesboro and other Georgia Cities Report Toll of 67 Lives Taken in Latest Disasters.” 4-26-1929, p. 1.)
July 27, AP: “Seventy-Two Were Reported Dead Yesterday But Some Are Found Alive…
“Atlanta, April 27 (AP) – A re-check today of the sough Georgia tornado ridden area placed the definitely known dead in that section and a part of South Carolina from Thursday’s storms at 52, twenty less than originally had been reported.
“Several hundred persons injured and scores rendered homeless were being administered to by local Red Cross authorities and civic relief organizations, while appeals for additional funds to carry on the work went out from several of the affected localities.
“In Washington, Senator George, of Georgia, announced he would offer a bill Monday authorizing expenditure of unspent funds appropriated for southeastern states hurricane sufferers for relief in the tornado area. Governor Hardman at the same time called on people of the state to give liberally for Red Cross rehabilitation work.
“Congressman Charles G. Edwards, arriving in Savannah from Washington, left immediately by motor for the storm area for a personal survey of conditions with a view of lending his aid in procuring federal relief. After being advised by telephone that conditions were worse than previous reports had indicated, he wired the commanding officer of the fourth army corps area in Atlanta and the commandant at Fort Screven, Ga., requests that blankets and cots be dispatched to the affected regions.
“Meanwhile, food and clothing were being distributed to refugees at several of the larger centers, particularly Statesboro and Metter and friendly neighbors arranged to house those who could not be accommodated in temporary relief shelters.
….
“Funeral services for many of the victims were held during the day.
“The revised death list by communities follows: [Numbers total to 52.]
Statesboro vicinity: 22 [Bulloch County]
Metter vicinity: 18 [Candler County]
Cochran: 4 [Bleckley County]
Dexter: 2 [Laurens County]
Hentz [Rentz?]: 1 [Laurens County]
Anderson, S.C. vicinity: 4 [Anderson County]
Hobbyville, S.C.: 1.” [Spartanburg County]
(AP. “Re-Check of Georgia Tornado Area Places Number of Actual Dead at 52…” Thomasville Times-Enterprise, GA. 4-27-1929, p. 1.)
April 27, AP: AP. “Bullock County [Statesboro] Fatalities Stand At 22 Today,” 4-27-1929, p. 1. [This article has the names of six fatalities. Can be accessed at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/thomasville-times-enterprise-apr-27-1929-p-1/
Sources
Associated Press. Bullock County [Statesboro] Fatalities Stand At 22 Today.” Thomasville Times-Enterprise, GA. 4-27-1929, p. 1. Accessed 2-10-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/thomasville-times-enterprise-apr-27-1929-p-1/
Associated Press. “Re-Check of Georgia Tornado Area Places Number of Actual Dead at 52…” Thomasville Times-Enterprise, GA. 4-27-1929, p. 1. Accessed 2-9-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/thomasville-times-enterprise-apr-27-1929-p-1/
Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.
New York Times/AP. “Tornadoes in South Kill 39, Injure 200. Two Storms in One Day Strike Southern Georgia…Seventeen Die in Cochran, Twelve More Peris in Metter…” 4-26-1929, p. 3. Accessed 2-9-2025 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1929/04/26/95933612.html?login=google&auth=login-google&pageNumber=3
Thomasville Times-Enterprise/AP. Tornado Deaths Now Total 71. Cochran, Dexter, Metter, Statesboro and other Georgia Cities Report Toll of 67 Lives Taken in Latest Disasters.” 4-26-1929, p. 1. Accessed 2-9-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/thomasville-times-enterprise-apr-26-1929-p-1/
[1] The article we cite notes only three SC deaths whereas Grazulis and other press reports has the number as 4. Thus if the two injury deaths reported after the 52 burials are added as well as four, rather than three in SC, total is 55.
[2] Dated April 29: “The last of the 52 persons killed in the twisters were buried in wisely separated funerals yesterday.” However, on the same page, in column 1, dated April 29 , it is written that “With the death at a local infirmary of two negroes Sunday night [28th]; the toll of Thursday’s tornado in Bulloch county mounted to 24…The two latest dead are John Odom, 53, and Fannie Hagin.”