1927 — May 9, Tornadoes, AR/70, MO/93 (esp. Poplar Bluff/83), TX/40, IL/7, LA/1 — <211
–211 Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below (especially Grazulis).
Arkansas (70)
— 6 Center Point, Prairie County, 14:30, F3. Grazulis 1993, p. 809.
–1-2 Carlisle area, Lonoke County, 14:30, F3. Grazulis 1993, p. 809.
— 6 Egypt area, Craighead County, 15:15, F3; mother & children. Grazulis 1993, p. 810.
— 11 Hoxie, Lawrence county, 14:50, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 809.
–5 in one family
–4 in one family
–2 students in high school
— 5 Maynard/Brockett area, Randolph County, 14:35, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 809.
— 1 Norphlet area, Union County, 15:30, F2. Grazulis 1993, p. 810.
— 6 Pauls Switch/Lanieve, Craighead County, 15:15, F3. Grazulis 1993, p. 810.
–3 Postmaster’s house.
–3 Other homes.
— 6 Randall, Cleveland County, 15:10, F2. Grazulis 1993, p. 810.
— 24 Strong area, Union County, 16:20, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 810.
— 3 Toledo area, Cleveland County, 15:10, F2. Grazulis 1993, p. 810.
Illinois ( 7)
–1 Christian County, 16:25, F3. Grazulis 1993, p. 810.
–1 Hickory Township, Schuyler County, 14:10, F3. Boy killed. Grazulis 1993, p. 809.
–5 New Columbia, Massac County,
Louisiana ( 1)
–1 Clarence area, Natchitoches Parish, 16:30, F2. Grazulis 1993, p. 810.
Missouri (>93)
—>83 Poplar Bluff, 14:35, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 809.
–21 Melbourne Hotel.
— 2 East Side School, children.
— 10 Poplar Bluff area; 4 in homes, 6 in a car. 14:35, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 809.
Texas ( 40)
–19 Collin County tornado, 02:25, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 809.
–17 Nevada. Yaeger. Nevada victims.[1]
–1 Jossie Emma Brown, 38. (not in AP/Bryan Eagle list)
–1 James Douglas Cope, 66.
–1 Nancy Cassandra Hornbuckle Craft, 71.
–1 Marlin D. Dodson (May 12, from injuries), 23. (not in AP/Bryan Eagle list)
–1 Temple Hardin Ellis, 36. (not in AP/Bryan Eagle list)
–1 Vera Wilson Evans, 23 or 24.
–1 Rebecca Mahala Kimzey Johnston, 53.
–1 Eunice M. Lemmond, 51.
–1 Gladys L. Lemmond, 11.
–1 V. Pauline Martin, 14.
–1 Bertha M. Tackett, 3 or 4.
–1 Bessie V. Morris Tackett (May 13), 48.
–1 Minnie E. Tackett, 2 or 3.
–1 Baby Vaughan.
–1 Mary E. Gradick Vaughan, 37.
–1 John M. Wilson III, 59,
–1 Mrytle L. Rogers Wilson, 49 (May 10).
–16 Nevada. Leveled “western half of town.” Grazulis 1993, p. 809; AP.
–1 J. D. Cope, 66. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–1 Mrs. R. B. Craft, 65. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–1 Mrs. R. C. Evans, 22. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–1 Mrs. J. C. Johnson. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–1 Gladys Lemons, 12. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–1 Mrs. J. T. Lemons, 45. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–1 Miss Pauline Martin, 15. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–1 J. R. Robinson, 64. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–3 Mrs. Bessie Tackett and two Tackett children. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–1 Mrs. Etta Vaughn. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–1 Will Vaughn’s baby. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–1 Mrs. J. M. Wilson, 50. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
–2 African-American children. AP. Bryan Eagle, May 9.
— 3 Elsewhere in Collin County. Grazulis 1993, p. 809.
— 6 Hunt County tornado, 03:00, F4 Grazulis 1993, p. 809.
–2 Celeste (4 miles SE of). Couple in razed home.
–4 Wolfe City (3 miles SW of). In a house “swept clean.”
–15 Garland, Dallas County Tornado, 03:10, F4. Grazulis 1993, p. 809.
–1 Mary Ann Wilson Blair, on 14th from injuries, 71. Yaeger. Garland Victims.
–1 Emma May Bridges, 20. Yaeger. Garland Victims.
–1 Eva May Shelby Bridges, 48. Yaeger. Garland Victims.
–1 William Daniel “Buck” Corley, 69. (May 10) Yaeger. Garland Victims.
–1 Carl Ray McLeod, 34. Yaeger. Garland Victims.
–1 Mary Elizabeth Craig McLeod, 42. Yaeger. Garland Victims.
–1 Mayor Stephen Edward Nicholson; May 11 of injuries. Yaeger. Garland Victims.[2]
–1 Missouri Antoinette “Missouri Ann” Harriss Nicholson. Yaeger. Garland Victims.
–5 Smiley family. Dallas Gateway. “1927 Deadly Garland TX Tornado.” 1-23-2018.
Belle Hall Smiley, 37 Yaeger. Garland Victims.
Charlena Smiley, 14 months Yaeger. Garland Victims.
Charles Oscar Smiley, 37 Yaeger. Garland Victims.
Greeta May Smiley, 11 Yaeger. Garland Victims.
Lilath Merle Smiley, 12 Yaeger. Garland Victims.
–1 Katherine J. Brumit Todd, 30. Yaeger. Garland Victims.
–1 Monroe W. Todd, 35. Yaeger. Garland Victims.
Narrative Information
May 9: “(By Associated Press). Nevada, May 9.–Sixteen persons were killed and 50 inured when a tornado struck this town of about 800 population at about 3 o’clock this morning. Some of the injured are expected to die. Practically the entire business district, including 15 brick buildings were destroyed. The Odd Fellows Hall is the only building in section standing. The dead are:…
“The First Baptist and First Methodist churches were badly damaged. Remains of the Baptist church have been converted into a temporary hospital. The school house was destroyed and damage is estimated at about one million dollars. Relief train was rushed from Greenville.” (Associated Press. “32 Killed in Tornado. Storm Hits Town of Garland and Nevada at Early Hour,” The Bryan Daily Eagle, TX, 5-9-1927, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “32 Killed in Tornado. Storm Hits Town of Garland and Nevada at Early Hour,” The Bryan Daily Eagle, TX, 5-9-1927, p. 1. Accessed 8-8-2018 at: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3077972/tornado_destroys_nevada_tx_and_kills/
Dallas Gateway. “1927 Deadly Garland TX Tornado.” 1-23-2018. Accessed 8-8-2018 at: https://dallasgateway.com/1927-deadly-garland-tx-tornado/
Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes Update 1992-1995. St. Johnsbury, VE: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films, January 1997, 128 pages.
Grazulis, Thomas P. The Tornado: Nature’s Ultimate Windstorm. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2001, 324 pages.
Yaeger, Rick. 09 May 1927 Tornado Victims — Garland, Texas. 15 memorials. Accessed 8-8-2018 at: https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/589258?page=1#sr-57740211
Yaeger, Rick. 09 May 1927 Tornado Victims — Nevada, Texas. 19 memorials. Accessed 8-8-2018 at: https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/592112?page=1#sr-12170369
[1] Yaeger notes 19 memorials and lists 19 names; however, two of those named, Johnnie E. Robinson and Samuel Hardin Robinson, did not die until 1977 and 1960 respectively. Additionally, Yaeger does not note the J. R. Robinson, 64, listed as killed in the Associated Press article in the Bryan Daily Eagle article of May 9, 1927.
[2] In is noted in the Dallas Gateway piece that he was the Mayor of Garland.