1909 — Oct 14, Tornado Outbreak, AL (11-21), AR (2), GA (1-2), TN (42-50) –56-75
— 95 Daily Telegraph, Atlantic, IA. “Death Toll in Ninety-five.” 10-18-1909, p. 1.
–92-93 Daily Journal, Stevens Point, WI. “Storm’s Dead Total 93.” 10-18-1909, p. 2.[1]
–56-75 Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.[2]
–54-72 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 725.
–57-70 New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” October 16, 1909, p. 1.[3]
–46-68 The Constitution, Atlanta, GA. “46 Left Dead by Recent Storm.” 10-17-1909, p. 2C.[4]
— 68 Waukesha Freeman, WI. “Events in 1909 Chronology,” Jan 10, 1910, p. 12.
— 55 Sioux County Herald, IA. “Storm in Dixie Costs Lives of 55 Persons,” 10-20-1909, p.7.
–37-50 Coshocton Daily Times, OH. “Storm Left Death and Ruin in Wake.” 10-16-1909, p. 4.[5]
— 47 Tornado fatalities. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 725.
— 40 Ogdensburg Journal, NY. “Forty is Death Toll of Storm.” 10-16-1909.
[Highlighted in yellow below denotes not included in tally — relying on other sources.]
Alabama (11-21)
–11-21 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 725.
Breakout of Alabama Tornado fatalities by locality (where noted):
— 10 Franklin/Lawrence/Marshall/Jackson Co’s. NWS WFO Birmingham. AL Tor. Database.
–3 Russellville, Franklin County.[6]
— 3 Franklin County. Gravel Hill, Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 725.
–6-10 Jackson Co., small communities, 17:00, F2 tornado. Grazulis. Significant… 1993, p. 725.[7]
–6 Wyeth Cove (Jackson Co.) Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 725.
— 5 Jackson County, Scottsboro. Sioux County Herald. IA. “Storm in Dixie,” 10-20-1909, 7.
— 4 Jackson County. New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” 10-16-1909, p.1.
— 4 Jackson County, Woodville. Sioux County Herald, IA. “Storm in Dixie,” 10-20-1909, 7.[8]
— 8 Jackson County, Wyeth Cove. NY Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” 10-16-1909, p.1.
— 8 “ Sioux County Herald, IA. “Storm in Dixie,” 10-20-1909, 7.
— 1-8 Marshall County, northern, 17:00 F2 tornado. Grazulis. Significant… 1993, p. 725.[9]
Arkansas ( 2)
— 2 Marmaduke, Greene County Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes, 1680-1991. 1993, 725.
— 1 “ New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” Oct 16, 1909, 1.
— 1 “ Sioux County Herald, IA. “Storm in Dixie,” 10-20-1909, 7.
Georgia (1-2)
–1-2 Blanchard estimated range.[10]
— 2 State. New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” Oct 16, 1909, 1.
— 1 Cartersville Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 725.
— 1 “ Sioux County Herald, IA. “Storm in Dixie,” 10-20-1909, 7.
— 1 Centerville Sioux County Herald, IA. “Storm in Dixie,” 10-20-1909, 7.
Tennessee (42-50)
–42-50 Blanchard estimated fatality range.[11]
–40-48 Grazulis range (difference is between immediate deaths and reported and injured deaths)
— 25 Coggins. Tennessee Tragedies: Natural, Technological…Societal Disasters. P. 292.[12]
Breakout of Tennessee Tornado Fatalities by Locality:
— 23 Pittsburg Landing and Stantonville. NWS. This Day in Weather History: October 14th.[13]
— 20 Decatur County, Parsons. New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” 10-16-1909, 1.[14]
— 1 Decatur/Hardin/Wayne counties, 17:30, F2 tornado. Grazulis. Significant… 1993, p. 725.
–1 Decatur/Henderson counties, Scotts Hill. Name looks like Ernest Coggins.[15]
— 1-5 Hardin County, Nixon, 17:30, F3 tornado. Grazulis. Significant… 1993, 725.[16]
“ New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” Oct 16, 1909, 1.
“ Sioux County Herald (IA). “Storm in Dixie,” Oct 20, 1909.
— >6 Hardin Co., Pittsburg Landing, 17:30, F3 tornado. Grazulis. Significant… 1993, 725.[17]
“ New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” Oct 16, 1909, 1.
“ Sioux County Herald (IA). “Storm…,” Oct 20, 1909
— 7 Hardin Co., Shiloh Nat. Mil. Park vicinity. Shedd. History of Shiloh NMP. Page 32.[18]
–1 Mr. Otho Littlefield, Hotel at the Landing, just west of the National Cemetery.
–1 Luther Littlefield, Hotel at the Landing, just west of the National Cemetery.
–2 Guests at the Hotel at the Landing, just west of the National Cemetery.
— 1 Haywood Co., Stanton, F2 tornado 17:00. Grazulis. Significant… 1993, p. 725.
“ New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” Oct 16, 1909.
“ Sioux County Herald (IA). “Storm in Dixie,” Oct 20, 1909.
— 1 Lincoln County, Mulberry, 19:15, F2 tornado. Grazulis. Significant… 1993, p. 725.[19]
— 2 Madison Co., Denmark, 17:00, F2 tornado. Grazulis. Significant… 1993, 725.[20]
–1 Al Barnes, “prominent citizen of Denmark” was killed and Mrs. Barnes badly hurt.[21]
— 1 “ New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” Oct 16, 1909, 1.
— 1 “ Sioux County Herald (IA). “Storm in Dixie,” Oct 20, 1909.
— 15 Marion County, Hamburg. Sioux County Herald, IA. “Storm in Dixie,” 10-20-1909.[22]
— 1 “ New York Times. “Storm’s Death List,” Oct 16, 1909, p. 1.
— 1 “ Sioux County Herald (IA). “Storm in Dixie,” Oct 20, 1909.
— 6 McNairy Co., Mount Vinson. Coggins. Tennessee Tragedies. 2011, p. 292.[23]
— 2-6 McNairy County, Selmer, 17:30 F3 tornado. Grazulis. Significant… 1993, p. 725.
—>15 McNairy Co., Stantonville, F3 tornado, 17:30. Grazulis. Significant… 1993, 725.[24]
–1 Eleanor Clemmons Banks, 42. Wife of James Perry Banks, mother of Minnie Lee.[25]
–1 James Perry Banks, 54, Oct 14. Father of Minnie Lee Banks.[26]
–1 Minnie Lee Banks, 5 years-old; one day after her parent’s home was struck.[27]
–1 Stantonville area. Mrs. M. Daniel.[28]
–1 Stantonville area. Rusty Hastings.[29]
—<10 McNairy Co, Selmer, and Nixon in Hardin County. Deaths from injuries, 17:30 F3.[30]
— 13 “ New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” Oct 16, 1909.
— 8 McNairy Co., Stantonville New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” Oct 16, 1909.
“ Sioux County Herald (IA). “Storm in Dixie,” Oct 20, 1909.
Narrative Information
NWS WFO Birmingham AL: Beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m. and continuing until 5:00 p.m. (CST), three tornadoes touchdown in the Alabama Counties of Franklin, Lawrence, Marshall and Jackson, killing 10 people and injuring 77. (NWS WFO Birmingham AL (NOAA). Alabama Tornado Database)
Newspapers
Oct 15, Ogdensburg Journal: “New Orleans, Oct. 15. — Forty persons, possibly more, were killed in the storm that swept from central Alabama through Georgia and into central Tennessee. The death center is over Shiloh battlefield, in southern Tennessee, where in the villages of Denmark, Whiteville and Pittsburg Landing the death roll is known to be twenty-four, and partially verified reports declare that at least another score of persons were killed in country districts in that vicinity.
“The little city of Denmark, Madison county, Tenn., was completely blown from the map. The storm passed quickly, and then the ruins of the town caught fire. The flames completed the work of destruction.” (Ogdensburg Journal, NY. “Forty is Death Toll of Storm. Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama Suffered Most.” 10-16-1909.)
Oct 15, NYT: “Memphis, Tenn., Oct 15. — With many of the remote districts of Northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Southern Tennessee to hear from, the loss of life in the storm of yesterday may reach a hundred, Georgia and the Carolinas included. Fifty-sever persons are known definitely to have been killed, thirteen others are reported to have lost their lives, and many are missing.
“The number of persons already reported dead at various places follows: Denmark, Tenn., 1; Mulberry, Tenn., 1; Stantonville, Tenn., 13 persons reported killed, but unconfirmed; Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., 6; Parsons, Tenn., 20; near Stanlerville, 8; near Cartersville, Ga., 2; Scottsboro, Ala., 4; Wyeth Cove, Ala., 8; Stanton, Tenn., 1; Nixon, Tenn., 5, and near Marmaduke, Ark., 1.
“The storm did great damage at Parsons, Tenn….Andrew J. Banks and his entire family of seven were killed by falling timbers. Less than 100 persons lived in the community, but the death list amounts to twenty, and some others are unaccounted for…” (NYT, Oct 16, 1909.)
Oct 16, Coshocton Daily Times: “Memphis, Tenn. …. The towns which suffered the most severely were Denmark, Mulbery, Stantonville, Pittsburg Landing, Nixon and Stanton, in Tennessee; Scottsboro, Ala.; Marmaduke, Ark., and Cartersville, Ga.” (Coshocton Daily Times, OH. “Storm Left Death and Ruin in Wake.” 10-16-1909, p. 4.)
Oct 20, Sioux County Herald: “With-the list o£ reported dead totaling fifty-five, with scores injured, and with the property loss reaching $1,000,000 or more, the havoc and destruction of the storm which swept middle and west Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and portions o£ Arkansas and South Carolina late Thursday afternoon and the following night, grew hourly as reports were received from remote points.
“The storm was probably the worst that has visited that section of the South in years, being intense in its destroying fury and widespread in its area. Halves o£ counties were laid in waste and ruin. Towns were destroyed and plantations were greatly damaged. Apparently the storm broke over middle and west Tennessee and proceeded in a southeasterly direction across the State into Alabama and Georgia, assuming the proportions of a West Indian hurricane.
“Fifteen persons were killed at Hamburg, Tenn. where the National cemetery of the battlefield of Shiloh is situated, by the tornado that passed Thursday night. The damage was very heavy. The Iowa State monument was destroyed. The storm leveled Hamburg’s storehouses and dwellings and uprooted trees. The hotel and a large store house at Pittsburg Landing, on the Tennessee River, a few miles from Hamburg, were destroyed. At least three persons were killed, others were injured, and several towns and villages demolished as the cyclonic storm swept through Western Tennessee. Coming from the southeast, the wind tore frail structures into bits and moved more substantial buildings off the foundations. Trees, were uprooted, vegetation was razed, and numberless buildings were unroofed.
“Denmark, Madison County, was practically demolished, the added horror of fire following in the wake of the storm. Eighteen of the more modern buildings were torn off their foundations; and wrecked, while smaller buildings were demolished. Denmark had a population of about 350 persons, and was one of the oldest towns in Tennessee. Of the known fatalities two occurred there. Albert Barnes and his infant child were caught among falling timbers of their home and crushed to death. Mrs. Barnes was injured.
“Near Mulberry, in Lincoln County, Thomas Helm was killed and Homer Ashby and wife were injured. Near Wartrace a negro settlement was blown away. Dyersburg, Covington, Stanton, and Buford Station are other towns reporting minor damage. Along the Western and Atlantic Railway from Atlanta there is evidence of heavy damage by wind and hail.
“Unroofed houses, broken windows and ruined trees and shrubbery constitute the extent of damage left in the wake of the wind and hail storm which swept over Atlanta, Ga., and surrounding country. The loss is $80,000 to $100,000. Thirty-five cattle and several horses were killed at East Lake, a suburb.” (Sioux County Herald (IA). “Storm in Dixie Costs Lives of 55 Persons,” Oct 20, 1909, 7.)
Sources
Carroll Sentinel, IA. “South Hit By Storm. Wreckage is Strewn About in Many Localities.” 10-19-1909, p. 6. Accessed 12-23-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/iowa/carroll/carroll-sentinel/1909/10-19/page-6?tag
Coggins, Allen R. Tennessee Tragedies: Natural, Technological, and Societal Disasters in the Volunteer State. Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press, 2011. Google preview accessed 12-22-2016 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=SfK6aBuqohQC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Coshocton Daily Times, OH. “Storm Left Death and Ruin in Wake.” 10-16-1909, p. 4. Accessed 12-23-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/ohio/coshocton/coshocton-daily-times/1909/10-16/page-4?tag
Daily Journal, Stevens Point, WI. “Storm’s Dead Total 93.” 10-18-1909, p. 2. Accessed 12-23-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/wisconsin/stevens-point/stevens-point-daily-journal/1909/10-18/page-2?tag
Daily Telegraph, Atlantic, IA. “Death Toll in Ninety-five.” 10-18-1909, p. 1. Accessed 12-23-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/iowa/atlantic/atlantic-daily-telegraph/1909/10-18?tag
Find A Grave. “Eleanor Clemmons Banks.” File created by Dave Johnston, uploaded 9-4-2009. Accessed 12-22-2016 at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41564347
Find A Grave. “James Perry Banks.” File created by Dave Johnston and uploaded 9-4-2009. Accessed 12-22-2016 at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41564221
Find A Grave. “Minnie Lee Banks.” File created by Dave Johnston, 9-4-2009. Accessed 12-22-2016 at: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=41564221
Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993.
National Weather Service. This Day in Weather History: October 14th (website). Aberdeen, SD: NWS, NOAA, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Accessed 12-21-2016 at: http://www.weather.gov/abr/This_Day_in_Weather_History_Oct_14
National Weather Service Forecast Office, Birmingham, AL. Alabama Tornado Database. NWS/NOAA. Accessed 1/4/2009 at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/tornadoes/mainlist2.php
New York Times. “Storm’s Death List 57,” 10-16-1909, p. 1. Accessed at: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B02E1D61539E733A25755C1A9669D946897D6CF
Ogdensburg Journal, NY. “Forty is Death Toll of Storm. Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama Suffered Most.” 10-16-1909. Accessed 12-21-2016 at: http://www.weather.gov/abr/This_Day_in_Weather_History_Oct_14
Shedd, Charles E. Jr. (Park Historian). A History of Shiloh National Military Park Tennessee. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1954. Accessed 12-22-2016 at: https://www.nps.gov/shil/learn/management/upload/Administrative.pdf
Sioux County Herald, Orange City, IA. “Storm in Dixie Costs Lives of 55 Persons,” 10-20-1909, p. 7. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=108091685
The Constitution, Atlanta, GA. “46 Left Dead by Recent Storm.” 10-17-1909, p. 2C. Accessed 12-23-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/georgia/atlanta/atlanta-constitution/1909/10-17/page-35?tag
Waukesha Freeman, WI. “Events in 1909 Chronology,” 1-10-1910, p. 12. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=53091993
[1] “Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 18 — Figures received by the Banner show that there were 92 people killed and 100 injured in the recent cyclone in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.” [Blanchard note: the article title notes “93.” Tornadoes were referred to also as cyclones at the time.]
[2] Cannot verify the higher numbers reported in the papers above, thus we choose to use the tally from state breakout.
[3] “Fifty-seven persons are known definitely to have been killed, thirteen others are reported to have lost their lives.”
[4] Forty-six confirmed deaths in AL, GA, and TN, with unconfirmed reports of deaths which would bring total to 68.
[5] “With the known death list already reaching a total of 37 human lives and with 13 others reported dead, with scores seriously injured…”
[6] The Constitution, Atlanta, GA. “46 Left Dead by Recent Storm.” 10-17-1909, p. 2C. These may well be the three deaths Grazulis notes for Gravel Hill in Franklin County.
[7] Grazulis writes at one point that 10 people were rumored to have died in small communities in Jackson County. Later in the paragraph he notes 6 died near “Wyeth Cove.”
[8] Also: The Constitution, Atlanta, GA. “46 Left Dead by Recent Storm.” 10-17-1909, p. 2C.
[9] Grazulis writes “As many as eight people were rumored to have died in northern Marshall County…” Notes one definitive death.
[10] Grazulis, an authoritative source, notes one death. Newspaper accounts at the time note two. In that Grazulis is conservative in distinguishing between tornado deaths and deaths due to other high-wind associated storms, it may be that there were two fatalities, but that one was not due to an official tornado.
[11] We use Grazulis for 40-48 deaths, adding two for Pittsburg Landing and Stantonville noted by the National weather Service over and above the Grazulis estimate of at least 21 deaths (NWS notes 23).
[12] “Oct. 14, 1909. Tornadoes — Category F2 and F3 twisters killed twenty-five and injured eighty-seven in Decatur, Hardin, McNairy, and Wayne counties, including six at Mt. Vinson and seven at Shiloh…”
[13] Grazulis notes at least 21 tornado fatalities for Pittsburg Landing and Stantonville.
[14] Have been unable to verify through other sources, including calling county libraries, so not including.
[15] The Constitution, Atlanta, GA. “46 Left Dead by Recent Storm.” 10-17-1909, p. 2C.
[16] “One…person was killed (with rumors of four other deaths) at Nixon.”
[17] “…at least six died at Pittsburg Landing, which was ‘wiped off the map’.” Pittsburg Landing is most probably “The Landing” noted in the Diary of the Shiloh National Military Park Commission, which notes 9 area deaths (corrected to 7 by Park Historian Charles Shedd). We choose to use Shedd’s seven as a precise number.
[18] Quotes from the Diary of Daily Events maintained by the Park Commission at the time: “October 14, at 5:26 p.m. a cyclone visited the Park, striking the Park property in Snake creek bottom there destroying many large and valuable trees, coming up over the hill taking the trees in the Hagy field…Following a straight line to the Hagy plantation bordering the park on the north when it destroyed every building and killed nine people.” There is a footnote at this point which notes: “This report was erroneous. Total casualties in the Shiloh vicinity, were seven killed and 33 injured.” Blanchard note: Since Shiloh, Hardin County, is about 1 mile east of McNairy County, and just several miles southeast of Stantonville in McNairy County, there could be double-counting across county lines, in that it is not totally clear what is meant by “in the Shiloh vicinity.”
[19] “A man was killed in a tenant home.” Another source identifies victim as Tom Helm. (Carroll Sentinel, IA. “South Hit By Storm. Wreckage is Strewn About in Many Localities.” 10-19-1909, p. 6.)
[20] “A man and a child were killed in one of several small homes hat were destroyed south of Denmark.”
[21] Carroll Sentinel, IA. “South Hit By Storm. Wreckage is Strewn About in Many Localities.” 10-19-1909, p. 6.
[22] Have been unable to verify newspaper reporting at the time, thus am not including in fatality tally.
[23] Coggins notes 6 deaths in Mt. Vinson, which we take to mean Mount Vinson, which is in McNairy County. In that Grazulis notes 2-6 deaths in the Selmer area , and 15 others in Stantonville (just several miles away), with several other later deaths from injuries, we choose not to include in our tally, assuming Coggins and Grazulis are referring to the same deaths.
[24] Grazulis notes this as the McNairy/Hardin/Wayne Counties F3 tornado at 17:30.
[25] Find A Grave. “Eleanor Clemmons Banks.” File created by Dave Johnston and uploaded 9-4-2009. Noted as having died in nearby Mount Vinson. The Constitution article notes death in Stantonville. If so, then both parents would have died there as well. It may well be the case that the Stantonville area was what was being referred to.
[26] Find A Grave. “James Perry Banks.” File created by Dave Johnston and uploaded 9-4-2009.
[27] Find A Grave. “Minnie Lee Banks.” File created by Dave Johnston, 9-4-2009. Cites booklet Illustrated Account of the Mt. Vinson – Shiloh Cyclone – October 14, 1909 (Adamsville, TN: Wilson Publishing Co., 1909), p. 11.
[28] The Constitution, Atlanta, GA. “46 Left Dead by Recent Storm.” 10-17-1909, p. 2C.
[29] The Constitution, Atlanta, GA. “46 Left Dead by Recent Storm.” 10-17-1909, p. 2C.
[30] After noting deaths in Nixon and Selmer areas, Grazulis writes “as many as 10 more may have died from injuries in the two devastated towns.”