Picking Up the Pieces After Tornado Strikes, May 1, 1923

People Busy Rebuilding Houses Destroyed by Storm. . . Spectacular Scene as Two Clouds Came Together with Onrush and Started the Twisting Cyclone Which Started Near the Wayne County Line Southwestern Part of Wilson County, and Dipped Down in Three Places Destroying Property

The people who suffered in Saturday afternoon’s cyclone that started in the Southwest corner of Wilson county near the Wayne county line and went in a northerly direction spending its force somewhere in the head of Contentnea Creek are this morning rapidly repairing their homes.

Messrs. I.W.W. Matthew and Tommie Lamm were at work this morning, and Mr. McRae Boyett, W.R. Davis and others are also at work.

Mr. Ed Capps said that he saw the storm coming and that it missed his place near Lucama about 50 yards. He saw the two clouds come together and heard the roar, as it swept by his place.

The first sign of destruction by the elements was at the home of Mr. Henry Davis who lives on this side of the big pocosin just beyond Mr. William Barnes, who resides about three miles south of Lucama. Here it took an acre of big pine trees and twisted them off the stump and blew them down. Not more than three of the trees were left standing.

It next struck the premises of Mr. Henry Davis who resides on the farm of Mr. William Barnes, and tore down his dwelling house and smoke house. Mr. Capps is of the opinion that if the force of the wind had not been broken by the big trees that not a vestige of a house would have been left on Mr. Davis’ place.

Mr. George H. Newsome also gave us an interesting account of the storm. He said the first sign of the storm appeared in the neighborhood of Mr. Monroe Godwin’s place which is near Mr. Barnes.

The damage is about what the Times stated in its afternoon edition.

Mr. Matthews’ loss is estimated at $2,500. It turned the southern end of his dwelling house around from its former position about 10 feet and the northern end of it three feet, and unroofed it, and took the roof from his tobacco barn.

Mr. Tommie Lamm lost about $2,000. His store was moved eastward three feet from its former pillars, and his stock of goods were thrown on the floor. It tore his tobacco barn all to pieces and ruined his apple orchard.

Mr. W.R. Davis lost a tobacco barn and his stables were overturned. His loss was probably $500.

Mr. Mc Rae Boyett lost about $500. His tobacco barn was turned upside down.

From the front page of The Wilson Times, Tuesday, May 1,1923