A TERRIFIC TORNADO EXPERIENCED IN LOUISIANA.

THE TORNADO IN LOUISIANA.

GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY -- TWO NEGROES KILLED AND MANY INJURED -- DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS AND BOATS $400,000.

New Orleans, May 4. -- A tornado swept over Baton Rouge and vicinity on Tuesday, causing great destruction of property. Trees were uprooted, and bricks and planks were whirled in the air. The north and south walls of the Penitentiary, the roof of the shoe factory, and the cells in the south wing of the building were blown away. The whole second story and roof of the store-house of the United States Arsenal, with 300 feet of the laboratory, (a frame building,) and the roof of one of the powder
magazines were rent in fragments. The roof was torn from the Catholic Church, and the cemetery fence was demolished. A large number of frame houses were unroofed, and sustained other damages. The sugarhouse and a number of cabins on the plantation of JOSEPH BERNARD were blown down, and one negro was killed and several were wounded. The sugar-house, gin-house and cabins on the plantation of JAMES McCOLLEN were all destroyed, and many colored persons were severely injured. The sugar-house and all the cabins on the plantation of W. S. PIKE were blown down, and two colored men were killed and a number were wounded. Many boats and flats, laden with coal, were sunk. The loss will reach $400,000. During the storm some of the convicts escaped from the prison, but they were speedily recaptured.

The New York Times New York 1871-05-05

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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!