Daily World from Opelousas, Louisiana • Page 1

SADLY. SOMEWHAT DAZEDLY, Amos Carrier, well-known pranter of the "Boscoville" area east of Opelousas, shifts through the rubble of what was once his fine, large home, for items of salvage. Carriers" home was struck by the center of the twister, knocked thirty feet from its foundations, and completely destroyed except for a few standing walls. Mrs. Carrier went to shut the blown-open kitchen door just as it struck, knocking the door open and slamming her across the kitchen while all the walls and contents were blown away.

Mr. Carrier, in bed, was knocked across the room. Neither was badly injured. (All Daily World Photos by Bourdier) PATH OF TORNADO which destroyed at least li homes east and southeast of Opelousas last night Is shown by black line. Most extensive damage was at the "Boscoville" area on the old Port Barre road at the K.

Jennings plantation on the old Port Barre where nine homes were demolished, six others badly damaged. In the Prairie Laurent area on the Opelousas-Leonville road four homes were completely demolished. Countless barns, sheds, garages and many automobiles, farm implements and the like are total losses. Amazingly, nobody was fatally injured, only one person considered critlcallj hurt, and 10 hospitalized. Vol.

XVIII Opelousas, Louisiana, Wednesday, October 16, 1957 No. 211 "flVsFiracadl CtLDDong ---1 --T kX-Zs tv2 dl rf I in' i mi i iff rwfi'if-" tmm "ii i-' -J-? A roaring tornado snaked a destructive path across the countryside east and southeast of Opelousas last night, completely demolishing 16 farm homes, injuring 29 persons and doing widespread damage, as yet unesttmaced. Fourteen were hospitalized locally and two were reported in Lafayette Charity. One victim Is con-: Sidered critic aL The twister struck first at about 8:55 p.m. in the Prairie Laurent section, five miles of the city.

It completely demolished four homes there along the Opelousas-Leonville road, injured many of the occupants and wrecked just about every possession they owned. The whirling winds then moved northeast over a wooded area and slammed into the "BoscovUle" communtly on the Old Port Barre road, about four miles east of Opelousas. The tornado there ripped first into the home of Mrs. Kavanaugh Jennings just after she had entered the front door after a visit and badly damaged the south side of the home and wrecked various outbuildings. Including a huge frame barn.

The blow continued, totally wrecking the large home across the road of Amos Carrier, to the extent that the escape from death or serious Injury by Mr. and Mrs. Carrier Is difficult to believe. The tornado moved along the heavily-settled road which connects the old and new Port Barre highways, mowed down 11 homes and severly dam aged a half-dozen more, before returning to Its mother cloud. Its path was estimated at 500 feet wide and six (See No." 3 back page) THIS WAS A HOME in the Boscoville area four miles east of Opelousas, Just east of the Fred Wyble ranch.

Where it stood there is nothing. It was blown completely away, some parts lying a quarter-mile away. The home belonged to John Ned, colored, who, with his family, was luckily visiting in Texas. 'I SAW TV GO THROUGH WALL' PIIA Gets 2.79 Interest on Notes The bid of Chemical Corn Ex Wicitims Grimace At Ugly Memory change Bank of New York, to purchase $275,000 temporary notes from the Opelousas Public Housing Authority, was accepted by the local PHA Tuesday. The firm bid to purchase the notes as an annual Interest rate of 2.79 per cent.

However, the notes are effective for only a six-months period from Nov, 6, through April. 6. 1958. The New York firm's bid was accepted after it has been approved. (See No.

1 back Daeel who lay In a bed next to hers with a possible brain concussion. People like the Ogden Fruge family. Colestine Fruge, the mother, sits by a bed on which her 15-year old daughter Imogens -lies. Imogene is in shock. A tube In her arm brings her blood.

She was struck In the abdomen. There is a possibility of Internal injuries. Her glazed eyes half open. She asks for water. Mrs.

Papa, the nurse, has to say no. Imogene will be x-rayed later, and then maybe surgery. Her mother ought to be in bed (See No. 2 back page) By GUS WEILL Tragedy has a smell. It was' evident today at both Opelousas hospitals, a mixture of hurt and fear and sorrow.

The hurt shook their heads In slow wonder, or perhaps in weary resignation at the existence of pain and the nonexistence of their homes. Their eyes still blank, their voices lowered in almsot awe at. what had befallen them, they answered questions slowly, sometimes grimacing at ugly memory. An old woman looked at the wall, a baby brought in for observation cried for his mother. WEATHER OPELOUSAS VICINITY 0B Partly cloudy and mild through Thursday with widely scattered showers today and tonight.

The low tonight, 62 to 66. The high Thursday 76 to 80. ONLY A SMALL SHELL remains of mis house in the Boscoville community, owned and lived in by two elderly colored sisters, Neomia and Sidonia Carrier. Sidonia was hospitalized with a head wound, her sister reported. Their home and belongings were scattered over their farm..