8/9/2019 The Albertville Tornado of 1908
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The Albertville Tornado of 1908
By Elton Camp
(The following is a true story, although it has been enhanced
with dialogue and some
imaginary details to add interest.)
North Alabama weather might make sudden changes. The sky
darkened. The
west wind picked up. Trees began to bend in the gusts. An
ominous yellowish castdeveloped in the clouds. Scattered, heavy
drops of water plopped to the earth. The
metallic smell of an approaching storm filled the air.
The 1908 tornado that devastated the town of Albertville
instilled a deep fear of
storms throughout the region. Without warning, on Friday about
four p.m., it had
descended from the southwest in its awesome fury. The downtown
business section andall the churches were splintered. Only the rail
depot survived its destructive power. Over
forty acres in the small town lay in ruins. Eighteen people had
been killed and more than150 injured. Twenty more perished
throughout north Alabama on that memorable day
Take the injured to the agricultural school. Well make that into
a hospital,
commanded young medical student B.C. Scarborough. Along with
another medical
intern, David Sibert, he supervised removal of desks from
classrooms to make room forrows of bedsprings. Soon the makeshift
facility was crowded with fifty victims of the
storm. Screams and pleas arose from some. The most severely
injured suffered in stoic
silence. The stench of death was in the air.
As word of the disaster spread, doctors from nearby Guntersville
rushed to the
scene. Trains from Gadsden arrived with doctors, nurses, and
workers. Medical suppliesand drugs arrived from Gadsden and Fort
Payne. Alabama people believed in taking careof their own.
Scarborough, who later practiced medicine in Albertville for
many years,suggested, The ones not hurt as bad need to go with
their relatives and stay until they get
well. Well remain here at the school with the others. The two
medical students tended
the victims virtually around the clock.
Theys some stealin from th stores! a teenager informed the chief
of police.
Jest walkin n an takin whut they please.
Captain John C. Coleman, commander of the Albertville National
Guard, soon put
an end to the pilfering. Go downtown in uniforms and stand with
rifles. Dont shoot
nobody less you got no choice. Just seeing youll likely keep em
at bay.
The strategy worked. Assisted by men from the Gadsden Queen City
Guards, the
soldiers protected the property that remained from the
tornado.
