In
1992, when I first began my search for Morgan relatives, I met Bobby
Booth (son of Ruby Box Booth) and his wife Regina. When I asked
what they knew about the Melva tornado they told me about a story that
appeared in a book titled "Hill and Holler STORIES" written by Douglas
Mahnkey. Doug, who lived in Melva when the tragedy
occurred, was the brother of William (Bill) Mahnkey who died in the
tornado along with the Box children. "The Melva Tornado: March
11, 1920" appears on page 159 of Doug's book.
-- S. A. Morgan
Excerpt from "THE MELVA TORNADO: MARCH 11, 1920"
from Hill and Holler Stories
by Douglas Mahnkey
"At eleven o'clock, heavy black clouds covered the hills and reached into the valleys. An ominous stillness hung over the countryside. Then a terrible roar came from the southwest as a tornado bore down on Melva. My brothers, Reggie 12, and Bill 7, were among the children playing at the creek. Reggie was the oldest in the crowd, he herded them all into a little frame house on the banks of the creek. The tornado was upon them in less than a minute, the house and children were thrown violently into the wild waters of Turkey Creek. Reggie was the only one of the eight who lived through the ordeal. He was swept clear of the wreckage and caught an overhead branch as he was washed down the swift stream. He pulled ashore on the opposite side of the creek. He was injured and frantic with fear. Ben Layton rode his big mule into the raging waters and saved the boy."
