1840 GREAT NATCHEZ TORNADO: RISE NATCHEZ! BEAUTEOUS "CITY OF THE BLUFF"

In 2021, the City of West Monroe held a benefit concert for Hurricane Ida evacuees. Our culture was on full display. Local artists performed, the crowd danced and enjoyed spirits into the evening hours. Josh Madden gave us his best on acoustic that night. I want forget, "Another Brick in the Wall" echoing down Trenton Street. This community presentation of goodwill remined me of another catastrophe from the mid 19th Century. In 1840, a violent tornado struck Natchez, Mississippi. A benefit concert was organized to help the sufferers.

The Natchez, MS tornado of May 7,1840, is well known. The tornado began in Concordia Parish, Louisiana causing property damage including the destruction of the courthouse. The tornado moved over the Mississippi River into the City of Natchez. Hundreds of people were killed on the river in boats and barges, and dozens more killed in the City of Natchez. At least 317 were killed.

After the skies cleared a relief committee was formed and presided over by Col. James Wilkins. People from the Towns of Grand Gulf, Rodney and surrounding towns sent contributions of clothing, provisions, and wine. New Orleans raised an initial two thousand dollars. This amount was increased with additional supplies being forwarded to the city.

On May 20th a benefit performance was given at the Camp Street Theatre in the City of Natchez. The committee under whose direction it was given included the Honorable William Freret, Mayor of New Orleans. In one account it is stated “the theater was packed with the best people in the city, to show their sympathy for the distressed people of Natchez.”

Following the play, Mr. M. C. Field of the Picayune, recited an original poem composed for the occasion:

“Hark-Behold! The sky is black, and crash-

The roaring thunder and the lightning flash,

The shrieking winds and blood- congealing tones

Of frantic agony and dying groans

Tell of a city hurtled to decay,

And throngs of human beings swept away!”

“Twas not the warlike engine’s dreadful Rattle-

“Twas not amid the bleeding ranks of battle-

Nor centuries, nor years, nor e’en a day

Brought the proud city tumbling to decay.

An instant only – fanes and temples nod,

And man expires beneath the hand of God!

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Rise Natchez! Beauteous “City of the Bluff!”

The storm is pass’ d and you have mourned enough:

And like the Phoenix, upon golden wing,

Rejuvenated from your ruins spring.

Natchez. arise, and waft your happy paeans

On gentle breezes back to New Orleans.”

Source: Jackson National Weather Service, The Times Picayune, Newspaper.com

- Tom M.

Photograph by Tom Malmay - Natchez Under the Hill

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