Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-04-13
DEVASTATION.
Two Arkansas Counties Laid Waste
by a Storms Fury.
THE STORM TRACK sTREWN WITH RUIN
Twelve Persons Killed, a Score Wounded,
and Many Buildings Demolished APP
paIing Scenes at Birds Point
Notes of the Cyclone.

IOt Ann, ApAAA 49,
from the storm-swept counties OF Mont
gomery and Garland are meagre, owing 70
lack of telegraphic communication. Inc
wires are all down in that section, and the
streams are so swollen by the heavy rains
that it is practically impossible for couriers
to get in or out. The Gazette's corresPon-
dent at Hot Springs sends agraphic account
of the cyclone ravages in Garland county
1t seems that the cyclone developed in the
hills to the southeast OF Birds Point about
Is o'clock Sunday night. Birds Point IS
collection OF houses at the intersection OF
the Hot Springs stage and wagon road ana
the old Price trail. 1t is inhabited princl-
pally by Germans from 81; Clalr caunty,
Ills, remnants of large colony VINO came
to the State some four years ago, .,
Forming in the hills, the cyclone moved
down in the valley. Its presence was maze
manifest by almost
Ineessant Lightning
and heavy thunder. At first it moved
slowly; but rapidly gaining strength ana
velocity il swept down on the settlement
with terrible force. Although the night
had been previously quite dark, the storm
cloud was so heavily charged with eiec'
tricity that its path was rendered SO
light that objects were rendered visible
for several hundred yards to either slde.
A plot of trees 200 yards southeast OF the
cluster of houses, was 1.-The first object met
by the cyclone. Several OF these were
| three feet in diameter, but they were ell
| tber twisted up by the roots or broken OH
| a few feet above the ground, and either
| hurled violently to one side or else carried
I'D into the bosom OF the cloud.
Carl Resor's house was the nearest to the
storm. Mr.. and Mrs. Resor had fled to a
| rude milk cellar few yards to the north,
| and crouched under the side OF the earthen
wall for safety. James Ford, an employe
| of MIR. Resor, did not leave the house, be-
| lieying that there was no particular dam
ger. The building was
Dashed TO Pieces,
and Ford's body has not yet been found.
| To day several articles Of furniture, belong
ing to the family, were found over four
miles away. The top of the milk cave was
| carried away and Mrs. Res0r had three ribs
broken by some falling missile.
| John Weitekamp's house, q few rods to
| the left OF the Resor edifce, was also blown
away. His twelve year-old daughter Min
ME was instantly killed, and his step-son,
Henry White, was hurled distance OF 60
yards and is believed to be fatally injured.
1
two escaped uninjured. The residence OF
a man named Schuler was also blown
down. Schuler was alone, his family hav-
! ing gone back to their former home on q
visit. His body was found in a woodward
100 yards away yesterday morning. Both
| legs, one arm and his neck were broken,
ard death in his case must have been in
stantaneous. Joseph Lenk's residence
was also destroyed. 1t was a sub
stantial structure OF logs, weather
boarded without. 1t was completely de-
were instantly killed, ana one OF her
children has since died. Mr.. Lenk sus-
tanned two serious scalp wounds. Caroline
Weir's house was blown down, and her SON
in.law, named Rymer, had his head crushed
by the falling timbers. John Borman, 5
family took refuge in the cellar, but their
home escaped unscathed. The general
store Kept by Frank Myers was shattered
| 10 pieces, and d commercial traveller by the
name OF David Sutton, who leaped from
his window,
Was Crushed to Death
bya portion of the falling wall. Sixteen
houses were destroyed and the damage is
estimated at not less than $4,000. The live
stock suffered severely, horses and cattle
being either dashed to death or manged to
such an extent that they had to be killed
the following day. About three dozen
chickens, owned by Mrs. Borman, were
blown away and not yestige of them has
since been found,
Inc cyclone rose after leaving the Point,
and did not descend until Montgomery
county was reached. One branch, however,
swept away to the west and destroyed sew
eral cabins about six miles from the point
of its formation. 1t is reported that two
negroes were killed by this branch. John
Neusch and his wife, living fifteen miles
| south of the 0uachita river, were killed.
Near Johnson's Ferry Theodore Wilson
was killed by his house falling on him.
The destruction of houses and the statter.
ing of fences was complete along the track
OF the storm, and much property was des-
troyed in its path between Celina and the
Ouachita river, east of Hot Springs. 1t is
imOossible as yet to give an account of the
magnitude Of the storm, and the losses it
has entailed. 1t is known however, that a
dozen persons were killed and about twenty
wounded, many of this number seriously,
and it is feared that there has been addi-
tional loss of life further in the interior.
Heavy rains followed the cyclone, doing
| much damage at Mount Ida aud other
| points in Montgomery county. No relief
| measures have been taken as yet, and unless
the damage is far more serious than now
believed TO be, none will be required.