The Russellville Democrat., 1889-08-01
WIND AND RAIN.
Great Destruction of Property by the storm last sum-
 day Night.

day Night.
 From the meagre reports at hand it appears that the storm Sunday night was more or less severe in ev- cry county composing the northwest ern portion of the State. Washing ton and Johnson counties seem to have suffered most. Below we give the details as gathered from specials to the Gazette:
 At Clarksville it was the largest rainfall on record. It commenced to rain about l. o'clock and until about 8 o'clock Monday morning it fell in a perfect torrent. All the streets were standing h water from six inches to five feet deep and great many families became scared and fed to the hills for safety. No ma terial damage was done except to the middle pier of Spsdra Creek bridge which was washed out. In the coun- try, especially in the creek bottoms, crops were blown and washed down and fences washed away, some being almost wholly destroyed. The coun- ty bridge oyer Little Spadra was washed away, loss about 5000.
 It is reported that 155,O0 feet of lumber was washed from Lamar by Cabin Creek and all the loose lumber in the place was washed together and it is impossible to determine owner. ship.
 The damage to the county cannot be estimated, but $50, would not be too large. The river has risen fourteen feet in the last nine hours and is still rising. The overflow districts of the river are yet to hear from, but it is supposed they are un- der water and badly damaged.
 At Fayetteville it was the most terrific storm known to the oldest citizen. It burst in full fury about I2 o'clock, and for three long hours ragged without cessation. The thun- der was not peal after peal, but one long, loud unceasing, terrific roar and tue heavens famed with lurid light-not flash followed by darkness, but one continual blaze of blending lIght--and the rain poured down from the heavens like cataract. The English language is inadequate to portray the awful terror of the scene.
 The morning revealed fearful cas- ualities. Many residences were struck by lightning receiving slight damage. Among them were those of L. M. Ragland, B. J. Brown, M. Mack, J. V. Walker, also the public school building and the livery stable of A. B. Kell. The barn of Thomas Brooks, editor of the Republican, one half mile south of town, was struck and caught fire, burning five horses and lot of grain and many farming implements. Loss estimated at about $2000, partly insured.
 Miles of fence were blown away west of town where the storm assum ed the nature of cyclone, upr ooting trees, unroofing some houses, blowing away parts of others, bruising some persons badly, but as yet no loss of life has been reported.
 Damage to crops throughout the county is immense; Center township alone is estimated at $10,000. The Illinois river rose four feet higher than ever known. Fences and crops along its banks are all swept away.
 A rise of thirty-f five feet in White river swept away the bridge on the Fort Smith railway and damaged the Pacific and Great Eastern railway bridge at Wyman so that all trains on the two roads are stopped. Dis tresslng reports of loss Of property come from every direction. Considerable damage resulted from wind and rain in Little Rock. A small boat house on the rlver was washed away, another on Wolf street was struck by lightning and one side of it demolished. No lives lost Crops were damaged in the country considerably.
 The storm was terribly severe al | Plummerville. The business part of town was overfowed.
 Two bridges on the Little Rock and Fort Smith road betwen Cabin Creek and Knoxville were washed away. The west bound passenger tram Monday went no further than Russellville and returned to Little Rock. The east-bound passenger turned back at Clarksville. Tuesday trains passed through each way slightly behind schedule time. The signal service report gives the amount of rainfall as follows: Little Rock, 3.64; Newport, .75; Malvern 200; Prescott, IS; Helena, 200; Forrest City, 1.43; DeValrs Bluff, 2.50; Ft. Smith, 1892; Pine Bluff 3.05; Russellville, 200; Monticello 2.10.