The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-10-03

LITTLE Rock, ARK, Oct. IA terrlblo
cyclone struck this city at 1880 o'clock
this evening and almost devastated tho
business portion OF tho city. Several
people are known to have been kilIed
and injured, while it is feared scores OF
othors have met tho same horrible tato.
The main portion Of the business CEN
tre, bounded on tho south by Third
street, on the north by river front, on
the west by Centre street aud on tho
east by Commerce street, is practically
in ruins and the amount OF damage is
incalculable. The total property loss
will probably approximate a half mil
lion dollars.
The cyclone was accompanied by n
terrific rain storm, and tho stocks OF
goods in those business houses which
were unroofed, though not otherwise
wrecked, were destroyed by water.
The storm struck the state peniteu-
tiary, which stands on hill in tho
western part OF the city, with fearful
force, destroying the dining room, tear.
ing down the stable aud chops, unroot-
ing the main cell building and demol-
ishing the warden's Office. Several con-
victs werc seriously injured, one Of
whom died an hour afterwards.
Down town the lightning struck the
Martin block corner OF Spring and Soc
ond streets, totally wrecking the third
floor. A man named Eaton was fatally
injured there. Tho TITLES building,
corner Centre and Markham streets,
was unrooied and part Of the fourth
floor Of Gleason's hotel was blown away.
At Main and Second streets the tops Of
several adjacent buildings lie piled up
in an indescribable heap. The worse
damage, however, was done to property
on Markham and Commerce streets.
Nearly every building in that district is
unroofed and many are totally wrecked,
The streets are filed with tin roofs.
electric wires and other wreckage, and
it will be several days before the ex-
tent OF the damage can be accurately
known. The large cotton warehouse,
situated Mt Second and Scott, owned by
J. II. Bacum, was wrecked. 1t fell
on the Western Union telegraph
Office next door and wrecked it,
thus cutting off all telegraphic COM
muuication with outside points. Tho
city is in the densest darkness and the
streets arc q veritable stream Of mud.
Rescuing parties arc busy searching for
the wounded, but list Of tho casual
ties is utterly unobtalnable. Among
those known to have been seriously and
probably fatally injured. are: G. ?.
Monro, member Of the Arkansas legisla'
ture, and - Eaton. Sam Smith, a
prominent cotton buyer, is also badly
wounded.
Others are known to have been moro
or less injured but the names are not
obtainable. All kinds OF rumors are
ahoat, ono to tho effect that the insane
asylum, in which some six hundred
patients are confined, has been blown
down and many patieuts injured, but
the asylum is situated mile from the
city and the rumor cannot be confirmed.
A number OF escaped luuatics have
been captured near the Union depot
and this fact gives color to the runor.
INSANE ASYLUM STRUCK.
At11 o'clock tonight message was
received from the insane asylum,
situated two miles from the city, aud
the state penitentiary, just west OF the
Union depot, calling for q corps OF ply
sicians and other assistance.
1t 10 reliably stated that a number OF
patients at the asylum are fatally in
iured, and great damage was donc to
the building. Reports from the penl-
tentiary say six convicts were badly in
iured by falling timbers, two OF whom
will die.
lfayor Hall, as soon as possible, called
out tho entire fire aud police depart
ments aud sent ten hack loads ot ply
sicians and citizens to the insane asylum
and ponitentiary.
Intense excitement prevails, and it IS
utterly impossible to loarn tho names
Of the killed and injured. All kinda OF
exaggerated reports are in circulation.
Through the heroic servicea OF Mayor
Hall and Chief Of Police Frank Nc
Mahon the injured and holpless are ro-
cciylne the bost OF attention. Tho loss
10 property alone will amount to at
lanst ote million dollars.