Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-10-10
RUIN AT LITTLE ROCK.
the Arkansas Capital Visited by a
Cyclone-Thirty Buildings
DanoOIiShad

DGnOISn0Q.
Little Rock, Ark, Oct. "a terrible
cyclone struck this city at 1880 o'clock
last evening and almost devastated the
business portion of the city.
The main portion Of the business center,
bounded on the south by Third street, Oh
the north by the river front, OH the west
by Center street and on the east by Com
merce street suffered greatly The total
property loss will probably approximate
$1,O00,000 The cyclone was accOmpa-
MED by a terrible storm, and the stocks
of goods in those business houses which
were unroOfed, though not otherwise
wrecked are destroyed by water
The storm struck the state penitentiary
which stands on a hill in the western
part Of the city with fearful force, de-
stroying the dining room, tearing down
cell building and demOlishing the warden's
office. Several convicts were seriously in
Jured, one of whom died ali hour after
ward A stampede took place among the
convictS, but Supt. Mcconnell and his as
sistants soon succeeded in quoting them.
Fortunately only about 120 convictS were
inside the walls.
Down town the lightning struck the
Martin block, corner Spring and Second
streets, totally Wrecking the third floor.
John Eaton was fatally injured there.
The Titles building, corner of Center and
Markham streets, was unrOOfed and Il
part OF the fourth floor of Gleason's hotel
was blown away. At Main and Second
streets the tops Of several adjacent build
Ings lie piled up III an indescribable heap.
The worst damage, however, was done
to property on Markham and Commerce
streets. Nearly every building in that dis
trict is unroOfed and many are totally
wrecked. The large three-stOry building
at Market and Cumberland streets Occu-
pied by the B. II. Mccarthy company is
total wreck. as is also the tWO-stOry
building on the opposite corner occupied
by Max Elkans as saloon. The third
story of the old Deming house was blown
off and the several stores under it were
flooded with water and filed with debris
The streets are filed with tin roofs,
electric wires and other wreckage. The
large cotton warehouse situated at Sec
Ond and Scott streets, owned by J. II.
Bacum. was wrecked 1t fell on the West
ern Union telegraph Office next door and
wrecked it, thus for Il time cutting off all
telegraphic communication with outside
points. The city is in the densest dark
ness and the streets are veritd bic stream
of mud. Rescuing parties are busy
searching for the wounded. but u list Of
the casualties is as yet utterly unobtain-
able.
Among those known to have been Seri-
Ously and probably fatally injured are G..
islature. and Sam Smith. cotton buyer.
Others are known to have been more or
less injured but the names are not OBJ
taina6le
The loss to property alone will amount
to at least S1.0O0.OO0. Almost every
building situated III the district was mere
or less damaged by wind and water.
The capitol and Richelieu hotel were
badly damaged. Every window AZ both
buildings was either broken to pieces or
cracked The business houses on East
Markham and Main from Markham to
Third street are damaged to Il great ex-
tent. Nearly every merchant along the
street suffered almost total loss of stock,
and residents are also great sufferers.
John Edwards, with his infant baby
in his arms. was found dead on Main
street by the police. An aged negro cou-
pie was also found dead in u ro0tiess
cabin.
Six electric street car motors are
pinned on the track on Main street with
heavy rafters and poles. These motors
are Il. total loss. Gov. Fishback's quarters
in the Martin block are a mass OF ruins
At the insane asylum the greatest dam
age was done. The roofs Of the main
building were completely demolished.
The male ward is a total wreck. Several
insane patients made their escape. but
We're recaptured. Two violently insane
men were captured near the Union depot
1t is not known ROW many Utilities " ere
killed or injured as many are supposed
to be buried in the ruins. DR.. Jacob
II. Ingate. who came here several months
ago from Mobile. Ala, to accept posi-
ton in the asylum, was killed lie Is
buried beneath the ruins Of the building.
The loss on buildings and contents at the
ASYLUM will reach 1925, 900.
Capt Sam O. Smith, agent OF AIlgeyer
& Co, was in his Office writing letter.
Just as he reached the sidewalk por-
ton of 4 brick wall from a building on
the opposite side of the street struck
him on the head and back. de wild re
cover. though terribly cut.
The roofs of about thirty of the largest
buildings in the city were torn Off ana
hurled against buildings on the opposite
side of the street, leaving the occupants
and property within to the mercy OF the
rain. which. came in torrents. The resi-
denca portion of the city entirely escaped,
but Main street to Third, Markham from
Center to Cumberland and Second from
Center to Cumberland were almost total
wrecks This territory covers the rrln-
eiDaI business portion of the town The
Western Union Telegraph office was III
the center of this district. This building
was wrecked beyond recognition, the OPP
orators who We're at work at the time
having marrow escapes. Operator Cui-
bert was struck by Il flying brick ana
seriously wounded The names of the
business men who suffered damage will
reach over 100 and comprise all the most
prominent firms in town.