The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-03
RUIN In LITTLE ROCK.
A Cyclone Smashes Buildings
and Destroys Life.
FINANCIAL LOSS A MILLION.
Insane Asylum and Penisentfary Esps-
ciai Objects of the Wind's Rage
Hotels Much Damaged.

LITTLE Rock, Oct "A terrible cyclone
struck this city at Z 30 this evening and Al
most devastated the business portion OF
the city. Several people are known TO
have been killed, and many were injured.
The main portion OF the business center,
bounded on the south by Railroad
street, on the north by the river
front. on west by Center street. and
on east by Commercial street. is practic-
ally in ruins. and the amount of damage
is incalculable. Property loss will proba-
bly, approximate 81. 0oo,0o The cyclone
was accompanied by terrific storm, and
the stocks in the business houses which
were unroofed. destroyed by water.
The storm struck the state penisenti airy,
which stands on a hill in the western part
OF the city, with fearful force. destroying
the dining room, tearing down the stable
and shops. unroofing the main cell build
ing and demolishIng the warden's offices.
The loss will be $50, 0o0 Several convicts
were seriously injured, one of whom died
an hour afterwsrd. A stampede took
place among the eonvicts, but Superin-
tendent Mcconnell and his assistants soon
succeeded in quoting them. Fortunately
$50 of the convicts had been taken to
the Sunnyside plantation some days ago.
AT the insane asylum. mile from the
city. Sl00, 600 damage was done. The roofs
Of the main buildings were completely
demolished, and several wards caved in,
destroying everything inside. Several
insane patients made their escape, bat
were captured. 1t is not known
how many inmates we're killed or injured,
as many were supposed to be buried in the
;u 81
learn anything tonight. d.. Jacob In
crate, who came here several months ago
from Mobile, Ala, TO accept a position
In the asylum, was killed.
The Capital and Richelieu hotels were
badly damaged. The streets are covered
with poles, wires and debris from the
wrecked buildings. Six electric motors
are pinioned on the track on
Main street with heavy rafters
and poles. and will be a total loss.
Down town lightning struck the Martin
block, corner ofSpring and Second streets,
totally wrecking the third floor. A man
named Eaton was fatally injured there.
The Lighter building. corner of Gen.
ter and Oak streets, was unroofed. and
a part of the fourth floor of the
Gleason hotel was blown away. At Main
and Second streets the tops of several
adjacent buildings lie piled up in an in
discriminate heap. The most damage,
however, was done to Markham and Com
merce streets. Nearly every building in
that district is unroofed, and many
are totally wrecked. The large three-story
building at Markham and gilbert streets.
occupied by the B. H. Mccarthy Com
pany, is a total wreck, as Is also the two
story building on the opposite cor
ner. occupied by Max Elkins' saloon.
The third story of the old Dodge
house was blown down, and the several
floors under 1t were flooded with water
and filled with debris. The streets
are filled with tin roofs, electric
wires and other wreckage, and it will
be several days before the extent
of the damage can be accurately known.
The large cotton warehouse at Second and
Crook streets was wrecked. All telegraphic
communication with outside points is
cut of.
Rescuing parties are busy searching for
the wounded, but list of casualties is I'M
obtainable. Among those known TO have
been seriously. and probably fatally in
jured are: q. Ii. Monroe, member OF
the Arkansas legislature; -. Eaton and
Sam Smith, a prominent cotton buyer.
Others are known 10 be more or less in
jured. Through the heroic services of
Mayor Hall and Chief of Police Frank
Mahon. the injured and helpless received
the best of attention.