The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-10-04
CYCLONE AT LITTLE ROCK.
PENITENTIARY AND INSANE
ASYLUM BADLY DAMAGED.
Several Dead and Others Still Under
the Debris-Many Persons Seriously
Injured and Many Fine Build
ings Totally Wrecked.

Commercial-Appeat from Little ROCK,
Ark, says: A terrible cyclone swept
over the business portion Of this city
at 7:90 O'Clock tonight, carrying death
and destruction in it's path. shortly
after dark heavy storm came from
the west, accompanied by vivid
flashes of lightning and heavy clashes
of thunder. The skies suddenly
cleared and the storm was thought
to be over, when suddenly heavy
gale from the southwest appeared
and for three minutes the city was in
the throes of death and destruction.
The wind was terrific in the extreme.
Trees, telegraph, telephone and cleo.
trio light poles were uproOted and
carried distance of 200 yards. The
roofs of about 80 of the largest build
ings In the city were torn from the
houses and hurled against buildings
on the opposite sides OF the streets,
leaving the occupants and property
within to the mercy of the drenching
rain, which began 10 fall in torrents
shortly afterwards.
When the cyclone had ceased it was
discoved that the residence portion OF
the city had entirely escaped, bat
from May street to Third, Markham
street from Center to Cumberland, and
Second from Center TO Cumberland,
were almost total wrecks. This dis
trict covers the principal business
portion of town. The Western Union
telegraph office is located in the cen.
ter of this district. This building was
wrecked beyond recognition, the 0per.
ators who were at work at their keys
having narrowly escaped, Operator
Culbert in particular, who was at work
only II feet from the large story
brick building recently vacated by
the L. H. Jones Co. His escape from
instant death was miraculous. When
the cyclone struck that building it
blew it over on the Western Union
building, the bricks and timbers came
crashing through the building, one of
the bats striking him on the hip in
flicting q serious wound. He is at
work tonight, however, without
scratch other than above mentioned.
None of the operators were injured,
At II O'Clock tonight q message
was received from the insane asylum,
situated two miles from the city, and
the sta ate penitentiaay just west of the
asylum, calling for corps of physi-
clans aud other assistance. 1t is re-
liably stated that number Of pa
tients at the asylum are fatally in
jured and damage was done to the
building Reports from the peniten-
aix inE hof iF,
jureo by falling tim bers, two of whom
will die. Mayor Hall, 'as soon as pos
sible, called out the entire fire and
police departments and sent 10 hack
loads of physicians and citizens to the
insane asylum and penitentiary. In
tense excitement prevails and it is
utterly impossible to learn the names
of the killed and injured.
All kinds of exaggerated reports
are in circulation. Through the he
rolc services of the mayor and Chief
of.Police Frank Mahon the injured
and helpless are receiving the best at
teDtion, The loss OF property alone
will amount to at least 81 900, 900. AL
most every building situated in the
district was more or less injured by
the wind and water. The damage to
the insane asylum will reach 100000,
that at the penitentiary 100000, and
the capitol and Richelieu hotel were
badly damaged. Every window in
both buildings was either broken to
pieces or cracked.
The business houses of East Mark
ham and Main streets from Markham
to Third are damaged toa reat eX
tent; the roofs on majority of these
buildings W re torn away and stocks
of goods entirely ruined.
The greatest sufferers are Col. h H.
Mccarthy, r. E EllenbOgen, Brad-
geld d DOwdy, J. N. Jabine, Ru-
dOlpb Bros, Henry George, Max
Ekau, q rman National bank,
Bank ut Llttle Rock, Mssouri-P Pdcitic
railroad ticket office, J. M. Fos-
ter, p J. o BrieD, Herman Kahn,
o. Officer, John M. Moore, estate ~ ".
J Turner, james b. Joyce, Western
Union telegraph Office, d. Pollock, j.
w. Beidelman, w. f. Baucum, Cap
ital Hotel, Walter g. Hill, Richelieu
hotel, c. +. STILES, Wolf Bros, Joe
2. Quinn Dry GoJds company, Gus
Blass q Co., A. Nj. Cohen, e c. New
ton, j. NJ. SeisIe, Garrison Bros, A.
Lotion, Louis V0lman, T. H. Cass, J
E Erber, T. P. Martin, H. Raleigh,
Pollock & Son, Wilson d Webb, and
others whose names csnLot be learned
tonight. This list embraces the names
OF the owners of the property and
merchants ~hO suffered from the
water that poured 10 from the open-
ings ia the tops OF the buildings.
Up to II O'Clock the dead and iDjur-
ed are: Represen ative-eleCt G. I.
Monroe, badly cut on the head and
body by falling timber Pny si
clans say he will probably die
John Easton, an eupIOye at the
Martin block, the home OF Governor
Fish back, received internal injuries
from which he will die before morn.
ing.
Capt. Sam o. smith, prominent
citizen and resident agent OF New
York cotton firm, was in his office
writing when he heard the noise
on the outside. Just as he reached |
the sidewalk a portion of brick wall |
from a falling building on the oppo-
site side of the street struck him on
the head and back, Four fingers on |
his right hand were broken. He will |
recover, though horribly cut and
bruised. John Edwards, with his in
q Lzsr Ixn.I "A