The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-03
DEMONS OF AIR.
Carry Death in Their
Path.
LITTLE ROCK THIS TIME.
Struck by the Deadly Funnel
Shaped Cloud.
1T CAME FROM A CLEAR SKY.
And Almost Swept the Business
Portion of the City Out of
Existence.


cyclone struck this city at 1880 o'clock
this evening and almost devastated the
business portion of the city. Several
people are known to have been killed and
many are injured. The main portion of
the business center bounded on the south
by Railroad street. on the north by the
river front, on the west by Center stree t
and on the east by Commercial street is
practically in ruins. and the amount of
damage is incalcuable. The total property
loss will probably approximate half a
million dollars.
The cyclone was accompanied by q ter
rife storm, and the stocks of goods in those
business houses that were unroofed,
though not otherwise wrecked, are de-
stroyed by water. The storm struck the
State penilentiary. which stands on a hill
in the western part of the city, with fear
full force, destroying the dlning-room. tear
ing down the stable and shops, unroofng
the main cell building and dem polishing
the warden's Office. Several convicts were
seriously injured, and one of them died an
hour afterward.
GDowDtown the lightning struck the
Martin block, corner of Spring and Second
streets, totally wrecktng the third floor.
A man named Eaton was fatally Injured
there. The Titles building, corner of
Center 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 indiscriminate
heap.
The most damage. however, was done to
Markham md Gnpe a
streets. Nearly every building in that dis
trict is unroofed and many are totally
wrecked. The large three-story building
at Markham and Culbert streets and occu-
pied by the B. II. Mccarthy Company is a
total wreck. as Is also the two-story build
ing on the opposite corner, occupied by
Max Elkins' saloon.
The third story of the old Deniing House
was blown off. and the several stores M
der it were flooded with water and filled
with de bris.
The streets are filed 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 situated at
Second and Scott streets, owned by j. h.
Bachum. was wrecked. 1t fell on the
Western Union telegraph office next door
and wrecked it, thus cutting off all tele-
graphic communication with outside
points.
The city is In the densest darkness.
Rescuing parties are busy searching for
the wounded. but a list of casualties is un-
obtainable.
Among those known to have been seri-
ously. and probab bly, fatally. injured are:
G. H. Monroe. member of the Arkansas
Legislature.
- Eaton.
Sam Smith. prominen ut. cotton-buyer, is
badly wounded.
Others are known to be more or less in-
jured, but names are not obtainable. All
kinds of rumors are afloat, one to the effect
that the insane asylum, in which some 600
patients are confined, has been blown
down and many patients injured, but as
the asylum is situated a mile from the
city the rumOr cannot be confirmed. A
number of escaped lunatics have been
captured near the union depot and this
fact gives color 10 the rumor.
Through the heroic services of Mayor
Hall and Chief of Police Frank Mahon
the injured and helpless received the best
OF attention. The loss of property alone,
it is estimated at midnight, will amount to
at least 81 .0OO, 900. The damage to the in
sane asylum. which was wrecked, will
reach 100000. and that to the penitentiary
S60,O00.
The Capitol 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.
The offices of the main buildings at the
penitentiary were, torn away and COM
petely demolished.
A stampede took. place among the con-
victs. but Superintendent Mcconnell and
bis assistants soon succeeded in ouieting
them. Fortunately. 45O of the convicts had
been taken to Sunnyside plantation some
days ago.
At the insane asylum was found the
greatest wreck. The roofs of the main
buildings were completely demolished and
several wards caved in, destroying every
thing inside.
Several insane patients made their es-
cape, but were captured. 1t is not known
how many inmates were killed or injured
as many are supposed to be buried in the
ruius. The confusion is too great there to
learn anything tonight. DR.. Jacob T.
migrate, who came several months ago
from Mobile. Ala, to accept position in