The herald., 1894-10-03
STRUCK BY A CYCLONE.
A Terrible Catastrophe at
Little Rock.
The Business Part of the City
Devastated.
Streets Filled With the Debris of
Fallen Buildings.
Tho Psnitentiary and Insane Asylum
Badly Wrscked-Mauy of the In
mates Irjured-Msny Fatal
ittss Reported.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Presa
LITTLE RICK, Ark, Oct. IA terrible
cyclone struck this city at 80 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 por-
tion of the business center, bounded on
the south by the railroad, ON the north
by the river front, on the west by Cen.
ter street and on the east by Commercial
street, is practically in ruins, and the
amount of the damage is incalculable.
The total property loss will probably sp-
proximate 100000.
The cyclone was accompanied by q
terrific storm and the stocks OF goods in
thoae business houses that were un-
rooted, though not otherwise injured,
are destroyed by water.
The storm struck the state pen
itentisry, which stands on hill in the
western part of the city, with fearful
force, destroying the dining room, tear
ing down the stable and shops, unroof-
ing the main cell building and demol-
ishing the warden's office. Several con-
victs were seriously injured, one Of
whom died an hour afterwards.
Down town the lightning struck the
Martin block, corner Of Spring and Sec
ond streets. totally wrecking the third
floor. A man named Eaton was fatally
injured there. The TILES building, cor
ner OF Center and Oak streets. was un-
rooted and part OF the fourth floor
OF the Gleason hotel was blown away.
At Main and Second streets the tops of
several buildings lie piled up in an in
discriminate heap.
The most damage, however. was done
to property on Markham and Culbert
streets. Nearly every building in that
district is unroofed and many are totally
wrecked. The large three-story build
ing at Markham and Culbert streets,
and occupied by the B. H. Mccarthy
company, ia 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 Demig house
WAS blown off and the several stores un-
der it were flooded with water and filled
with debris.
The streeta are filed with tin roofs,
electric wires and other wrecksge, 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.
II. Bachum, was wrecked. 1t fell on
the Western Union telegraph Office next
door and wrecked it, thua cutting off all
telegraphic communication with out
side points.
The city is in the denBest darkness.
Rescuing parties are busy searching for
the wounded, but list OF casualties is
unobtainable.
Among those known to have been
seriously and probably fatally injured
are: @. III. Monroe, member of the Ar
kansas Legislature. and - Eaton, and
Sam Smith, a prominent citizen, is also
badly wounded.
Others are known to be more or lees
injured, but their names are not obtain
able. All kinds OF rumors are afoat, one
to the effect that the insane asylum, in
which 800 inmates are confined. has
been blown down and many patients
injured, but as the asylum is situated q
mile from the city, the rumor cannot be
confirmed. A number of escaped una-
tics have been captured near the Union
depot, and this fact gives color to the
rumor.
The loss to property alone, it is esti-
mated, will amount to at least 81 ,0U0-
900. The damage to the insane asylum
will reach 500, 900 and that to the prison
100000. The Capital and Richelieu
hotels were badly damaged. The streets
are covered with electric wires and de-
bris from the wrecked buildings. Six
electric motors are pinioned on the
track on Main street, with heavy raiters
and poles. and will be total loss.
The offices OF the main buildings ct
completely demolished. A stampede
took place among the convicts, but
Superintendent Mcconnell and his as
sistsnta soon succeeded in quieting
them. Fortunately $50 OF the convicts
had been taken to tho Sunny Side plan
tation few 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
everything inside. Several insane
patients made their escape but were
captured. 1t 10 not known how many
inmates were injured or killed but many |
are supposed to be buried in the ruine.
The confusion is too great there to learn
anything tonight. DR.. Jacob Migrate,
who came here several months ago |
from Mobile, Ala, to accept a position
in the asylum, was killed.
Tooth brushes. complete line, and |