Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-10-04
TERRIBLE TORNADO.
A Fearful Windstorm Strikes Little
Rock, Ark.
THE BUSINESS PORTION DAMAGED.


LITTLE Rock, Ark, Oct. "A terri
bic tornado struck this city at 7:3O
o'clock last evening, and almost de-
vastated the business portion Of the
city. Several people are known to
have been killed aud injured, while II
is feared that many more have met the
same horrible fate. The main portion
Of the business center, bounded on the
south by Third street, on the north by
the river front, on the west by Center
street and on the east by Commercial
street, is practically in ruins, and the
amount OF damage is incalculable.
The total property loss will probably
approximate sS03,Ojj. The storm was
accompanied by a terrific rain. end the
stocks of goodsi in those business houses
which were unroofed, though not 9th
erwse wrecked, are destroyed by water.
The storm struck tho state peniten-
tiary, which stands on hill In the
western part of the city, with fearful
force, destroying the dining room,
tearing down the stable and shops, un.
roofing the main cell building and de-
molishing the wardcn's Office. Several
convicts were seriously injured, one Of
whom died an hour afterward.
Down town the lightning struck the
Martin block, corner Of Spring and
Second streets, totally wrecking the
third floor. A man by the name Of
Eaton was fatally injured.
The Tills building, corner Center and
Markham streets, was unroofed and q
part Of the fourth floor of Gleason's
hotel was blown away. At Main
and Second streets the tops Of sew
eral adjacent buildings lie piled
up in al indescribable heap. The
worst damage, however, was done to
property on Markham and Commercial
streets. Nearly every building in that
district is unroofed and many are to.
tally wrecked. The large three story
building ut MARYLAND and Cumberland,
occupied by the B. H. Mccarthy COM
pany, is a total wreck, as is also the
building on the opposite corner occu-
pied by Max Elkans as saloon. The
third story Of the old Deming house
was blown off md the several stores
under 1t were flooded by water and
filed with debris.
The streets are filled with tin roofs,
electric light wiresand other wreckage
snd 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. Bacum, was wrecked.
1t fell on the Western Union telegraph
office and wrecked it, thus cutting of
all Geographic communication with
outside points.
The city is in the densest darkness
and the streets are veritable stream
OF mud Rescaing parties are busy
searching for the wounded, but q list
Of the casualties is unobtainable.
Among those known TO have been Sc
riously and probably fatally injured
are G. P. Monroe, member Of the Ar
kansas Legislature, and - Eaton.
Sam Smith, a prominent cotton buyer,
is also badly wounded. Others
are known to have been more
or less injured, but names are
not obtainable. All kinds Of rumors
are ahoat; one to the effect that the in
sane asylum, in which some 900
patients are confined, has been blown
down and many patients injured, but
the asylum is situated mile from the
city and the rumor cannot be con-
tirmed. A number Of escaped lunatics
have been captured near the Union
depot and this fact gives color to the
rumOr.