The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-04

Little Rock, Ark, January s. Conmuni-
cation was established with all the towns
south Of here ON the Iron Mountain today
and the reports Indicate that the greatest
sufferer by last nights storm was the town
of benton. where IL half dozen small frame
houses were demolished and several freight
cars standing AZ the station were over
/ turned. Several persons were more or less
injured and many had narrow escapes and
thrilling experiences. but no fatalities &C.
currcd
II seems that the storm was soverest In
the southern portion OF the State. and IL IA
not unlikely that casualties occurred in
some of the numerous lumber camps IN
that section
All The towns between Little Rock and
ToXarhana suffered mere or lcas damage
aud reports from the couutry gave several
Instances o, damage TO farm houses and
cabins.
The rain all over the southern portion Of
the state Was the heaviest In years and all
Tie branches and creeks We're oyur1owed.
The railroad IN many places is under water.
but trains are now running nearly on time
The canon bail. which was held at Ben
ton iasI night, had narrow escape from
being wrecked. and hut for the herosm OF
country lad terrible disaster might have
occurred. Tho train was late aud was run
ming n Il high rate OF speed when nearing
Renton. FIVE minutes lator II would have
reached the spot where the storm had
struck u farm house and lifted it across
the track The boy realizing The danger
secured u lantrcn and tagged the cannon
ball Just In time. Tho passengers made up
n purse and presented II 10 tho boy.
Rain at Little Rock continued until early
TINS morning and precipitation was more
than four inches, The streets were flooded
aud in many portions Of the city water rose
TO depth OF Il foot In buildings The
water from Second and Third streets west
Of state came down that street to Markham
like min race and the streets were strewn
with debris all the way from State east To
Arch The water In the branch at Spring
and Seventh overlooked and Hooded tho
ncighhorng residences and assumed threat
enng proportions at Center and Fifth.
Merchants along that street had to move
their wares to elevated places. The brick
sidewalk over the branch in front OF GIL
uoro's store on Fifth street caved in and
the butcher shop OF Edward Glover and the
grocery store of w. Il. Taylor were inun-
dated by the water. In the street the water
was foot deep and tt crossed Fifth street
flooding lsenberg's dry goods store and
other places. South and west Of the Union
depot the water accumulated and formed
vast lake and at one point a cuvort was
unable to accommodate the great volume
causing the water to play havoc with the
roadhed Of the railroad. Victory street was
all under water from Markham south and
the people living out In that direction were
compelled to travel around by cross streets
to reach their homes. Ninth aud Main was
a sea OF water for hours last night. reach
ing depth OF foot. Water street was
roaring river from Chester east to Gaines.
carrying everything before H. In the
vicinity OF the Pacific hotel near the
Union depot. the water made alarming en-
croachments and Hooded part OF the lower
floor OF the hotel.
The temperature took sudden tumble
about noon and tho indications now are for
snow.