The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-03
MOORINGSPORT DESTROYED.
Louisiana Town Practically Wiped
Out by Cyclone.

Out by a Cyclone.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Jan. "A cyclone
leaving death and devastation behind
descended upon the little town Of
Mooringsport, La, at $3.50 o'clock this
afternoon. The reports from the strick-
en- town are very meager, owing to the
complete prostration Of all telegraph
and telephone wires, but report re-
ceived from Texarkana at midnight
says that ten people were killed out
right and three are known to have
been fatally injured. The entire fam
lily Of a Mr.. Goodman, five in number,
were killed. w. ]. Morgan was slight
ly hurt by falling debris, but other
members Of the family did not fare so
well. Two of his little children were
badly crushed and cannot recover,
while his mother-in-law received fatal
injuries.
! Mooringsport Is town Of 800 to 900
inhabitants, situated on the Kansas
! City, Pittsburg & Gulf railroad, twen-
! ty-fve miles west of Texarkana. The
town is an old one, but it's population
has been considerably augmented by
the advent Of the Gulf railroad a few
months ago. The railroad officials dis
patched a relief train at o'clock to
the scene of the disaster, but at mid
night no further details had been re-
ceived from the little town.
Advices from Southwestern Arkan-
sas state that violent wind and light
ming storm prevailed there this after
noon. Wires were blown down, and in
some instances railroad travel is in
| terrupted.
A report from Benton, Ark, on the
Iron Mountain, twenty miles south of
Little Rock, says that a tornado struck
that place late today, and twenty
houses were demolished. There was no
loss Of life mentioned in the dispatch.
All communication with Hot Springs
has been cut off.
At Cameron, a small lumber station
ten miles north Of Texarkana, on the
Cotton Belt railroad, the storm ragged
fW1ousIy, doing considerable damage.
One man is reported killed at this place.
Every effort has been made by the
| telegraph companies to establish COM
munication with Louisville, Mcneil,
Magnolia, Pine Bluff and the larger
| towns located in the southwestern part
| of the state, but no reports have been
| received from that section up to this
| hour. Iron Mountain railway officials
report a heavy storm on the southern
| division Of that line, and the st. Louis
| Cannon Dali express is delayed several
| hours. Little Rock was visited by the
storm, but no damage Of consequence
resulted there.
SHREVEPORT, La, Jan. AT
APO this afternoon Capt. M L. Scovill
received the following dispatch from
Blanchard's station, in the northern
portion Of this parish:
A cyclone struck Mooringsport La, at
| 545 p. m. today and destroyed every house in
| town but Mr. Noels residence. Quite num-
| Der Of dead and wounded. Please get several
| doctors and what assistance you wish and be
ready at p. m. l will have a special train
| consisting of engine and coach ready to start
at that time.
j. H. Elliott, Trainmaster.
Upon the receipt of this telegram the
Kansas City officials, headed by Capt
Scovill, began to organize a special to
go to the relief Of those in distress
A large number Of citizens volunteered
| their assistance and soon the special
train was ready to start. The doctors
on board were city physician O'Leary,
Coroner Coty, Doctors Furman, Scum
pert and several hospital students. The
relief train was also supplied with
cots, bandages, surgeons appliances
and instruments. The officials of the
Kansas City road have done everything
in their power to provide for those
| in distress at Mooringsport. The spe-
CldI Tram leLl dI p H., anu Is expected
to reach Mooringsport about o'clock
| tonight. AS all the wires are down, it
is impossible to get full particulars Of
the deaths and destruction wrought by
the storm until the special returns.
Mooringsport, 1t is thought, received
the tail end Of the storm which CEN
tered today in the northwestern portion
of this state. A heavy rain accom-
panied by a high wind prevailed all
day, which increased until it resembled
a hurricane at 4 o'clock this afternoon,
which was about the time the cyclone
was reported to have occurred at
Mooringsport. Tonight Manager Pat
ton, of the Western Union, reports all
wires down except one wire to Texas.