Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-01-13
TWO SCORE C0RPSES
Recovered from the Ruins After
the Rotary Terror Had Passed
Over Fort Smith, Ark.
FIFTY OTHER PERSONS WOUNDED,
Several Of Whom Will Leave Their
BEDS for the Grave-One Million
in Property Destroyed.

" "e StofSn N van Bufen, ARR
Fire Helps the Destruction at Fort Smith
and the Victims Bodies Arc Roasted,
Perhaps Before Death-Relief Il Rapidly
Organized and Money Is Coming In Free
~ from Various Points.
Fort Smith, Ark, Jan. 1.-Two score
OF human lives and upwards Of $1,000.
sVo worth Of property were destroyed
by a terrible tornado which burst upon
this city q few minutes past II o'clock
Tuesday night. The storm struck near
the National cemetery ard tore its way
through the entire city, leaving-i,s path
marked by death and desolation. Men,
women and children. peacefully Sleep
Ing In their homes. We're without a mo-
ments warning awakened to meet a
horrible death in the fearful storm,
while others momertarily more fortu-
nate, and who escaped the fhies of the
WIND. met a far worse fate a few mo-
ments later in the flames which soon
engulfed many of the wrecked build
inss. The scene following the first ter
rific crash OF the storm was one Of aw-
ful grandeur. Business blocks, hand
some mansions. hotels and humble cot
taSes we've RACED to the ground and
scattered in shapeless masses. Several
OF fhe wrecks taught fire and the in
hammable timbers burned furiously.
Full Horror May Never lie known.
The city was. crowded with rural WIS.,
itors, many of whom were sleeping at
boarding houses unregistered. For this
reason the number of victims who per-
tshed in Fort Smith Tuesday may never
be definitely known. The storm struck
the city near the National cemetery
and swept It's way through the heart
OF the town. Leaving Fort Smith, Il
bounded by Van Buren, and continued
down the river. Genolishing everything
In It's path. News from outside points
is not yet at hand, but rumors Of much
damage as far south as Alma have
reached here. il being reported that a
number CT persoHs we're killed near that
place. The citizens relief committee
has $4,000 In hand for assisting suf-
fcrers. PRECEDENT Robinson, OF the
Frisco railroad. unsolicited. sen. his
check for 81 COO. The Missouri Pacific
railroad also sent $1,000. Business IL
practically abandoned all over the city
and men OF all classes are assisting in
clearing tho debris.
Fire Attacks One Ruin.
The upper floor Of the block on the
CORNER of Garrison and Towsou ave-
nue. is used as a HAT. The ruins caught
fire from the night lamp. Seven bodies
were taken from these ruins, two Of
them being so badly burned that they
could scarcely he identified. BURGESS
hotel. a three story brick on Towsou
avenue. was demolished. There have
been eight bodies already taken from
the ruins. TIE federal court is in ses-
sion and that brought a great many
farmers here who crowded the cheaper
boarding houses and wagon yards. The
National House. a two-story frame.
went down in wreckage with fifteen
inmates, but all escaped without seri-
Gus injury. George Carriers house was
one of the first ones struck. and 1t YVES
turned completely over and is now sup
ported On the roof. A half pane of glass
was driven through Carter's neck, al
most severing his head from the trunk.
National! Cemetery Devastated.
The beautiful national cemetery Is a
wreck. The trees are uprooted, the
lodge demolished and the wall torn
doYn. Fort Smiths $4,000 high school
building. the finest OF its kind In the
southwest, was badly wrecked. but was
one of the few buildings upon which,
there was any tornado insurance. The
tornado destroyed two historic build
ings. Judge Parker's residence is badly
wrecked and the old Rector. mansion
where Albert Pike passed his days, is a
pile OF ashes. the ruins having caught
fire from a lamp. The first Baptist
church and the Central Methods,
church were RACED TO the ground and
are now only a scattered pile Of kind.
ling wood. The Church Of the I'm.
maculate Conception and Brownscombs
Memorial church lost their spires AMI
sustained other damage.