Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-01-15
TERRIBLE TORNADO.
Over Two Score Human Lives Lost At
Fort Smith by a Winters Storm.
Property Loss VIII Exceed Million Doll
lars-Debris Of the Crushed Buildings
Catches Fire and Many Unfortu-
mates werc Cremated.

FORT SMITH, Ark, Jan. 1.-two
score OF human lives and upward OF
81, 200, 900 worth OF property were de-
stroyed by terrible tornado which
burst upon this city u few minutes
past II o'clock Tuesday night Men,
women and children, peacefully asleep
In their homes, were, without mo-
ment's warning, awakened to meet n
horrible death in the fearful storm,
while Others, momcntarily more for
tunate, and who escaped the furies of
the wind, met far worse fate few
minutes later In the flames, which
soon engulfed many Of the wrecked
buildings.
The scene following the first terrific
crash OF the storm was one OF awful
grandeur. Business blocks, handsome
mansions, hotels and humble cottages
were RACED to the ground and scattered
in shapelcss masses. Several OF the
wrecks caught fire and the infiam-
mable timbers burned furiously. The
city was crowded with rural visitors,
many OF whom were sleeping at board
ing houses unregistered. For this rea-
son the number Of victims who per-
ished in Fort Smith Tuesday night
may never be definitely known.
The storm struck the city near the
National cemetery and swept its way
through the heart OF the town. Leav-
ing Fort Smith, 1t bounded by Van
Buren, and continued down the river,
dcmolishing everything in its path.
News from outside points is not Mt
hand, but rumors of much damage rs
far south us Alma has reached here, 1t
being reported that a number of per-
sons were killed near that place.
Two of the largest houses Of worship
in the city, the Baptist and Central
Methodist churches, were completely
destroyed. The Brownscome church
was badly damaged and the towers
and roof of the high school building
blown off. The scene in the neighbor-
hood of the wreck was horrible. Men
and women, clad in their night clothes,
from the neighboring houses, were
seeking shelter and calling for aid for
some absent member of the family or
friend who failed to escape from the
wreckage of the buildings in which
they had been living. Men, women
and children sought refuge in 0'Kecfe's
saloon and were afforded shelter. In
the back part Of the saloon n number
of injured were stretched out on the
floor with only their night clothes to
protect them from the chilly midnight
air. Miss Wood, one of ihe nurses OF
the st. John hospital, waa on the scene
and did all that could be done to re.
lieve the immediate VANS OF the in
iurcd in the rear of Mr.. OKeefe's sa-
loon. The drug stores were opened
and the clerks were kept husy filling
prescriptions and otherwise doing their
share toward relieving the sufferers.
Owing to the fact that the tornado,
after passing through the residence
district, did its worst work in that por-
ton Of the business district, in which
the older buildings were located, the
totals OF damage done do not amount
up very rapidly, although many build
ings were partially or wholly rnined.
The debris of many of the buildings,
which were in the lodging house dis
trict, caught fire, and those unfortu-
mates who were not Mt once extricated
alive, persisted miserably by being
burned or smotbered to death. Add to
the fact that many of the people in the
outside district were killed in the
crash of the falling residences and it
will be seen why the list OF the dead
rolled up SO rapidly.
All the nurses and doctors sthat can
be pressed into service are being util-
lied, and there are scores OF temporary
hospitals through the city in addition
to the regular hospitals, where the in.
jured are being taken.
The tornado crossed the Arkansas
river one-half mile south of Van Buren,
and tore path 200 yards wide through
Crawford county and ut least five were
killed.