The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1898-01-14

Lawson.
Louis Sengle.
Woman named Holden.
Mrs Mary Shep and baby.
L. Whorles.
Track of the Tornado.
Fort Smith is the capital of Sebas.
tan county Ark. 1t is situated on the
east bank of the Arkansas river. lust
north of the Poteau river. The popu-
lation is 1900. about IS per cent coll
ored. 1t Is manufacturing town and
one of the most thriving in the south
west. Before the United States court
there lost criminal jurisdiction over
Indian territory it was the scene Of
more legal executions than any other
place in the United States.
Garrison avenue is the principal bust
ness street 1t runs east from the riv-
er. The wholesale houses are west of
Sixth street. Ninth street and Garri-
son avenue. where the full force OF the
tornado was first felt. is in the heart
OF the retail district The wrecked Bap-
list church is little north of east of
this point, and the Brownscom church,
which was damaged, is little east
OF north The storm passed northeast
from Garrison aud Ninth streets. APP
parently Jumping about twelve blocks
before striking the hig n school, which
is located in the northeast corner of
the clty, the new and fashionable resi-
dence neighborhood. Great damage
was done in this locality.
ALMA, the town said to have been de-
stroyed by the same tornodo. is about
IA miles northeast of Fort Smith. 1t
has about 300 inhabitants.
Another Account
VAN buren,, Ark, Jan. 12.-Death
and destruction ran on the waves of
Tuesday nights storm at Fort Smith,
and scores of dead and wounded are
being dragged from the ruins of
wrecked buildings and throngs OF peo-
pie are searching for the dead, while
CONSERVATION, anguish and despair is
plainly read in the blanched faces of
all. 1t is thought many more dead
bodies will be found, and the list of
dead may reach fifty or more. The
greatest loss was between Eighth
street and the Catholic church, and it
is said that not a building is left stand
ing.
Several brick buildings at Ninth and
Garrison avenue were crushed like egg
shells. and as the second stories were
used for living purposes. it is thought
that there will be found the greatest
mum Der of dead. But little effort has
been made to search the ruins of the
residence portion of the city that was
in the storms path.
To the horror of crashing buildings,
the roar of the storm and the cries of
the wounded fire broke out in a num-
Der of places, and the department was
unable to cope with the new danger.
and IL is known that one or more bodies
were cremated. The handsome high
school building, just finished at cost
of 500, 600, was leveled TO the ground,
besides one or two fine churches
The storm came up suddenly from
the southwest, striking the city at ll:l4
p. M, and in almost, the twinkling of
an eye large portion of the city was
in ruins. Every physician in the city
was summoned. and all are busy at
work in dressing the wounds and bind
ing broken limbs. The dead were
taken to the most convenient places
and left with their living. the search
ers returning in quest of other bodies
l The scene beggars description, and it
will require hours of daylight to re-
veal the worst features of the storms
fury. After leaving Fort Smith the
storm drifted to the southeast. and
while reports are nneager from the coun-
try, several fires have been seen burning
along in its wake, and the town of
Alma, nine miles to the southeast. re-
ports several houses blown down and
it is thought several have been killed
there.
Eighteen bodies had been received at
the morgue at Fort Smith up to a. IN
Additional Particulars.
FORT SMITH, Ark, Jan. 12.-The tor
nado crossed the Poteau river and
swept the National cemetery, laying
low the walls and demolishing the resi-
dence of Il. G. Baldwin. It's path was
about 200 yards wide. aud for the dis
lance across the Reserve to Ninth
street, where itstruck Garrison avenue,
it left devastation in its wake. The
brick building owned by Pagan Bour-
land was sh altered, and the east end
of the two-story frame just north
of it was blown completely out
Across the street was the old
frame building known as the Yelling
ton hotel. 1t was completely demol-
ished only heap of debris marks
where it stood. Twenty-Five people
were in the house at the time and by
miracle all escaped uninjured.
The house occupied by George Car.