The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-14

Fire in the Wrecksge Adds to the Horror
and Increases the Number of Deaths
The Death Roll Numbers Thirty Mine,
With y Long List OF IpJured-Ths Storm
at Other Points.
Fort Smith, Ark, January 1.-TWO
! score Of human lives and upward Of
81, 000. 900 worth of property were de-
stroyed by a tornado which burst upon
this city a few minutes past IL o'clock
last night. The storm struck near the
national cemetery. and tore its way
through the entire city, leaving its
path marked by death and deso!ation.
Men, women and children We're
awakened without a moments warn
ing to meet death by falling walls or
in the flames which 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
We're raised and scattered in shapeless
masses. Several of the wrecks caught
burned furiously.
The city was crowded with rural
visitors, many of whom were sleeping
at boarding houses unregistered. For
this reason the number of victims who
periShed may never be definitely
known.
The tornado struck Garrison avenue
at the corner of Ninth street and made
a clean sweep from there TO the Texas
corner. lsaacson's store was totally
demolished and the stock is com
plete loss. Babcock's grocery store
had the rear end blown out The fol-
lowing stores were totally demolished:
Fleming Brothers, coffee and tea;
Hartfield's restaurant; Smiths gro
Gerry store: Martinez's secondhand
store; J. Nance, dry goods; Mann &
Wilson, groceries city feed store. A
number of stores were badly damaged
The upper floor of the block on the
corner of Garrison and TowsAau ave-
nue. is used as a fiat. The ruins caught
fire from the night lamp. Seven bod
les Were taken from these ruins. Bur
CESS hotel, a three story brick build
ing on TOwse'au avenue, was demolished
There fdave been eight bodies already
taken from the ruins. Rescue parties
are still at work at both places and
expect to find several more bodies.
George Carter's house was one of the
first struck. 1t was turned completely
over and is now supported On the roof.
A half pane of glass was driven
through Carter's body almost severin g
the head from the trunk. M. w.
BuIl1s foundry was demolished. The
beautiful national cemetery is a wreck.
Fort Smiths $4,000 high school build
ing was badly wrecked 1t was one of
the few buildings upon which there
was tornado insurance. The tornado
destroyed two historic buildings. Judge
Parker's residence is badly wrecked
and the Old Rector mansion, where AL
bert Pike passed his days, is a pile of
| ashes, the ruins having caught fire from
| lamp. The First Baptist church and
| the Central Methodist church We're
| raised from the ground and are now
| only a scattered pile of kindling wood.
| The church of the Immaculate Con-
| ceptiOn and Brownscombe memorial
| church lost their spires and sustained
| other damage.
| Thirty-nine bodies have been recov-
| cred and it is now thought all the
persons in the wrecked buildings have
| been accounted fer.
The citizens relief committee has
$4,000 in hand for assisting the suf-
| ferers. President Robinson. of tht
| Frisco road, unsolicited, sent his check
| for 81, COO. The Missouri railroad also
| sent $1,000. Business is practically
| abandoned all over the city and men
| of all classes are assisting in clearing
| the debris.
Leaving Fort Smith. the tornado
| bounded for VanBuren and continued
| r-iy- niepi,
| thing in it's path. News from outside
points is not yet at hand, but rurnors
of great damage as far south as Alma
| have reached here, it being repor-tsg
that a number of persons were killet
| near that place.