The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-01-15
REIGN OF RUIN IND DEATH
ToRNADO swEEPs FORT NTH
FBfty Persons Are Reported 20 Have
I.snt Their EAves-Reniacncea and
Businesn nuiIdings wrecked
Hunaredn Are ssmeIesn.

Fort Smith, Ask, Jan. lS.-One Of the
most terrible storms that ever struck TINS
section Of the country tore through this
city shortly before midnight Tuesday. Ey-
erythina = IN confusion as the result Of
the great destruction Of life and property,
and a. yet It is impossible to give any
thing like accurate estimates OF the mum
Der killed or injured. Fifty persons are re-
ported as dead and as many missing;
homes have been wrecked by the score,
and hundreds Of people are without food
of shelter.
Two Of the largest houses OF worship IN
the city-the Baptist and Central Metho-
dist churches-were completely destroyed;
the Browrscome church was badly dam
aged, and the tower and roof Of the high
school building were blown of.
The storm struck in the southwestern
section o. the city at point where the
two rivers come together and near the old
fcrt. From there it spread ont over the
whole city, dipping down and scattering
destruction here and there. There is a
rise in the city toward the east to meet
the hills ON that side, and most Of the
damage to property and loss of life was
through that section.
After leaving Fort Smith the tornado
veered over and touched at Ahma, nine
miles northeast, causing considerable dam
age, but whether there is any loss Of life 5
not known.
In the wake Of the STORM
Mrs. Kings home on Twelfth street was
- LIS
Thirteenth street was destroyed and the
entire family killed. William Werner's
home was wrecked; the injuries of his
family are not known The home Of John
Harrington also suffered destruction A
shanty on Thirteenth street was swept
away and woman occupant is reported
dying from her injuries Her two chill
dEen were also injured The roof OF Judge
PoFter's home was lifted off. Andrew
Dowd's home was wrecked. Mrs Clay
lands house was blown down, catching
the family Of Mr.. Stetts in trap. They
made their escape through a chimney
The home Of Mr.. Cheniworth was blown
away; injuries to the family are not
known. Among the residences blown
down are George Martins. on Thirteenth
street; +. H. Browns and DIR. Gates
homes Gates arms are broken and hi
wife is probably fatally crushed. Gates
servant girl Is supposed to be dead in ths
ruins Breen's building, a large brick
structure, was unroofed and the wife o
Luther Hunter, one of the occupants
badly injured.
On the south side Of Garrison avenu,
Mrs. Birds home was blown away ans
Krones two-story building wrecked.
wing of Mr.. Crows home on Eleventh
street was tern of, and the family wa
caught in the wreck; Mrs Crow crawleC
under the debris and got the children on
without injury. Guy Partridge and wifi
and child erawled from the wreck o
their home in safety. Will lawson and
young man named Lane, Ed Yaden and
butcher named Wolsey are among tn
injured quartered in o'Keefe's saloon
Mrs. Captain Hugh L. Rogers was du;
out Of the ruins Of a rock house on Soutl
Ninth street, badly injured. r. !. Hirsch
berg was on his way home when the ey
clone struck the city. He was lifted OF
his feet and carried quite distance. Hi
clothes were torn of his body, his shoul
der disIocated, and he sustained injurie
about the head.
Damage Cannot he Estimated.
At this hour it Is next to impossible I
give anything like a complete or aceurat
account Of the number Of dead or injured
Ii looks as though 50 persons have bee
killed and the death list is growing hour
ly. Hundreds of persons have been in
iured, some fatally, and others not 5
badly. Many fine residences were razed I
the ground.
The tornado, after passing through tn
residence district, did its worst work i
that portion Of the business district 1
which the older buildings are located, an
the totals Of damage do not amount n
very rapidly, although many building
were partly or wholly ruined. For thi
reason it is probable $4,000 will nearl
cover the loss on buildings and eontent
including the new high school building
$S0!OO0-which was directly in the path {
the storm and was badly wrecked.
Many Burned to Death.
The debris of many buildings in tn
lodging house district caught FIRE, an
those unfoTtunates who were not at one
extrieated alive persisted miserabIy by b
ing burned or smothered to death. Man
people in the outside districts were kiIIe
in the crash of falling residences.
All the nurses and doctors that can b
pressed into service are being utilize
and there are scores of temporary hosp
tails throughout the city. The mOrgue |
taxed to its utmost capacity and additioE
al bodies are being brought in every fe,
minutes. Altogether the scene at tn
place is sickening and horrible.
"A heavy rain followed the terrible to-
nado and it was probably 20 minutes b,
fore the city awoke TO the fact that It ha
been visited by a calamity. The fire d.
Partment was called out and in less tina
30 minutes the streets were crowded wit
people and willing hands were ready I
render all aid the emergency required
IN scene is the most appalling and d,
structive ever witnessed in the city, an
is without parallel in this section Of tn
southwest.