Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-01-13
A TORNADO IN ARKANSAS
Great Damage at Fort Smith and Alma
Buildings Crushed Like EsS Shells.
FIRES RAGING IN STORMS WAKE
List OF Dead is Expected to
Reach Fifty.
TELEGRAPH WIRES BADLY CRIPPLED

Associated Prsis olsnatch nv Special Wires
Memphis, Tenn, Jan. -. AT II. 10
o. clock last night Il tornado struck Fort
Smith, in the middle of Garrison
avenue, destroyed all that part OF the
town from and including Twelfth street
to the west limit OF the city, and passed
on eaat towards Little Rock. wrecking
houses and ontbuildingH. 1t also struck
tina little town Of Alma, and destroyed
several buildings. At Fort Smith fires
broke out in all directions. Eighteen
bodies have been recovered. Sume
people were killed by falling houses.
others we're burned. 1t is understood
that several persons were killed at Alma
and between Fort Smith and Alma.
The large now school building at Fort
Smith wns completely wrecked. The
latest information ia that all fires at
Fort Smith are under control
All wires except those in the Mic
souri, Pacific aud Frisco depots are
down. One or two wires are said to be
WORKING from Frisco depot to ST.
Louis.
It is saiti that the number OF dead at
Fort Smith will reach 80, but that ia
probably exaggerated, and % will per-
| hars cover it. This information comes
from Van Burpn, Ark, close to Fort
smith, and is as reliable as is poBsiole
to obtain ut this hour.
Partial list of tho dead; Ed. Farrell.
Roy Farrell, Irene Farrell, John Ball,
- Kiley, john Martin. Lerevere
Boyes. Joseph Kilo's family. Mrs. Will
liam Lawson, Frank Richardson, George
Lover, George Carter, Louis r. Engle
aud John Martin, Jr. This list is by
no means complete. Four unknown
bodies have been recovered.
LIST OF DEAD MAY REACH FIFTY.
Van Buren, Ark, Jan. l2. Scores Of
dead and wounded are being dragged
from tie ruins Of the storm wrecked
buildings at Fort Smith. 1t is thought
that the list of dead may reach 90 OF
mors, Tho greRtest damage was he
tween Eighth street and the Catholic
Church, and it ia said that not build
ing iB left standing. Several brick build
ings at Ninth street and Gsrrisor
, avenus wore crushed like egg SHELLS,
and, as the aecond stories were used fol
listing purposes, it is thought thu
greatest number OF dead will be fount
: there.
Fire broke out in many places during
! the storm, and tho Fire Departmen
was unable to cope with tho new
danger. 1t Is known that ono or NOR
bodies we're rremated. The handsom
High School building, finished at
cost of 100000, was levsllod to tn
ground.
The storm came up suddenly fror
: the southwest, striking the city a
II. IA p. M, and in almost the twinklin
!, of an eye large portion of the cit
3 was in ruins. Every physician in th
: city was summoned, and all are no,
2 busy at work, relieving the injured
1t will require several hours to reve'
y tho wurat features OF the storms fury
! After leaving Fort Smith, thu storI
u travelled Houtheast. Reports from til
! country arc meaZre, but several fire
J hayo been seen in its wake. The tow
9 Of Alma, nine miles to the Eoutheas
u ranortH several huuses blown down, an
Y it il thought that several persons haN
y been killed there
. Eighteen bodies had been taken
Y tho rorgue at Fort Smith up to
y o'clock this morning.