The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-13

FORT SMITH. Ark, Jan. IA least
fifty human lives and upward of 81 oo9,o
worth OF property were destroyed By a
terrible tornado which burst upon this city
few minutes past Il O'Clock last night
The storm struck near the National ceme-
terry and tore lis way through the entire
city, leaving in It's pathway desolatIon and
death. Men. women aud children sleep ng
in their homes We're without a moments 8
warning awakened TO meet death in the
fearful storm, while others who escaped
the fury Of the wind met far worse fate
few minutes later In the flames which
soon destroyed many of the wrecked
buildings.
The scene following the first terrible
crash OF the storm was one OF awful
grandeur Buildings of all descriptions
were raZed to the ground and scattered in
every direction. The wrecks caught fire
and 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 storm swept its way through the
heart OF the town. Leaving Fort Smith, it
bounded by Van Buren and continued
down the river. demolishing everything in
its path.
News from outside points is not yet at
hand, but rumors of much damage as far
south as Alma have reached here, it be-
ing reported that a number of persons
were killed near that place.
In Fort Smith the tornado struck Gar
rison avenue at the corner of Ninth street
and made a clean sweep from there to the
Texas corner. Many store buildings were
demolished and the stocks of goods ruined.
sixteen other business houses on the
street were badly wrecked.
The upper floor Of the block on the ccr-
ner OF Garrison and Touson avenues is
used as a fiat. The ruins caught fire from
the night lamps. Seven bodies were taken
from these ruins, TWO of them being so
badly burned that they could scarcely bs
identified.
Burgess hotel. three-story brick on
Tousou avenue. was demolished. There
have been eight bodies already taken from
the ruins.
Rescue parties are still, at work at beth
places and expec: to find several more
bodies.
The Federal court is .n session and that
brought great many farmers here. who
crowded the cheaper boarding houses and
wagon yards. The National house, 4 tw o.
story frame, went down in wreckage with
iifteen inmates. but ali escaped without
serious injury.
George Carter's house was turned cnm-
pleteIy over. and Is now supported on the
roof a haif pane % glass was driven
through Carter's neck. almost seyering
has head from the trunk.
The beautiful National cemetery is
wreck. Ths huge trees are uprooted. the
lodge demolished and the walls torn down.
Fort Smiths s50coa high school build
Ing. the finest 0; its kind in the south
west, was badly wrecked. bat Il Was cne
Of tire few buildings On which there was
tornado Insurance.
The tornado destroyed two historic
buildings Judge Parksrs residence is
badly wrecked, and the old Rector man
sion where Allen Pike passed his days is
pile OF ashes the ruins having caught
fire from lamp.
The First Baptist church and the Metho-
dist church were RACED 10 the ground. and
now only a scattered pile OF kh40ling
wood The church az the Immaculate
Conception and Browns Combe Memorial
lost their spires and sustained other dam
ages.
II is now thought al the persons In the
s;orrsl-w recked buildings have bean ac-
counted for.
The citizens relief committee has sloa
on hand gsr assisting sufferers. President
Robinson. of The Frisco railroad. uas3-
Hcl,e3. sent his check for slas3, The Ms
souri, Pacific railroad also contributed
81 eso.
Business = practically Abandoned att ever
,he city. aad Taea q al classes are as
ssgtln< in clearing the debris.
\ Est of ths dad ard injured as far as
can he asce.ta.aed, IS as follows
The Dead.
Sias Mi1ce-. 3 prominent ~ourr aler-
chant. Harvey HQtf,et}ee, coi3rea. Nary
Zimmerman. two unknown ueE from
Burgess aotel Joe GrlswG,d. 3 tailor
foaa Marta. af Madison county.
= Is. RHey. az Madison county. George
Carer. .frenaa q Grand opera house .
James Snz.,H. jr-. NJ. GRAY. wife sna son
A,las jones Fra2k LvEeHge ETA Has
Ms A.t5t B8rseSS. tWc uukrasn men
died ~ s. JoeG Acsestzf. : Il i-34tx a
farmer 1ae h},F. farmer. tao feseyre
boys, Mi.' A2apFz50. r.. Mrs Mt Knapp
tor. doe Lucas. coiare8. IA Ferril.
hoJ>aes aod MS tws N,E}e children Irene
aad Roy, Frank Escs artsas. restaurant
aeersFs Joh1 adams. a caryeuter: MIS-
Iharles MaNEer. 1.nn L ier a garaener.