Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-13
PATH OF DEATH.
Tornado's Frightful Work at
Forth Smith, Arkansas.
MANY LIVES LOST.
Storm Swept Down in
the Night Without Warning,
Fire Followed in the Wake of the Wind,
Supp ementing Destruction of Life
and Properly.


one million dollars worth of property
were destroyed by a tornado, which
burst upon the city few minutes past
II o'clock last night. The storm tore its
way through the entire territory. leav-
ing its path marked by death and deso-
lation.
Men, women and children, asleep in
their homes, We're, without a moments
notice, forced to meet death under fall
ing walls, or in the flames, which soon
wrapped many of the wrecked build
ings.
The list of the dead, so far as known.
is as follows:
Sinclair Mincer, merchant; Harvey
Ruttledge, negro; Mary Zimmerman;
two unknown men from the Burgess
Hotel; Joe Griswold, tailor; John Mar
tin, Madison county; j. b. Riley, Madi-
son county; George Carter, fireman,
Grand Opera House; Mrs. Milton Bur-
CESS, proprietress of Burgess Hotel; two
unknown men, died at st. Johns hos
pital: J. M. Fouls farmer; Joe Kyle,
farmer; two Lefevre boys; Malt KNAPP
ton, Jr.; Mrs. Malt Knapton: Joe Lucas,
negro; Ed Ferrell butcher, and his two
little children, Irene and Roy; Frank
Richardson, restaurant keeper; John
Adams, carpenter; Mrs. Charles Mauver:
- Ritter, gardener; Mrs. Will Lawson;
Louie Sengal; Miss Holden; John Badt.
farmer; Mrs. Maggie Sheehan's infant;
L. Woehle, butcher; James Smith, clerk;
Mrs Jones; James Smith, Jr.; Mr.. Gray;
Mrs. Gray; son of Mr.. and Mrs. Gray;
Atlas Jones; Frank Lefevre, Eta Kies.
The injured are: Mrs. Braden, d. L.
Grimes Martin, --- Hosea VIM.
Lawson, Belle Martin, Tony Eberhart,
r. E. Hubberl, R. H. Greenholder, A.
yB. Stafford, - Ashworth, Doctor
Gate, Mrs. Gate, Mrs. Gates mother,
Minnie Burgess, Mrs. E. Grell, Mrs.
Hugh Rogers, Mr.. Ritter, Mrs. Ritter,
Mrs. F. H. Brown. Mrs. Luther Hunt
ley, Lane Ed. Yaden, - Woolsey,
Ri. Hirschberger, Miss Lilly Stahl.
The tornado was of such magnitude
that the full number of the dead is not
yet determined, and ii is impossible to
estimate exactly the full loss in prop
erty.
With the first crash of the storm,
business blocks, handsome mansions,
hotels and cottages We're levelled to
The ground and scattered in slapeless
masses.
| Several of the wrecks caught fire, and
the tinbers burner furiously.
The city was crowded with rural visi-
tors, many of whom were sleeping at
boarding houses unregistered. For this
reason, the number of victims who per-
ished in Fort Smith last night may
never be definitely known The storm
struck the city near the National GEM
etery, and swept its way through the
heart of the town, Leaving Fort Smith,
it bounded toward Van Buren, and con-
tinued down the river, demolishing
everything in its path. News from out
side points it not yet at hand, but ru-,
NTVes f-f S.la
Alma, have reached here, it being re-
ported that number of persons were
killed near that place.
The tornado struck Garrison avenue,
at the corner OF Ninth street, and made
a clean sweep from there to the Texas
corner. l. IsaacSon's store was demol-
ished, and the stock is total loss. Bah
cocks grocery store had the rear end
blown out. The following stores were
totally demolished; Fleming Bros, cof-
fee and teas; Harsfield's restaurant,
Smiths grocery store, Martinez's sec
ond-hand store, j. Mances, dry goods;
Mann & Wilson, groceries; City feed
store. Many other stores were badly
damaged. The upper floor Of the block
on the corner of Garrison and Towsea
avenue, is used as fiat. The ruins
caught fire and several bodies were ta-
ken from them
Burgess Hotel, three-story brick
building in Towsea avenue, was demol-
ished There have been eight bodies
already taken from the ruins.
Rescue parties are still at work, and
expect to find several more bodies.
The federal court is in session, and
that brought a great many farmers
here, who crowded the boarding houses
and wagon yards.
The National House, a two-story
frame building, went down in wreckage,
with 10 inmates, but all escaped with
out serious injury.
George Carters house was turned
completely over, and is now supported
on the roof. A half-pane of glass. was
driven through Carter's neck, almost
seyering the head from the trunk
The National cemetery is a wreck.
Huge trees are uprooted, the lodge de-
molished and the walls torn down.
Fort Smiths $50,00O high school build
ing was badly wrecked, but was one OF
the few buildings upon which there was
a tornado insurance.
The tornado destroyed two historic
buildings. Judge Parker's residence
is badly wrecked, and the old Rector
mansion, where Albert Pike once lived.
is pile of ashes, the ruins having
caught fire.
The First Baptist Church and the
Central Methodist Church are now only
scattered pile of wood and the
Church of the Immaculate Conception
and Brownscomb Memorial Church lost
their spires and sustained other dam
age.
The citizens relief committee has
$4,000 for assisting sufferers. President
Robinson of the Frisco railroad, un-
solicited, sent his check for $1000 The
Missouri Pacific railroad also sent $1,000.
Business is abandoned all over the city,
and men of all classes are assisting in
clearing the debris.
ADDITIONAL FATALITIES.
Van Buren. Ark. Jan. 12.-The lorna
do that descended upon Fort Smith,
last night. crossed the Arkansas river
half mile south of here, and tore a
path 200 yards through this county,
dealing death and devastation. Many
farm houses were demolished. Frank
Boatrlght and his son and a daughter
were badly injured. The houses of Wal
ter Haley and Mrs. Keller were blown
entirely away. The families of both were
injured. Charles Wright was fatally
injured Ed Blaksmore was instantly
killed. The house of Mrs. Bash was de-
molished and she was instantly killed,
and two of her children, aged s and 16,
were fatally hurt
Fayetteville, Ark, Jan. IA terrific
wind and hailstorm sweut over this
part OF the state last night. AT Farm