The Neshoba Democrat., 1909-03-18

Searching parties were organized, and
at 1880 o'clock myriad of tlickering
flaring, fitful lights danced about ovel
the scene of unspeakable desolatioD and
ruin which unfolded itself to the eye
for brief moments as the brilliant and
vivid flashes of lightning pierced the
sombre heavens.
The rain was pouring in torrents
lashing the face and hands with sting
ing force.
Daylight Exposed the Horror.
Not until long after daylight had
come to add horror to the desolatc pio
ture of woe and ruin, showing in start
ling relief the terrible havoc wrought
by the tornado, was the body of Charles
Frenz, the fifth victim of the business
district, found. Frenz was purchasing
pair of shoes in the Foote & Gazola
store when it was struck. His body
was found about 10 o'clock, lying crum.
pied into heap about midway of the
ruins.
There were thirty funerals in Brink.
ley Thursday. Coifins are arriving OH
every train, and undertakcrs and their
helpers kept busy preparing for the
burials.
Two Hundred Convicts.
A special train loaded with one hum
dred convicts arrived from Little Rock,
making two hundred prisoners now here.
They will be put to work cleaning up
the debris, and the work of rebuilding
the town will begin at once, as soon as
materials arrive.
The Cotton Belt railroad has 800 of
its carpenters and brickmasons from diff.
fcrent points on the system rushing here
TO assist in the work of rebuilding the
town.
The Rock Island sent out a Gull for a
similar number Of workmen from along
its lines, and they will be rushed here.
Stoves Are Needed.
Aside from food and bedding, the peo-
pie most urgently need a car load of
stoves on which to cook, tarpaulins to
cover up the front of their stores and
to hide the leaks in the roofs of the
houses yet standing, and tin roofing.
Martial law prevails with all its rigor.
The soldiers will not let any one through
the lines who does not possess Il pass
signed by the provost marshal.
Food Now Available.
The soldiers have established large
cook tent in the middle of the town, and
all those who have no means of sub
sisting are being fed at the expense of
the State and the relief committee.
Mayor Jackson Calls for Aid.
Mayor r. III. Jackson has issued the
following appeal:
''To the Public-In response to many
inquiries concerning the terrible calam-
ity which has befallcn our city, l would
like to say that the list of dead, SO far
recovered from the wreckage, numbers
35, and wounded over 200. There is
not a house in the city, either business
or residence, that has not been damaged
by the cyclone. The entire business por-
tion is lost, and only three buildings are
left standing.
"In response to many offers of assist.
ancc, / would suggest for immediate
temporary relief, that furniture, some
bedding, blankets, tarpaulins, shingles
and other roofing material be sent us.
The latter is in urgent demand because
there is not a dry roof in the city to
protect the wounded and homeless.
'In the way of permanent relief, l
would say the greatest benefit could be
done our unfortunte people by shipments
of building materials, such as lumber,
shingles, rootings, brick, sand, etc. Many
of our people will be able in this way
to assist themselves, and start living,
with the prospect of regaining lost for
tunes or, at least, preparing places to
shelter themselves. Both the Rock
Island and Cotton Belt railroads have
agreed to bring to our relief all con-
signments of this, or any other nature,
free of charge. 1t will possibly require
several hundred carloads of building
to repair our city, as there is
not a mill OF factory that is not COM
pletely destroyed.
"r. II. JACKSON, Mayor"