Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-03-12
TORNADO KILLS 50.
Brink|ey, Ark, Is Wiped Off
the Map.
LIKE SCENE OF EARTHQUAKE
Terrible Havoc Wrought by Twlster
Depletes Population Of Southern
state-Early Reports of Death Roll
Not OverdraWn.


Not overdrawn.
st. Louis, Mar. 10.-A special from
Brinkley, Ark, says SO persons were
killed, is to 40 were injured and more
than 100000 in property loss was
caused by a cyclone which swept this
city of 5000 population. The city is
total loss. The cyclone passed late
at night and when daylight revealed
its work yesterday it was found that
the business section was in ruins and
been destroyed.
Negro Dead Number "a.
Among the negroes the loss of life
is estimated at "a.
The cyclone came upon the town
without moments notice. It's path
was the width OF the city. Not bust
ness house but what will show 60 per
cent. loss. About six residences re-
main standing and these are damaged.
The neighboring towns are lending
aid. Soon after daylight relief trains
bean to arrive. One came from
Helena and another from Little Rock
The dead are being taken to Helena
where they will be prepared for burial
as the undertaking establishments Of
this place are destroyed.
First Reports Conservative.
Memphis. Tenn. Mar. 10.-Advices
from Brinkley, Ark, received here to-
day show that first reports of death
and damage by tornado were not
overdrawn. The death list has reached
total Of 30 white persons and nearly
20 negroes. Fifteen to 20 people were
more or less seriously Injured
A revised list of the dead follows:
Porter Foote, Mrs Belle Darden. j.
L. Sterrett, travelling shoe salesman;
Henry Stovall, Jr.; Mrs. Phillips
Charles Frenze, Miss Clara Rose, Mr.
Hood, Mrs Hood, unidentified man
four negroes.
Governor to Take Charge.
A mass meeting Of citizens was helt
at Brinkley yesterday and telegram
was sent to Gov. Donaghey at Little
Rock urging him to come to Brinkle!
and take charge of the situation
The governor replied that h
would leave for the scene at once
which he did.
Because Of wire decentralization .
cotton belt passenger train could no
be located and a report was sent GU
that It had been blown from thu
tracks near Baucum. The officials o
the railroad in Memphis stated las
night that the train was safe from mis-
hap.
Depot Torn Down Like Toy.
L. M. Kimmell, railroad operator
at Brinkley. one of the first to reacl
point of communication to summon
aid for the devastated town, graph
ically describes the scenes immediate
ly following the passing of the storm
Together with several companion
Kimmell was in the Rock Island depo
when the storm struck. AS If it wer
toy the substantial structure wa
twisted and broken, the occupants be
ing caught among the falling timbers
bruised, but otherwise unhurt. Ell
Treating themselves after half a
hours effort, they found the town 1
darkness.
Like Earthquake Scene.
The streets were filled with tel
ror-stricken throng, their shrieks mil
Cling with the means of the injured
Intermittent flashes Of lightning re
vealed wreckage everywhere, po
tion of a building standing here, an
again only tangled mass of debri
AS Kimmell and his companions mad
their way through the streets the
identified two Of the dead and stun
bled over others who were wounded
Huddled about the ruins of the
homes families were standing half-ma
with fright
A tornado struck at Fourche Oar
within five miles of Little Rock, XII
ing negro boy and injuring other n
groes. Two houses were demolishe
and one was completely destroyed b
fire after 1t had been blown to bit
Several negroes are reported to /
fatally hurt.
Raises Great Waterspout.
The tornado crossed the Arkanss
river at Fourche Dam and raised
spout of water about 200 feet high
trdVeleu toward lne uOrLneaSt al
swept clean path about 80 yart
wide. 1t was impossible to get ar
definite reports from that vicinit
The tornado was followed by violel
hail and rain storm which kept I
throughout the night.
The same tornado passed into Ba
cum, where the extent of the dana;
was unknown. and from there to Ke
in Lonoke county, where sever
homes were demolished and E.
Adams, a farmer, was seriously if n
fatally Injured. He and his viii
son and three others were in tt
house at the time of the storm. TIL
were buried in the debris, but all {
capped alive. The home of Dan We
ner. sawmill operator, was also {
stroyed, but he and his wife escap
with few bruises. gin and sever
negro cabins were demolished.
Army Men Fly with Zeppelin.
Friedrichshafen, Mar lO.-Cou
Zeppelin made an ascension here "
terday in his new airship, the fiji
time this year. The crew of the a