The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-09
Brinkley Destroyed and
Twenty-eight Lives
Are Lost.
FIRE SWEEPS OVER
TANGLED WRECKAGE
Relief Trains Rushed to Victims
Aid-Storm Had Wide
Scope.

cen whites and twenty negroes are
dead at Brinkley, forty persons are
seriously hurt. Six re licences stand
ing in the midst of TIE lornado-torn,
fire-swept ruins, are al that remain
of the town where 5000 grief
stricken people today are homeless.
Property valued at more than
81 100000 has been destroyed.
Help from all quarters has poured
in, and the work of removing the
dead and caring for the wounded is
under way. The bodies that have
been recovered have been put on
special train and will be brought
here for burial.
The injured are being staEen to near
by cities to be cared fer.
The dead so far identified are:
PORTER FOOTE.
J. 1. STERRITT
HENRY STOVALL, ir.
Mrs. PHILLIPS.
Mrs. BELLE DARDEN.
CHARLES FRAME.
Mr.. and Mrs. HOOD, all whites.
Few Buildings Escaped.
The tornado struck the city without
the slightest warning. It's path Ees the
width OF the town Every building was
damaged and most OF :hern were de-
molished. Two train reached Brinkley
shortly after daylight One was from
Helena, the other from Little Rock
The relief parties found the inhabitants
almost helpless
Some estimates place the death lisl
even higher than thirty, eight. IN the
business section buildings have been
twisted about. and tunbled into the
street The residence section also suf-
fered severely. as only six houses ars
habitable
Later in the day, a meeting Of the
business Mems club of Helena, xas
called here. and arrangements Nere
made to care for the homeless.
At O'Clock last night q single engine
made its way out OF Brinkley. On II
were a few railroad employees who had
escaped the storm. They reported that
when they left the ruins had begun 70
burn Today the NEARER reports that
have been received declare the people
were powerIess 10 fight the fire and that
the buildings were consumed.
First News of Disaster.
The first news of the disaster was
received when T. n. KinneIl, operator
for the Rock Island railroad. and L.
gan Richards. who were in the station
when the storm struck. extricated
themselves from the debris and walked
TO Wheatley, the nearest telegraph sta
ton. The Rock Island station, they
said, had been blown TO pieces over
their heads and both were injured. The
streets were blocked with debris, and
the fremen could not work
The majority Of the buildings in the
town are frame and they burned rap
idly. The Cotton Belt railroad and the
Arkansas Midland stations were blown
down By the tornado.
Special relief trains have been hurried
rom all the nearby cldes to Brinkley.
A special train from here was started
early today. No news has yet been re
/ ceived from It
Extent OF Storm.
7 The storm swept the whole Of south
} eastern Arkansas. Early reports say
four persons are dead and several in
jured about Little Rock. SevefzI fatali-
ties are rumored in the vicinity Of Hot
/ Springs.
Railroad officers are trying to get
word Of a cotton-beIt train, reported
TO have been swept OF the track by
the wind or struck by lightning near
/ Barcum The tornado cut q swath
about one hundred miles long and six
miles wide. leaving behind unroofed
houses. mangISd farm animals, and
tangled wires
BriExley, the center Of the severest
damage, is a town of 5000 inhabitants
situated at the junction of three rail-
roads. The country around is rather
( sparseIy settled
The storm was a mingling Of wind.