Gilpin observer., 1909-03-11
DESTROYS TOWN OF BRINkLEY,
KILLING THIRTY PEOPLE AND
lNJURING SIXTY.
HEAVY PROPERTY LOSS
RELIEF WORK BEING PUSHED
AND MASS MEETINGS HELD
TO RAISE FUNDS.

were lost, sixty people were injured
and property worth 100000 was de-
stroyed as a result of the tornado
which wrecked the town Monday
night. OF the dead, fourteen are
white people, as follows:
Isaac Reed, Mrs. Isaac Reed, Russell
Reed, Raymond Reed, Porter Foote, J.
l.. Starrett Harry Stovall, Jr.; Mrs.
Ethel Phillips, Mrs. Belle Darden, two
children Of Mrs. Darden, Charles
Frenze, A. NJ. Hood.
Many women were among the seri-
ously injured
The tornado shrieked above the city
only few minutes, but its work of de-
struction was complete.
The Catholic church, standing direct
ly in the path of the storm, alone es-
capped damage or destruction, and
stands tonight amid desolation. 1t has
been converted into a hospital.
The principal thoroughfares are i'm
passable and are piled high with
wreckage.
Every business house is in ruins and
there is hardly home that has not
demolished, but the guests escaped.
Relief squads have been at work all
day, caring for the dead and injured.
The Rock Island and Cotton Belt rail
roads have placed cars at the disposal
of the local relief committee and
many people are leaving Brinkley,
seeking temporary refuge at other
points near by.
Governor Donaghey arrived from
Little Rock this afternoon in response
to call from the citizens committee.
Hundreds of people are hom cess and
are wandering about seeking a tempo
rary abode.
Three special trains arrived from
neighboring towns Tuesday, bringing
relief workers, physicians and nurses.
In the Catholic church doctors and
nurses are caring for the injured.
Mass meetings have been called in
Memphis, Little Rock and other cities
to raise funds and supplies for the
storm victims.
Brinkley is a town of over 5000 in
habitants.
Reports from southern and south
eastern Arkansas say a heavy wind
storm passed over those sections of
the state last night doing considerable
damage to small buildings, but no loss
of life is reported.
L. NJ. Kimmell, railroad operator
one of the first to reach point of COM
munication to summon aid for the dew
astated town, graphically describes
the scenes Immediately following the
passing of the storm.
Together with several companions,
Kimmell was In the Rock Island depot
when the storm struck. AS if it were
a toy, the substantial structure was
twisted and broken, the occupants be-
ing caught among the fallen timbers,
bruised, but otherwise unhurt.
Extricating themselves after half
an hours effort, they found the town
in darkness, the streets filled with a
terror-stricken throng their shrieks
mingling with the means of the in
jured.
Intermittent flashes of lightning re
vealed wreckage everywhere, a por
ton of a building standing here and
again only tangled mass OF DEBRIS.
AS kimmell and his companions
made their way through the streets,
they identified two of the dead and
stumbled over others who We're wound
ed. Huddled about the ruins of their
homes, families were standing in
groups clinging together in terror
while here and there a searcher was
cropping about in quest of a missing
member of the household.
As the party started to leave Brink
ley, intending to walk to the nearest
town, the added horror of fire ap-
peared. When two miles from Brink
ley, Kimmell and party were forced to
retrace their steps because of the gale.
The fire gained headway, but the
prompt work of the citizens sup
pressed 1t.