The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-03-18
DEATH LIST
INCREASES
Work of Terrible Cyclone
at Brinkley, Ark.
Appeals for Aid-Sroves,
Building Material, Food and
Bedding Badly Needed.

Brinkley, Ark.-Brinklcy is wiped out
The proud and prosperous little city
81 1000 people is tangled mass OF
wreckage. Not a building in the bust
ness section Of the city has been left
intact, not a residence but that has suf.
fered in a fearful cyclone which swept
the place Monday night, leaving death
and desolation in its wake.
More than fifty people are known to
have persisted in the storm.
Damage Enormous.
The property damage is enormous.
Conservative business men estimate the
damage at more than 81. 900, 900. More
than 1000 houses were wrecked. or par
tally wrecked, by the great wind. Every
business house is in ruins, every church,
save one, is destroyed, and there is
hardly home that has not at least suf-
fered the loss Of roof or wing.
First Work One of Mercy.
The first work was one of mercy.
Mayor Harry jackson took command
of the relief committee, Dr. +. ID. Nc
knight was assigned to the position Of
chairman OF the doctors committee. Be
fore it was hardly day, relief commit
tees were coming from all directions.
Each brought physicians and nurses,
armed with medicines and supplies.
Eager TO help in the work.
In the few houses still standing il is
we'll nigh impossible to start fire, be-
,ause chimneys were among the first
.hings to go and the situation is terrible
m the extreme.
The Catholic Church and the Green.
zee building. the latter minus a roof in
'arts and otherwise damaged, have been
converted into hospitals, and here the
loctors are working with the injured
Many of the citizens are badly hurt, but
determined to help those worse of than
themselves, have refused to 20 to the
temporary hospital.
@hNrN VI AHt Nflt NAuLnA III lUt
wrecked buildings, and crushed almost
'eyOnd recognition. The family of Isaac
Reed was almost completely wiped out.
Reed, his wife and their two sons, Rus
ell, aged 10, and Raymond. aged IL,
rere instantly killed. Miss Murlie Reed,
daughter, alone escaped death, but she
5 seriously injured.
Did Cyclone Stunts.
Straight across the city from the
outheast to the northwest swept the
Earring elements, leaving death and de-
truction in their wake. The tornado
umped, turned, writhed and twisted like
thing endowed with life, judging from
he wreckage which marks its fight.
I left no path, as is usual with ey-
tones. but spread itself out over a wide
rea and embraced the entire town
within its deadly grasp.
1t first struck the residence portion of
he city. Cottages, twostory frame and
rick dwellings crumbled beneath the
IlEuAN lA-n VI Aut WINS lItf~ WtIt
prooted and carried hurtling through
he air for hundreds of feet, crashing
through flimsy wooden walls as if they
ad been so much cardboard. Telephone
oles were snapped short of at the
round and tossed about the streets
Ike pipe stems.
1t struck the business section with
violence. Solid brick ant
storehouses fell crashing to the
round before its fury. Heavy awnings,
oors andseven the front walls of many
torres, tin roofs and flying debris OF all
inds filled the air, while the elements
aged and the rain fell in torrents.
People Panie-Stricken.
Men, women and children ran scream
ng and terrorstricken into the streets.
he city was in total darkness. The
lrinkley Light and Power Company was
ne OF the first plants struck by the
torn. II was demolished and its wires,
long with the telephone and telegraph
Fires, spread over the ground in a YER
liable network of steel, iron and copper
ieshes.
Husbands sought for wives and wives
ought for children. Brothers cried
loud TO mothers and sisters, and as the
all fury of the wind died away to a
teady and ominOus roar, their screams,
ombined with those of the injured, rang
ut piercingly in the almost stygian
arkness. Strong men paused, shud-
cred and knew not what 10 do OF where /
0 60. Women sank down in the streets,
'hieh had become veritable torrents,
altering their children to them, and
dered up their prayers for the deliv-
rance Of their lives ~
The reaction came in another moment
anteras and torches were secured |