Lower coast gazette., 1909-03-20

at 1880 o'clock a myriad of ilickering
faring, ftful lights danced about oyel
the scene of unspeakable desolation ant
ruin which unfolded itself to the eye
for brief moments as the brilliant an(
vivid flashes of lightning pierced ths
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 desolate pic
ture of woe and ruin, showing in start
ling relief the terrible havoc wrough!
by the tornado, was the body of Charles
Frenz, the fifth victim of the business
district, found. Frenz was purchasing
a pair of shoes in the Foote & Gazola
store when it was struck. His body
was found about 10 o'clock, lying crum
Piled into Il heap about midway of the
ruins.
There were thirty funerals in Brink
ley Thursday. Collins are arriving or
every train, and undertakers and theil
helpers kept busy preparing for the
burials.
Two Hundred COnyictS.
4 special train loaded with one hun
dred conyicts arrived from Little Rock
making two hundred prisoners now here
They will be put to work cleaning ul
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
it's carpenters and brickmasons from diff
ferent points on the system rushing here
to assist III the work of rebuilding the
town.
The Rock Island sent out Il call for q
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 Il 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 a pass
signed by the provost marshal.
Food Now Available.
The soldiers have established d 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 I. II. Jackson has issued the
following appeal:
ITO the Public-ln response to many
inquiries concerning the terrible calam-
ity which has befallen our city, | would
like to say that the list of dead, so far
recovered from the wreckage, numbers
So, 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 arc
left standing.
"In response to many offers Of assist
ance, | 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,
would say the greatest benefit could be
done our unfortunate people by shipments
Of building materials, such as lumber,
shingles, roofngs, brick, sand, etc. Many
of u 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
material to repair our city, as there is
not a mill OF factory that is not com
pletely destroyed.
"T. H. JACKSON, Mayor"
DONAGHEY'S MESSAGE.