Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-11
Property Loss of 81, 000,0 900 in the
Little City of Brinkley,
Arkansas.
BUSINESS HOUSES RUINED
Hardly Home Escaped Damage
Hundreds Wandering in the streets
Seeking Temporary Shelter
The Catholic Church Alone
Stands C~nscnthed.

Brinkley, Arkansas. March a-Thirty
or more lives were snufted out. 60 people
were injured, IA seriously. and property
estimated to be worth 81 800 900. was des-
troycd as a result OF the tornado which
wrecked this little city last night. OF the
known dead, "A are whitc people as fol-
lows;
Isaac Reed. Mrs. Isaac Reed, Russell
Reed. Raymond Reed. Porter Foote. J.
l.. Starrett. Harry Stovall. Jr., Mrs.
Ethel Phillips, Mrs. Belle Darden and
two Of her children, Charles Frenze, A.
NJ. Hood and an unidentified man.
The tornado lowered about the city
only a few minutes but its work OF des-
truction was complete. The Roman
Catholic Church. standing directly IN tile
path of the storm. alone escaped dam
ago or destruction and stands tonight
a grim sentinel on n scene OF desolation.
Main street and Cypress avenue, the
two principal tho%roughfares, are I'm
passable and piled high with wreckaYe
from end TO end.
Every business house Is in ruins and
there is hardly a home that has not at
least suffered the loss Of a roof or a
wing. The Arlington Hotel was totally
destroyed. Eighty guests were registered
there but all escaped uninjured. The
Rrinkley Hotel. Southern Hotel and
Kelley Hotel we're all destroyed without
loss Of life.
Relief squads have been Mt work all
day caring for the dead and injured.
The Rock Island and Cotton Belt rail-
roads have placed cars ut the disposal
Ct the relief committee and many peo-
pie are leaving Brinkley seeking 4 tenn
porary refuge at nearby points. The
dead were sent to Helnna from which
point interment will take place.
Governor Donaghey arrived from
Little Rock this afternoon in response
to a call from the citizens commit
tee. He has the situation we'll In
hand and says food. clothing am
shelter are the things most needful,
Hundreds Of people are homeless and
are wandering about seeking a tenn
porary abode. Three special trains
arrived from ~neighboring towns to.
dag bringing relief workers. physician.
and nurses. The Catholic Church ha.
been converted into a hospital ant
here the doctors and nurses are car
ing for the injured. The citizens {
Helena have generously offered tn
use Of their homes for the destitute.
Mass meetings will be held to-mor
row in Memphis. Little Rock an
other cities TO raise funds and sup
plies for the sufferers.
FIRST TO SUMMON AID.
L. NJ. Kimmell. a railroad operator a
Brink!ey. one OF the first to reach
point Of communication to summon aid ~
the devasted to wn graphically describe
the scenes Immediately after the passinr
> Of the stor,n. Together with several com
!, panions Kimmell was In the Rock ISLAM
, depot when the storm struck. AS II
were a toy the substantial structure wa
twisted and broken the occupants beini
! caught among the fallen timbers, bruisc
but after haif an hours effort ihe
> selves after half an hours effort the
found the town In darkness and IN
streets sled with a terror str!cke
, throng. their shrleks m'ngling with III
l means ~ the injured. Intermittent fashe
< OF lightning revealed wreckage every
where. a portion OF a building stand!n
here and again only a tangled mass q
debris. Az Klmnlell and his companion
. made their WAY through the streets the
: identified two Of the dead and stumble
over others who were wounded.
Huddlcd ahou: tho ruins Of their home
. IA miles were standing In groups Gins
ing together IN terror while here an
there was one CROPPING about In quest {
q missing member OF the household.
AS the PARTY started TO leave Rrinkle
intending to walk 10 Weakley. the nea,
: est town. the added horror Of fire al
= reared. When two miles from Brinkie
K,mmell and party were forced 20 n
trace their steps because OF tire gal
When they returned they found that IL
e fire had gained Roadway and. famed
r the stiH wind. was spreading but Il
: prompt work OF citizens suppressed Il
c confa grafton.