Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 July 1882 — DREADFUL CALAMITY. [ARTICLE]

DREADFUL CALAMITY.

Nearly Thirty People Killed l>y a Falling- Building-. During the progress of a heavy thunder storm at Texarkana, Ark., lightning struck a new three-story brick _ dwelling, shattering the walls, which, toppling over upon an adjoining saloon, crashed it to atoms, burying in the rains between fifty and sixty people, many of whom had taken temporary refuge therein from the storm. The announcement of the disaster passed swiftly all over the place, and, despite the raging storm, an immense crowd of people gathered around the fallen building searching for relatives and friends, or trying to learn the extent of the appalling disaster. Tho lights in the crushed structure set fire to the debris, and the peril of a widespread conflagration and. consequent cremation of scores of dying and suffering unfortunates was added to the horrors of the scene. By the herculean efforts of citizens the flames were extinguished, not, however, until two or three buildings had been destroyed. The work of searching for the bodies of the killed and wounded was commenced as qnickly as possible. A great, crowd gathered around the crushed bnildings, the town being in mourning and business almost entirely suspended. About thirty dead bodies were taken from the ruins. The dead, when found, presented a sickening sight The bodies were generally mangled, charred and crashed. The friends of tbe slain, as they recognized the dead, made the air ring with cries of agony, and the scene wifi sffeotmg and heartrending in tbe extreme.