A TEXAS CYCLONE.

WRECK AND RUIN AT PORT ARTHUR.

Six Persons Killed and Many Injured – Hotels and Buildings Blown Down.

PORT ARTHUR, Texas, September 13 – A tornado, terrible in its intensity, struck this city at an early hour last evening. Six people are known to have been killed, while many others were injured. Buildings were blown down and great damage was wrought by the cyclone.

Dead FRANK ALBRECHT, employed by electric light company.
GEORGE MARTIN, bricklayer, residence unknown.
FRITZ MICHAELS, laborer, residence unknown.
UNKNOWN MAN, aged 38.
MAY AINSWORTH, 13 year old daughter of William Ainsworth.
Infant son of W. H. Johnson, blown from its mother’s arms and drowned.

May buildings were blown down, including the railroad round house where May Ainsworth was killed, the Natatorium, the bank building Townside Company’s barns, Hotel Hayden, Strong & League’s building, Brennen building, Colonade hotel, Spence & Lyon’s building, C. J. Miller’s store, Ksusdi’s saloon, Alfred Wolf’s saloon, Hayes’ building and A. A. Sohnski’s grocery. Several residences suffered severely, that of Dr. W. A. Barraclough being carried across the street. Many other buildings were completely blown away.

From early morning the sky was threatening and a stiff gale blow. No rain of consequence fell until 4 p. m. and then it was accompanied by a heavy wind that increased in intensity until it reached the velocity of eighty miles an hour. Every building in the town is of frame construction except one brick, the Port Arthur Banking Company building, the far end and roof of which was blown away.
The bodies of the victims have been sent to Beaumont for interment, no [illegible words] here. There were many acts of bravery and the suspense during the severity of the storm was terrible.

Advices from Winnie Tex., say that nearly all the houses there have been blown down and torn away.

At Webb all of the barns and one house were demolished and scattered over the country.

Nothing can be heard from Sabine Pass, as all telegraphic communication has been interrupted. A relief train left Beaumont tonight for this place and Sabine Pass.
It is known that much destruction was wrought at Sabine Pass with a probable loss of life. Everything possible is being done to establish communication with that place.
The relief train has just returned from Sabine Pass. It could not get nearer than eight miles of Sabine Pass. It is reported that the new town is completely gone. Nothing heard from the old town. From reports things look bad there.

Fresno Weekly Republican, Fresno, CA 17 Sept 1897