Tornado Outbreaks of April 1883

A series of tornadoes in April 1883 caused extensive damage in Garland, Hot Spring, Saline, Faulkner, and Franklin counties and killed eight people while injuring many more. It was part of a larger outbreak that killed more than 100 people across the Southeast.

The first tornadoes struck on April 8, 1883. In Garland County, a couple living fifteen miles south of Hot Springs (Garland County) were killed, and a man was killed near Johnson’s Ferry “by the timbers of his house falling up on him and crushing him.” Two other people were killed “beyond the river,” and damage was reported between the Ouachita and Saline rivers.

A twister struck Magnet Cove (Hot Spring County) that same day, “and fifteen buildings were demolished and numerous persons injured.” A newspaper reported that “many persons were stripped of their last horse, cow, chicken and household effects, including provisions and extra clothing.” A train was struck between Hot Springs and Malvern (Hot Spring County), which “lifted the hindmost car off the track.” The car plunged down an embankment, “piling [passengers] with the seats together in one conglomerated muddle.” None were killed, “though all were more or less hurt.” That tornado crossed the Iron Mountain tracks near Alexander (Pulaski and Saline counties), “where several houses were blown down. All along the track from Malvern to Benton the farms were damaged by blown down fencing.”

Another tornado on April 12, 1883, “came within about three quarters of a mile of Benton. It unroofed houses, scattered fencing, and destroyed immense forests of timber,” though apparently no one was injured.

Two twisters were reported on April 14. The first hit Conway (Faulkner County) around 3:15 p.m., approaching from the northeast. The Catholic and Baptist churches were destroyed, the town’s commercial district was heavily damaged, and “numerous residences are in ruins,” but no one was killed, though “a number were badly injured.” Damages were estimated at $50,000 in Conway.

Another destructive storm hit Franklin County around 11 p.m. on April 14; its path “averaged three miles in width.” It touched down about fifteen miles west of Ozark (Franklin County), causing about $2,000 in damage as it tore through farms before hitting White Oak Station (also known as Alston, the name of the post office). White Oak Station “was destroyed by a most disastrous cyclone,” and a witness stated that “its force was beyond all powers of description. The side of the mountains, which before the storm were covered with trees, now show none standing, even the oaks being snapped in twain like pipestems.” The storm was followed by hail with stones “as large as hen eggs.”

After destroying White Oak Station, where the postmaster was severely injured, the storm turned north, “accompanied by a continuous blaze of lightning, awful roaring thunder and a large hail-cloud, funnel-shaped.” Three people were killed as the twister passed through that area, and destruction was widespread by “a storm of such severity [that] was never before known here.” Estimates of damage in Franklin County were around $15,000.

For additional information:
“Additional Storm Notes.” Arkansas Gazette, April 14, 1883, p 2.

“By Telegraph.” Arkansas Democrat, April 16, 1883, p. 1.

“The Cyclone.” Fayetteville Weekly Democrat, April 12, 1883, p. 1.

“Hot Springs Sprays.” Arkansas Gazette, April 11, 1883, p. 2.

“A Terrific Tornado.” Arkansas Gazette, April 15, 1883, p 1.

“Tornado in Arkansas.” Fayetteville Weekly Democrat, April 19, 1883, p. 1.

“The Tornado’s Track.” Arkansas Gazette, April 10, 1883, p. 1.

Mark K. Christ
Little Rock, Arkansas