The New York herald., 1871-03-13
Seven Persons Killed and Fifty
two Wounded.
Houses Leyelled-Steamboat Torn to
Fragments-Trees Lifted Up by the
Roots-Elevators Demolished.
xhe Town Of Fayette, Illinois, To
tally Destroyed.
IFrom the ST. Louis Republican, March o.,

Not only has fearful destruction OF properly been
occasoned, but loss OF life that Is far depor-
able, and also a long list OF wounded. Terrible as
have been the consequences. however, they would
have seen Galenae more ire 50 only for the for,
swept eastward OF our city proper and expended its
Jury on the east shore Of the river and East ST Louis
Had the same irresistible WIND poured over the
crowded blocks OF our city the destruction 1t would
probably have wrought would be beyond the power
OF language 10 portray.
THE WEATHER BEFORE THE oUTBURsT
Yesterday morning dawned cloudy and little sui
try. There were some indlcauons OF rain, but no
thing whatever 10 cause any apprehensions OF an
unusual outburs In the afternoon, about o'esck
tile gloom IN the heavens deepened TO the south and
west, and there were a few drops or rain now and
then. A brisk breeze prevailed which was warm in
temperature bn, the worst prophet OF evil would
only have predicted passing thunder storm. There
was nothing OF that strange hush which generally
falls over nature as preface 10 tine unoosing OF her
giant forces, nor that lurid hight winch oreOodes
tnmult Ia the sky. Between TWO and three O'Clock
the clouds assumed an appearance alarming TO an
inexperienced eye. The gray masses OF vapor be-
came ragged and torn along their edges and here
and there neecy patches were rent of and hurried
along by some swift power The ram commenced
to fan and the wind rose gradually but not TO an
extent to create alarm.
THE oUTBuRsT OF THE TORNADO.
few minutes past three O'Clock the awful vista
ton opened its fury without moments warning,
blowing from the southwest, coming up river In
q diagonal line incilning eastward N lis advance
aterrible whirlng force, compacted In a path OF
onwards with roar like an angry sea and the
velocity Of BIRDS flight. The tornado seems TO
have ba,ely touched our southern limits but TO have
was done until il struck East ST LOUIS Here il
manifested its dreadful power within 4 space OF
three minutes in manner never before equalled IN
TINS part OF the country, and almost IndescrIb-
able Let the reader Imagine an Irresistible
air torrent rushing against the frail ARTIFICIAL
structures OF man, situated on an exposed
river bank. In a moment the air Is filed
kinds. Houses sheds and other Structures disap-
pear il leveled by the blow OF Titan, or ny TO
storm. The East ST. Louis elevator was the iirst
edince struck on the Illinois shore, strong frame
building. The roof was torn TO ribbons and large
portion OF IT, like black meteor shot northward
and fell far away Ia the river. Then came the de-
etructon OF other houses some Were unroofed and
Bome were rent 10 pieees-walls and al-and the
unhappy inmates buried in the ruins. The stately
wharf, had her texas torn OF and hurled In the
river. The bridge tug Hewitt had her wneelhouse
disposed OF IN the same way, ana became wreck.
ment pier OF the bridge was twisted up like a bunch
Of reeds In the fingers OF the Storm crashed down
In plle OF cnaotlc rum. railway cars and engines
were dashed down on their sides or whirled Off
the tracks as II they were paper boxes. Whole trees
were either struck TO the earth, as if the trunks
had been severed by cannon shot or lifted bodily
and carried yards away from where they moment
before stood. Put all these distinctions together
and hundred others-f the air with a maze Of
wnirling Objects and imagine the sky as black as
Ink, scanned every moment with tongues OF lightning
and reverberatng with thunder crashes, while there
ls a steady roar OF great rushing on earth, and
nado on East St. LOUIS. 1t was an awful scene~one
never TO be forgotten. The very suddenness was
kinds was in progress, and now the whole popula-
non Is shlvenng aghast, while turmoil and destruc-
uOn and great noises rage all around them on all
hdes mingling with which Is the plteous cry or the
hgonzed sufferers caught between tmbers or pressed
beneath weights that crush them 10 death. Soswiit,
DO sudden short was the storm that tt seemed like
The passage OF some enormous invisible missile,
dragging ruin III It's train
PROGRESS OF THE STORM.
The tornado did not last more than three minutes.
As above stated, II seemed 10 come from the south
southwest and touching the Illinois shore first at
The elevator, passed along the river baHk, inclnng
eastward and terminating al the track OF the Toledo
Wabash ana Western Railroad nearly at the head
of Bloody Island and al this point about 800 yards
from the river. Its speed is estimated at between
sixty and seventy miles an hour and its strength
was almost Irresistible where any nat surface was
exposed. What damage was done south OF the city
was not definitely ascertalned, but no reports were
received last night OF any serious consequences.
EXoITEMENT AND DISMAY.
The scene in East St Louis during and imme-
dlately succeeding the storm was thrilling beyond
description. The destruction OF so many buildings
ana the killing and wounding of so many
persons, caused universal dsmay and excitement.
Hardly had the wind and ram deuge ceased before
men, women and children might be seen running
about In oil directions, some In the very
insanity Of fear almlessy flying for security some
where; others seeking help Tor some loved ones
buried in tempestmade ruins or looking in an
agony OF suspense Tor some relative or friend Of
whose safety there s uncertainty. 1t was a wild,
while many might be seen gjancng excitedly al the
Sky, as If expecting some further dreadful pheno-
menon OF the elements, Nothing 6ewlders and ap-
Ing destruction by invisible forces, to which the
dullest mind realizes there is no limit. SO IN East
St. Louis yesterday, for time there was fearful
looking for worse things, even amid the rack and
ruin already accomplished
THE LOSS OF LIFE.
This is the most deporable feature in the event Of
yesterday. Had we only to chronicle the destruc-
hon OF property the task would be unpleasant, but
among energetic people the loss would easily be
repaired. The dead, however, make tragedy out
OF the storm and make even Its remembrance a nor
TOR. so lar as could be ascertained last evening
there were seven men killed and hfty-two persons
wounded.
First Of all was MIR. John Bodkin O'Neil, purchas-
ing agent Of the southeastern Railway. Mr. O;Neil
at The time OF the catastrophe standing front
OF the southeastern passenger depot. He was struck
by flying piece OF timber in the head ana instantly
killed. Mr. 0Neil was an estimable young man ana
leaves many friends TO mourn hs sad iate
John vogel foreman Of $ Mayo's lumber yard.
was killed By the Office In which he writing at
the time being blown completely down. terribly
brushing his head.
Daniel Collins in the house OF MIR. Patrick
Conway, which was blown down. His head was
terribly cut and he also received internal injuries
He died five hours after the accident
Timothy Drumm, an empoye OF the Chicago
Transfer Company, was Immediately killed by the
harness shop OF the company, in which he was at
the time, being blown down and crushing HIM by
Probably the most horrible death which occurred
was that OF Isaac Evans, engineer on the Chicago
Railroad. The time the Chicago Railroad round
house was blown entirely down Mr.. Evans was
building. As the building was carried TO the ground
Mr.. Evans was carried with il, and then his body
sued His body was recovered about six O'clock in
the evening, with nothing but the trunk remaining
A driver III tnc eupio5 Vi Iiill1eflndn & Co., OF
this city lumber merchants. immedlaely killed
by being crushed beneath the falling mass OF one OF
the chicago freight depots
Jonn Eisley a brakeman on the Toledo and Wa
bash Railway was on car which was blown from
the track into the slough and Immediately killed
Up 10 a late hour his body had not been recovered.
James Halpln, an empioye at the bridge, was
killed at the east pier.
w0UNDED.
The wounded, some OF them were IN terrible
condition and doubtless before this reports reaches
the public some OF them, too, viii be numbered
among the dead.
Mr. Il. c. Creueling. general superintendent OF the
Wiggns Ferry Company, al the time OF the accl-
dent was OH The ferryboat Mulliken. lie had with
him IN his carriage young lad named Hawkins
The slnokestack Of the boat was blown down and
fell Immediately across Mr. Creueling's carriage.
Mr.. Creueling received painful wound on the mead
besides haviug his right sl0ulder seriously fractured
fine escape Of Mr. CreueunR is really miraculous, as
had u nnnun from the nnSlIQu he LII lie