The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-14
tFrom the st. Louis Republican, sth.1
TERRIBLE TORNADO.

Awful Loss OF Ltfe and Propcriy-Ssx
Men Killed ON Bloody Hsland-Ftfty.
two Injured More or Leas- Appal ling
Scenes ON Land and Water. =
Once again our city, or at least its imrne-
date vicinity, has been visited by fright
full elemental outburst. In this instance,
however, the effects are far more disastrous
than by any previous visitation. Not only
has fearful destruction Of property been
occasioned, but loss Of life that is tar more
dcplorable, and also long list OF wounded.
Terrible as have been the consequences,
however, they would have been incalculably
more so, only for the fortunate circumstance
that the stream of the storm swept east
ward of our city proper, and expended its
fury 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 to portray. ......
THE WEATHER BEFORE THE oUTBURsT.
Yesterday morning dnwned cloudy, and
little sultry. There were some indications
of rain, but nothing whatever to cause any
apprehensions Of an unusual outburst. In
the afternoon about o'clock the gloom IN
the heavens deepened TO the south and
west, and there were few drops of rain
now and then. A brisk breeze prevailed,
which was warm in its temperature, but
the worst prophet OF evil would only have
predicted passing thunderstorm. There
was nothing of that strange hush which
generally falls over nature as preface to
the unloosing Of her giant forces, nor that
lurid light which forebodeS tllmIlt in the
sky. Between 2 and O'Clock the clouds
assumed an appearance alarming to an In
experienced eye. The gray masses Of vapOr
became ragged and torn along their edges,
and here and there f1eCcy patches were rent
of and hurried along by some swift power.
The rain commenced to fall and the wind
rose gradually, but not to all extent TO
create alarm.
THE oCTBURsT OF THE TORNADO.
A few minutes past o'clock the awful
visitation opened its fury without mo-
ment's warning, blowing from the south.
west. coming up the river in diagonal
line inclining eastward in its Advanced
terrible whirling force, compacted in q
path Of about six or eight hundred feet
wide, and rushing onward with roar like
an angry sea, and the velocity OF BIRDS
flight. At another time, perhaps, 1t Will
be possible to collect particulars Of the
witness could be found who could give a
coherent statement. They all seemed to
think it sInote the earth as with sudden
blow. and they knew not that it was COM
Ing until it was upon them. They did not
see it coming, but only felt its awful seizure.
The tornado seems to have barely touched
our southern limits, but to have kept
east Of the city, and no very alarm
ing damage was done until it struck
tod =
dreadful power, within a space OF three
minutes, in manner never before
eQualled in this part Of the country, and
almost understandable. Let the reader inn
agne an irresistible air.torrent rushing
against the frail, artificial structures OF
man. situated on an exposed river bank.
In moment the air is filled with splinters,
dust, and fragments Of al! kinds. Houses,
sheds, and other structures disappear as il
leveIed by the blow Of Titan, or fly to
pieces and are borne along in the stream OF
the storm. The East st. Louis elevator
was the first editice struck on the Illinois
shore, a strong frame building. The roof
was torn to ribbons, and large portion OF
it, like black meteor, shot northWard and
fell far away in the river. Then came the
destruction of other houses. Some were
unrooied, and some were rent to pieces,
walls and all, and the unhappy inmates
buried in the ruins. The stately steamer
Mollic Able, lying at the East st. Louis
wharf, had her texas torn of and hurled
in the river. The bridge-tug Hewitt I"
had her wheel-house disposed Of in the
same way, and became wreck. The
whole forest Of framework over the east
abutment pier of the bridge was twisted
up like bunch Of reeds in the fingers of
the storm, and crashed down in Il pile of
Lab 10, min p.iIlr md M q
were dashed down on their sides, OF whrl-
cd off the tracks as if they were paper
boxes. Whole trees were either struck to
the earth, as ii the trunks had been sew
cred by a cannon shot, or lifted bodily and
carried yards away from where they u mo-
ment before stood. Put all these destruc-
lions together, and q hundred others, ill
the air with maze Of whirling objects,
and imagine sky as black as ink, scanned
every moment with tongues OF light
ming and reverberating with thun-
der crashes. while there is steady
roar OF great rushing OH earth, and some
tornado on East st. Louis. 1t was an awful
scene-one never to be forgotten. The
very SuddcnnesS was terrible. Here mo-
ment before business of all kinds was in
progress, and now the whole population is
shivering aghaSt, while turmoil and deSt, uc-
ton and great noises rage all around them
on all sizes, mingling with which is the
piteous cry Of the agoniZed sufferers,
caught between timberS or pressed beneath
weights that crush them to death. 60
swift, so sudden, SO short was the storm,
that it seemed like the passage of some
enormous invisible missile, dragging rum in
its train.
y PROGRESS OF THE STORM.
The tornado did not last more thun three
minutes. AS above stated, it seemed tt
come from the south-southwest, and touch
ing the Illinois shore first at the elevator
passed along the river bank, inclining east
ward, and terminating ut the track of the
Toledo, Wabash and Western railroad
nearly ut the head of Bloody Island, and al
this point about eight hundred yards from
the river. It's speed is estimated at between
sixty and seventy miles an hour, and it:
strength was almost Irresistible where any
fat surface was exposed. What damage
was done south of the city vas not definitely
ascertained, but no reports were received
last night Of any serious consequences.
EXCITEMENT AND DIsMAY.
The scene in East St. Louis during anC
| Immediately succeeding the storm wa:
thrilling beyond description. The destruc
ton of SO many buildings, and the killing
and wounding of so many persons, caused
universal dismay and excitement. Hardly
had the wind and rain delugc ceased before
running about in all directions; some, Ii
the very insanity of fear, almlessly flying
for security somewhere; others seeking
help for some loved ones buried ID tempest
made ruins, or looking, in an agony Of sus
\ Inf 1.-Two frip nd IF W