The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-11
FIRST EDlTIO N
THE GREAT TORNADO.

ana DWELLINGS Wrecked-A thirty Ton En-
Rine Lifted like n Toy.
We have published full telegraphic reports of
the awful storm in the West but the following
particulars, colated from st. Louis papers just
received, will be read with interest: -
PAINFUL AND THRILLING HISTORY OF HORRORS.
About three O'Clock yesterday afternoon, East st.
Loust was visited by the most terrific and fatal hur
ricane ever seen in this portion OF the country.
A light southeast wind, which had blown steadily
all the afternoon suddenly shifted to the southwest
and IN Few minutes a lea1-Colored cloud was seen
shore, just below the city. The approach of the
cloud, which resemoed LIN ~ appearance driving
that created by the wings OF an immense flock of
birds.
1t struck the shore an instant later at the Pitts
burg coal dump nearly opposite the foot of Chou
teau avenue, and the destruction commenced.
BUILDINGS DEMOLISHED.
Near the coal dyke were number OF frame
houses which were torn to splinters in the fierce
gale, and fragments of them carried to gceat dis
lance The track of the hurricane was about two
hundred yards in breadth. A train of cars and an
engine were hurled from the track, and many OF the
cars smashed.
Sweeping along towards the northeast, the tor
nado next struck the ferryboat Edwardsvile, driv-
ing her aground by the bridge pier tearing her pilot
house TO pieces, and blowing down her smoke
stacks.
THE TUG BOAT HEwETT
was the next sport OF the tempest, aud the upper
works were swept cleany from the deck. The COM
mander, Captain Montgomery was cut on the head
by flying timbers, and it was stated that two men
were swept overheard
TOLEDO, WABASH, AND WESTERN RAILROAD.
The most powerful effects of the tornado were
probably manifested near the depot of the Toledo,
Wabash and Western Railway
All the bystanders including many influential
visitors from this side Of the river, declared that
nothing short of ocular demonstration would have
convinced them that any known force OF wind would
have accomplished the herculean feats that had
been effected. Principal among these we may men,
tlon that thirty-ton engine was lifted bodily from
the track and hurled down contiguous embank-
n1
and as 1t were, rolled toward the edge OF the en-
bankment, but we advisedly use the word 'lifted"
into the air and flung down the slope without touch
ing the space which intervened between the rails
which the engine stood and the precipice. Seeing is
believing There are the rails on which the machine
stood there is the earth beside these rails without
scratch and there is the engine In the ravine below
We are thus particular in this part of our narra-
tive because the feat accomplished by old Boreas
appears almost incredible; bat our reporter wit.
messed what is described.
Close to where the engine and car had stopped
there were several cars, including Pullman palace
car, on side track. These were likewise lifted by
the wind, and hurled down the embankment into
little lake, and about thirty yards from the engine
Another evidence Of the force OF the wind was
manifested in the flight which one of the ponderous
cars had taken. The ravine gully at the foot OF
the embankment is probably fifty feet wide and the
car last alluded to lifted across all that space
and lodged on the slope of the opposite embank-
ment.
INDIANAPOLIS DEPOT DESTROYED.
The depot OF the Indianapolis Railroad, which lay
In the track OF the storm, was partially demolished
away.
LOSS OF LIFE AT THE BRIDGE.
On the bridge works the most terrific havoc was
made The east river pier still stands, but the pom
derous framework that surrounded it is mass of
ruins, and nearly half OF the immense timbers are
with its massive hoistiDg apparatus, was torn to
atoms, while perpendicular timbers fully foot ia
diameter were snapped Off like reeds. The air boat
was lying behind the solid masonry and, thus pro-
| tected, it escaped injury.
The spectacle presented at the east shore pier was
more terrible than the other. About one hunered
men were at work on the masonry and the boats
surrounding it, and many of them were killed or
Up to six O'Clock last evening the body Of but
one man had been taken from the wreck OF timoers
and machinery, but 1t is probable that four or five
The frame work for the hoisting of the huge rocks
for the masonry formed complicated network OF
colossal beams that supported heavy iron pulleys,
large wire cables, and ponderous iron shafts. This
superntendents office, and, indeed almost all the
buildings and apparatus, are an immense heap OF
| ruins.
| There were eight purchases" for raising rocks
| manned by two men each, and not more than five
minutes before the tornado burst upon them, eigh
| OF the men stopped work, aud leaving their places
prepared to cross the river to their homes. This
S oer esb as or er
missing, and it is reported that some were hurled
| into the turbid waters OF the river, while Others
| were buried beneath the wreck.
| vANDALIA RAILROAD DEPOT DESTROYED.
The Vandalia Railroad depot and freight house.
| building eight hundred feet in length, was torn q
Fragments which strewed the ground for hundre'
yards away.
| WATER TANK DEMOLISHED.
| The large water-tank of the Vandalia road wa
torn down. leaving nothing but the supporting post
| to show where 1t stood few moments before tn
storm broke upon it-or, rather it was broken by tn
| storm.
| RAM FLEECED.
| The ram indicator moored lust above the bridge
| pier, was beached and left mere skeleton OF wha
| 1t was. The upper works, cabin, chlmneys, and eve
| the boards on the whee-houtes were stripped Off a
If an effort had been made by boat builders to tax
the craft to pieces. But few persons were on board
and no one was hurt
SIDEWALKS TORN UP.
The plank walks IN many parts OF the town wer
twisted and torn up, and scarcely a telegraph wir
was left upon the few poles that remained standing
A FLAMING MILL DISAPPEARS.
The planning mill OF Mr. j. B. Lovingston, consis
ing OF nve buildings, some expensive machinery
and lumber yard, were scattered over the groun
for rods around, the hurricane scarcely leaving tn
foundations Of the buildings in the earth.
soUTHE LsTERN RAILWAY.
The extensive buildings and car houses OF tn
Southeastern Railway are a total wreck, and in aC
dition to those known TO be killed, number
bodies are probably buried under the ruins.
At the depot two freight houses and one passengt
car house were torn to pieces.
Thomas Drum, an omnibus driver, who was in
freight house, was killed instantly. The r0unC
house of the road fell and buried an englnee
named Isaac EVans, and his engine. The debr
from the ruins he was burned to death before Il
eyes OF his horrifed companions.
THE CHIC AND MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD COMPANY
suffered TO the extent OF three freight sheds, tar
house, and passenger car house, totally destroys
and eleven cars thrown from the track and bad
smashed.
IN nnran