The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-29
THE WORK OF DESTRUCTION.
Residences, Warehouses and Places of
Business wrecked-Sad Scenes.

Residences. Warehouses and Places of
Business wrecked-sad Scenes.
Carpenter g. Annear's iron works on
Eighth street, four story building, was
blown down and some employees injured.
The wholesale liquor establishment of
Brown q Son, Eighth and Main street, fell
and instantly caught fire. by hard work
the firemen managed to control the blaze.
The buildings adjacent to il were consider
ably torn up and il is quite positive several
dead lay beneath the ruins. The great
buildings at 7i5 Main street, occupied by
the 5. i. Gunther Tobacco Co., II. II. Toe
wat and Il. a. Jas. w. Pratfer, was demol-
ished, MS was also the great building occu-
pied by II. X. Thierman q Co., wholesale
liquor dealers and distillers. In nearly all
the business houses wrecked some one was
injured and fears are expressed that when
the debris is finally cleared away many
bodies will be found.
Market street this evening looks like a
ruined village. The devastation on
this thoroughfare is nearly complete;
for four blocks not building
escaped partial or total demolition. The
progress of pedestrians through the street
is almost impossible. because Of wreckage.
In many Of the buildings families resided
over the stores, and in nearly every in
stance come reports of broken limbs or Sc
we're injuries otherwise to one OF more of
each little group. AZ number 1il2 Mrs.
Whitman WAS fatally injured by jumping
from third hcor window. At No. 1l90 two
of Mrs. Simms' children were killed and
Mrs. Simms badly injured. From 1l22 TO
1850 inclusive was the fated Falls City hall,
where occurred the most awful loss of life
as detailed elsewhere.
An inspection of the water works this af-
ternoon showed the stand pipe WAS COM
pletely wrecked and until repairs are COM
pleted no pumping can be done, and there
is only about enough waier in the reservoir
10 last five days. AT the end of that time
the public will have TO depend on wells and
il cannot be told now how long il will take
TO repair the water works.
Blackened ruins mark the spot where last
evening stood the splendid large Union
depot, at Seventh street and the river.
When the crush came the Louisville South
ern train had just come in, and the Louis
vile and Nashville were roady to pull out,
but both were caught by the falling mass
and crushed like shells. About dozen
people were injured. but il is thought none
fatally. The river, disturbed 10y .he fury of
the tornado, is yet angry, and what was left
of the depot by the wind is momentarily
threatened by the strong waves that surge
under and about the platform.
q The Louisville hotel was umroofed and
otherwise wrecked. The next building
west was occupied as cigar store on the
first floor and sleeping rooms upon the sec
ond and third. II was razed 60 the ground
not a single brick remaining in place. In
the destruction Of this hOuss many lives
were lost principally those Of persons who
occupied sleeping rooms there, many Of
them girls employed in the hotel.
Saloons and other available places we're
turned into hastily improvised morgues,
where the bodies were taken as recovered
and left awaiting Identification.
Eleventh street seemed 10 serve as kind
Of llue for the storm, and all intercepting
objects in that line were practically reduced
20 nothingness. Down this street il carried
fronts OF buildings, mostly residences on
each side, leaving in many instances furni-
ture and other contents unmoesied. jeff
erson and Morket streets are in almost az
bad condition rs Main. hundred wagons
are busy carting away soiled and broken
furniture from the shattered houses.
At u o'clock the opening of portion OF
the debris of the Falls City hall caused
draught, wheraupon the smoldering FIRE
broke out fercely, spread rapidly and
forced the workers TO desert the place. As
soon as the ERE had gained headway the
groans Of the imprisoned people became 80
great it was horrible. The watchers grew
frantic, screamed and ran about like mad,
the terrible suferings which they were un-
able 10 alleviate driving them TO despair
Several lines of hose were soon throwing
water on the flames; but II was more than
an hour before the work could be proceeded
with, and II wis then carried on with much