The Russellville Democrat., 1890-04-03
THE CYCLONES FURY.
Early Reports of Thursday Nights
 Disaster Confirmed.
It's Extent Even Greater than First Accounts Indicated --Fearsul Loss of Life, as Yet Not Fully D Deter-
 mined, at Louisville.
Many Yet Buried in the Debris--Othcr Places Suffered Severely, but, Louisviile's Loss Oyershad-
 ows Them All.


 LOUISVILLE, Ky, March 2S.-Between eight and nine o'clock last night tor nado struck this city from the soutn- west, northeastward, leaving death and destruction everywhere. Outside of the clearly defined limits the citizens knew only of heavy rain accompanied by a high wind. Soon came the alarm of fire from dozen different stations and the horror of the calmity began to dawn on tho people. Great stone warehouses, halls of amusement, railroad stations and dwelling houses, all went down be- fore the mighty powers of the air. The storm soon passed on, the clouds scat tered, and the moon cast it's light over sorely stricken city. Relief parties were soon organized; the whole force of the fire department was at work. At this writing no definite statement can be made of the loss of life, but it is large. It is impossible that so wide a sweep of territory covered with ruined houses, with wreck of halls and build ings of every character does not contain many dead. Enough is known to show that Louisville has been visited by a most appalling calamity. The wrecked portion of the city lies between Eigh- teenth, Broadway, Seventh and Main streets, the destroying elements pass ing diagonally across the section, which is probable a mile square. At least two hundred house are in ruins. It is feared that at least two hundred lives arc lost.
 Probably the greatest loss of life oc- cured at the Falls City Hall, which was in the center of the tornado. In the lower rooms of the hall were fifty or seventy-fye children with their mothers and other relatives taking dancing lessons. There were at least 125 persons on the lower floors and sew enty-ive more attending lodge meet ing on upper floors when the terrible wind swooped down upon the building The entire structure in less than five minutes was shapeless mass of brick and mortar, burying two hundred help less victims, of which number few es- capped uniniured. Conservative esti- mates place the loss of life at this point at one hundred, while other re- ports indicate the number nearer two hundred. At three o'clock this morn ing thirty-five dead bodies had been taken from this ruin, and fifteen wounded and dying. Only those on the third floor had heen reached, the room containing the dancing-school pupils and visitors not yet being opened.
 Immediately upon the burst of the cy- clone the fire bells sounded and the po- lice were at work. Within ten minutes a posse appeared at the Falls City Hall wreck. The walls of the adjoining houses were first propped, and then be- gan the work of cutting through the heavy slate roof that covered all. At first work was difficult and laborions, on account of the immense multitude that surrounded the wreck.
 At twelve o'clock the opening of a DOT caused draught to penetrate the ruins, whereupon the smouldering fire broke out with tremendous fierceness. It spread rapidly and forced the workers to desert the pile. As soon as the fire gained headway the groans of the inn prisoned people became shrieks, and so great was the horror of the moment that the watchers grew frantic and screamed and ran about like wild, the terrible sufferings which they were un- able to alleviate driving them to de- spair Several lines of hose were soon throwing water on the flames, but it was moro than an hour before work could be proceeded with, and then it was carried on with much difficulty on ac- count of the heat.
 Up to twelve o'clock only about thirty five dead bodies and twenty-five wound- cd and dying were taken from the wreck The corpses were laid in the houses across the street and in Dougherty & Keenan's undertaking shop on the block below. At the latter place people passed in and out, one by one, to look at the bodies, hunting for friends and relatives. One man said he was looking for Louis Lapp and the very first sheet lifted revealed the corpse of the person wanted. Tho man covered his face, groaned and WOutu udNt ldllci idu uS Hub DScH 5us- tained.
 At about half-past eleven o'clock the room where the children were dancing was reached. Mir. Louis Simms, Jr., of No. 1124 Market street, had for hours been moving about in agony of grief in front of that portion of the wreck, where this room had been, for his wife and four little children were there. When the room was reached, Mrs. Simms was the first one found and she was fatally hurt Then, within about fifteen minutes of each other, three of the Simms children were recovered. They were unconscious, and there is only faint possibility of their living. While the father was imploring the workers to get his other child fire broke out and work was sus- pended The last man taken out alive before the flames started was John Hepden of No 2le9 West Broadway, and just previous to that woman, who was unable to give her name, was recovered. It was not possible to tell the extent of the injuries of either.
 After the fire had been extinguished, women were found digging at the slate  with their fingers, crazed with the ruin beneath. Every one did noble work After an hour of ceaseless labor the first victim, Mrs. Sarah Kelly, was unearthed Her body was found sitting in an upright position, her head praised and one arm broken. She said that at the first quake mad rush was made for the entrance. Women were knocked down and trampled upon in the mad haste to escape. Seeing tho overwhelm- ing jam at the door she remained be- hind. The last she saw of her friends was just before the floor gave in and the ceiling fell.
 The work was continued, but none of those whom Mrs Kelly said were near her could be found.
 The excavation was then moved from tae rear of the building e the front, where 1t was supposed the great crowd was gathered. As soon as the roofing