The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-30
The Work of Recovering the Bodies
Of the Louisville Victims Be-
ing Actively Pushed.
The Belief General That the First
Estimates of the Loss Were
Too Large.
The Destitute Being Cared for by Home
People-ENperiences Of Some OF
the Unfortunates.

IlRnteeutn ana AlHgaKlne street. Inc gen
eral belief is that at least forty more bodies
are in the dancing hall ruins. The latest
and most intelligent estimate of the total
number Of dead throughout the city is that
1t will not exceed 15o. This is careful and
fairly accurate. The Masonic committee
wired the following TO Leander Burdick,
grand master at Toledo, o: Prom what
we can gather there are about 400 houses
destroyed, and 800 persons injured, of
whom 20 per cent. will probably die from
their injuries. One hundred aud twenty
five are now dead. Citizens seem desirous
of caring for their own dead and injured"
On the site of the ruined hall are mounds
of brick, mortar, beams and laths, and men
digging at the base of them, hunting for the
dead. In all, sixty-seyen bodies have been
taken out, among them that of G. Lazarus,
a small shop-keeper at 1876 West Market
street, next door to the Falls City hall. He
was in attendance upon lodge meeting.
The body was mangled almost beyond rec
ognition. 1t was taken TO the temporary
morgue established in the barber shop
across the street. The body of
Ed Moran, foundry man in
Dennis Longs iron pipe works
was discovered wedged between beams and
hogsheads of tobacco. The remaius were
taken to his home on Twelfth. stretl near
Main, where his wife aLl four little ones
had been kept in anguished suspense.
When the corpse was brought in, the woman
sank almost fainting into chair, covering
her face with her hands, while two of the
smallest children clung to her skirts. wall
ing in sympathy, and the two Older ones
stood by, dazed with solfow. The family
will be in want. This is only one case out
of several dozen similar. but the citizens
are coming up brayely with subscriptions,
and all needs are being promptly met for
the present.
There is about $4,000 life insurance on
those killed. II is upon the laborers and
middle classes of people, in small 10
cent companies and the Knights of Honor.
About $4,000 i'll the Knights of Honor will
be promptly paid by an assessment of &
cents upon the members.
The remaining $J0,00O is in weak compa-
nies, and may break those companies,
realizing only small part TO the holders of
policies. The fire insurance is only 5000
The cyclone insurance is only 5000, held
by two liquor dealers. Their joint losses
are $1,000. The plate glass insurance is
5000.
At the Falls City hall. when the hurricane
struck IL, in the main hall were Miss App,
with her dancing school. numbering sixty
five, of whom not more than twenty
escaped. These were children with mothers
and fathers. In one room on the second
floor the executive committee of the Roman
Knights, consisting of seven members, was
in session. Theo. Engelman, upholsterer
Mt Twenty-third and Market streets. was
killed. Jewel lodge, No ., Knights and
Ladies OF Honor, was IN session on the |
third floor. Nearly 150 members were
present when the building fell. OF these
II is thought not more than fifty escaped. !
Humboldt lodge, independent Order of
Odd Fellows, consisting Of seventeen mem
bers, was holding a meeting on the same
floor: Those who escaped were badly in
jured.
II is now pretty near certain that the en-
tire loss of life will not go much above 100 |
If that number is reached. Up 20 this |
writing the total number of bodies recoy.
cred and those missing, who, il is reasona-
bly, certain, are dead, is ~. In addition
there are about dozen so badly injured
that death may ensue. One hundred and
fifty to 200 persons were injured 10 an e1-
tent worth noticing, and probably 800 10
l,0)O have very slight bruises or scratches
damage TO property have been too
high. The actual loss from Altman
cial standpoint will not be 80 great as
was supposed al first. The tobacco ware
houses are not hurt 70 the extent stated.
Nearly all those demolished were old build
ings and comparatively small. The river is
strewn with floating debris from the storm
and hundreds of skitts are collecting the
splintered woodwork. All day yesterday
foam-crested waves rolled eight feet high.
Vessels were in great danger, but through
the alertness of the masters none suffered
much. Several coal barges sunk at differ
ent points.
thrilling scene occurred at the st. Louis
Evangelical church in Jefiersonyille, where
Rev. ii. Nj. Gersman was holding services.
The building, handsome brick swayed
and rocked and the west wnll began to
bulge inwardly under the terrific pres
sure of the wind and the roof blew OF
with loud report. Women screamed and
one lady, Miss Caroline kuepl, tainted. hut
Rev, Gersman remained cool and led his
flock safely 10 the parsonage, where all re-
mained until the danger was over
Tonight IL II believed the estimate Of the
dead and injured Mt Falls City hall has been
and that the total number in
the building when il crashed in was not
half as great as the first guesses placed il.
1lIh. llOlShtis WHO WAS III attend |
ance at the meeting Of the Knights and
Ladies of Honor on the top floor. says that
instead of being 200 up there, there were
about seyenty-iiye people In the room. The |
number in the dancing school on the floor |
below was also smaller than at first reported |
She says the first intimation they had of |
what was coming was a binding fash of |
lightning and violent gust Of wind, which |
shook the building. The people became
frightened and were preparing 10 leave the
building, but before they could get their
wraps the windows were blown in, the gas
went out, and moment later the floor |
cayed under their feet. Mrs. Holsher be-
came unconscious and knew no more until |
rescuers took ber out from the debris.
The executive committee relief fund has
received large number OF additional sub
script jns, and all cases of destitutiOn |
where immediate action was necessary have |
been attended to.
Tomorrow thorough system will be put |
in operation. by which everybody who needs |
aid will be given relief. Wherever houses |
are not too badly damaged repairs will be
made at once. The amount OF the fund |
now in the hands Of the treasurer is about |
S32 600, and this is being added 10 tonight. |
Offers Of aid have been received from n
number of outside cities. but the board Of |
Of assistance for the present. Mayor |
Jacobs said, however, that while he |
was opposed TO calling for outside help, If |
voluntary contributions were offered he /
would advise acceptance. He has replied |
in this spirit TO several kilograms from out |
side points. Money. he says, can be used TO |
u a mt q