New-York tribune., 1890-03-29
THE FALLS CITY LAID LOW.
HAVOC MADE BY THE TORNADO
NOTHING IN ITS TRACK ESCAPED UN-
SCATHED.

NOTHING IN IT'S TRACK ESCAPED UN-
SCATHED.
A WIDE SCENE OF DEsoLAT1oN GREETED THE
PEOPLE ON THE MORROW OF FEARFUL
N1eHr-A WATER FAMINE THREAT.
rSEp-rHE TOWN IN DARKNESS
SEARCHING FOR THE BODIES
OF THE DEAD AND INJURED
Louisville March 2s.-Between and 0 O'CLOCK
last night a tornado struck this city from the
sor,hwe.t. moving enthusiastically. Outside of
the clearly defined limits the citizens knew only
Of a heavy rain accompanied by high wind
Soon came the alarm Of fire from dozen diner
emf stations, and the horrors Of the calamity
hogan TO dawn on the people. Great stone ware
bopscs halls of amusement. railroad stations and
dwelling houses all went down before the wind.
The storm passed on, the clouds scattered anu
the moon cast its light over sorely stricken
city.
The wrecked portion Of the city lies within
the space bounded by Eighteenth-st. Broadway
Seventh and Main SITS. The wind passed dag
onally across section which is probably mile
SQUARE. Two hundred houses are in ruins.
The bands of rescuers continued their work
steadily all day, bat as night came on they seem
to work more silently. though no less arduousiy'
AS each remnant of the wreckage was lifted 1t was
with the anticipation of uncovering the hfeiess
form or the dcath-set features of victim OF the
storm. But there was no time to consider the
dead, for the living were yet pur'eo
beneath the ruins. AS the night grew
darker the work became more awful. Inc
electric wires were torn down by the storm ana
the city was left enshrouded in the deepest gloom
1t grew SO dark in the shadows of the crumollns
walls that still stand silent sentinels over the
dead that every object with the semblance Oh
human form must be grasped to prove whether
il was flesh or stone. Still the untiring ana
stronr-bearted workers continued to dig in the
merciless storm-made graves of the dead. lhere
was no estimating the number Of those who lie
buried in their track The people, learning that
some members Of their families were still MISS
ing. stood wildly gazing on the ruins and calling
the Almighty TO deliver to them at least their
dead. The ruins in which the greatest number
of people lay buried, either dead or alive, were
those of Falls City Hall, in which were gathered
last night hundreds of men, women and children
taking part in various festivities.
The darkness caused by the loss of the electric
lights is small calamity compared with
the damage done to the waterworks
which threatens to leave the city to the horrors
of thirst Chief Engineer Hermany visited the
waer-worlSs this afternoon and inspected the dam
aged portion by request of the directors. He
found that the stand-ppe had been completely
blown down, but that no other damage had been
done. This of itself. however. is enough for it
will soon leave the city without supply. No pump
ing can be done and there is only enough water
in the reservoir to last for five days At the
end of that time the public wells will have to
supply the demand. Mr. IIermany was asked about
how long it would take to repair the damage and
put an end to the want of water.
ut is impossible" he said, I" for me to make
even an estimate, for do not know. have put
men to work clearing away the wreck and it will
be done Immediately. but just how much time 1t
will take do not know On account of the scant
supply in the reservoir, the city will lie with
49, <l,o ,1o,,o IN hn
stand-pipe will be about 100000"
This afternoon President Long issued notice TO
all water consumers that, with the exception of
the Fire Department, all water supply would be
turned of for week or until repairs are COM
pleted In the meantime the public is assured that
these repairs will be prosecuted as diligently as
possible.
Tie streets were throngcd day and night with
multitudes of people They stood upon the
corners with tear-dimmed eyes. solemny discuss
ing the dreadful catastrophe, or moved from one
point of the wrecked district to another. gazing
at the scenes of ruin There were at least lOC
families homeless in the streets that were happy
Yesterday in the single possession Of their homes
One moor woman between her half-stined sobs, told
how that very evening her husband had paid t.
building association the last dollar they owed
upon their house, and now all that remains is a
confused mass of brick and mortar. That even
ing was perhaps the happest and saddest in thciI
lives There arc many other cases almost parallel
TO this Not only was the house dashed to the
ground. but the furniture in many instances was
DESTROYED. Hundreds of thousands Of dollars In
goods lay last night upon the business streets
at the mercy of thieves. 1t now seems almost
impossible to find storehouses for this vast amount
Of merchandise. At many places towering wall'
~ brick oscillated in the air ready to descend