The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-28
DEATH IN THE GALE.
A Cyclone Cuts a Swath Of
Desolation Through
Louisville.
OYER THOUSAND LIVESLOST
A Stretch of Territory Three Miles
Long and a Half Mile Wide
Swept Even of Trees and
Telegraph Poles.
THE CONDUCTORS GRAPHIC STORY

A4t0A<hN<AI OIlCS <tLOACn 90 1OJO - LtCWS
brought here by train passengers this
morning more than confirms the story OF
the early morning dispatches that Louis
vile, Kentucky, had suffered terrible
visitation. An awful cyclone swept over
the city, and cut swathe of desolation
through the most densely settled parts
of it.
lt swept away immense business
blocks, demolished dwelling houses, over
turned railroad depots, tore up the
streets, Ievelled telegraph wires, and in
its track gathered death harvest whose
extent cannot yet be computed.
FIRE BEYOND REACH.
To add to the horror of the death-deal-
ing tornado fires soon broke out in var
ious portions of the city. Owing to the
mass of debris left by the cyclone in the
streets it was impossible to wage effect
i've battle against the flames. and from
this cause many casualties were added to
the roll and destruction of property was
greatlyincreased.
By the destruction of the telegraph
lines communication with the doomed
city was GU t off during the night. the
only obtainable information being de-
rived by means of a railroad wire from
Jeffersonville, Ind, on the opposite side
of the Ohio River.
The most graphic description of the
ravageS made by the cyclone in Louisville
was given by Conductor Robertson, of
the Jeffersonville, Marion and Indian.
apolis Railroad, who reached Indianapolis
VIA the Ohio and Mississippi road.
THE STORY OF AN EYE WITNESS.
4 was at supper in the Metrop politan
Hotel in Louisville at exactly eight
o'clock last evening" he said, s'when
there was crashing and roaring on the
outside and all the diners made
rush for the street. Once there they
were confronted by additional
terrors, for the air was full of
Tying bricks and signs and roofs, and to.
add to the horror of the occasion every
thing was inky darkness, The roaring.
crashing sound seemed to pass on into
the darkness, and in the track left by it
there sprang up in every direction long
shoots of flame.
Then from the masses of ruins which
sobs and moans. The confusion caused
by the tornado was soon succeeded by
that of people running to and fro, wagons
and fire engines rumbling over the debris
with which the streets were strewn. For
time everybody seemed paralyzed with
fear, and apparently in doubt whether to
flee or wait whatever the fates had in
store for them
PILED HIGH WITH BODIES.
THE work of rescue was at once begun,
and along that part of the town in which
l was the sidewalks were soon piled high
with crushed, mangled, wounded and
dead victims Of the storms wrath. Wag-
ons of all kinds were pressed into service,
and the dead and wounded were hauled
away as rapidly as the darkness and con-
fused condition of the streets would per-
NIT to the houses outside the path of the
cyclone"
FAIR DANGERS PERISH.
Mr.. Robertson remained in the town
but an hour after the storm struck it, and
consequently had but limited opportun-
ity for observation. He believes, how
ever, when the extent Of the catastrophe
shall have become fully realized it will be
one of the worst i'll the nations history.
sThe Falls City HAIL. he added, in
which two or three secret societies were
holding meetings, was laid Hat on the
ground. In the main hall dance was in
progress at the time, and it is believed
that fully three hundred lost their lives
in this building alone. The sheds at
Seventh street depot were blown down,
covering the Louisville ana Southern
trains which were being made up, and in
juring large numbers of people.
.Street-carS were blown from their
tracks in many cases and crushed against
the walls of buildings. A large number
or wounded who had received their injur-
les in this way were already reported"
THOUSAND LIVES LOST
Mr.. Robertson graphically described
the burning to death of man, his wife
and family and several girls wedged un-
der the debris in the presence Of hun
dreds of helpless spectators. There was
every reason to believe, he said, the num-
x,ff Ia f,vI1 1xr
thousand.
The gas works and electric plants were
wrecked and the city, except where fires
were raging, was left in absolute dark
ness. 1t is also thought the ter works
are wrecked, which battles completely the
work of the Fire Department.
The Union Depot, at the foot OF Seventh
street, was lifted from its foundation and
turned over into the raging torrent of the
Ohio River. A train of cars making up
for the Louisville Southern road went
over with the building.
SOME OF THE KILLED.
A despatch that got through from
Louisville this morning says that among
those whose bodies have been identified |
are:-s
Mrs May Hodges.
Louis Simmons and four children
Miss App, dancing school teacher, was
giving lessons at the time.
George Foster and clerk.
Ben Randolph.
Mrs. James Rock.
Peter Grumiey.
Mrs. Harrison.
Mrs. Buffet. i =
Chris Miller A.A5
Mrs. LanGton.
& Mrs. Adam Mills. 4
Mrs, Charles Hassom. haes
The Rev. N. Barnell, pastor Of ST. I
lanes Episcopal Church, and one child I