, 1890-03-29

pyres are heaps Of brick and mortar, seem
to rise up and enshroud in awful halo
their presence In the entire city. Bands
OF brave rescuers continue to work, but as
night comes on they seem to work more
silently, though no less arduously. As
each remnant Of the pile of wreckage is
lifted 1t is with the anticipation of un
covering to view a l~ifeless form or the
death set features OF a human victim of
the awful storm. But there is no time to
consider the dead. for the living may yet
be buried beneath the mountains of debris
and they turn and dclve again with re-
newed energy into the great mass and
search for crushed and mangled humanity.
As the night grows darker the work be-
comes more awful Even the advantage
of light and its fear dlspelling qualities
are denied them, for all the electric wires
were torn down by the storm and left the
city TO be enshrouded in the deepest
gloom.
People are still learning of missing
members OF their families, end mothers
and fathers stand wildly gazing on the
ruins and crying on the Almighty to de
liver TO them at least their dead. Hard
ened hearts move with deep sympathy
and idle men dive into the dirt CRIME.
The streets are thronged with multitudes
of %sorrowing people. They stand upon
the corners with tear dimmed eyes.
solemnly discussing the dreadful catas
trophe. or move from one point of the
wreck district to another gszing at the
scenes eff ruin. There are at least 100
families homeless on the streets that were
happy yesterday in the possession of their
homes.
One poor woman between her half
stlfied so5s told how hat very evening
hor husband had paid to the bui lding as
ISOLATION the last dollar they owed upon
their house and now all that remains is a
confused mass OF brick and mortar.
At many places towering walls of brick
are oscillating IN the air ready to descend
at any moment. These points of danger
are guarded by the police and a military
company, who are driving the s%urginp
crowds back at the point of the baoynet.
AT the entrances to the various dead
rooms stand a reckless mob clamoring for
admittance, but invariably refused unless
it be to identify some relative or friend.
Occasionally when one of these enters, a
sound, hall sob and half shrek, reaches
the outer doors.
The storm seemed not only to have
swept Broadw way from Fifteenth to Ninth,
but nearly all the houses between these
streets and on interesting streets are de
molished. From Fifteenth to Sixteenth
are mostly small frame houses. occupied
by colored families. The roofs we're torn
OH but not a great amount of damage
was done and none of the were
hurt. From Sixteenth down to Nine
teenth. however. the destruction was ter
rible. In these three blocks the houses
were larger and of much better quality.
Nearly every one of them is demolished.
but In most cases the occupants escaped
with slight injuries. The Catholic build
ings at Seventeenth and Broadway were
all blown down and Sister Plus killed. All
the other sisters escaped without injury.
The Board of Trade today appointed a
general relief committee to at once relieve
the poor people who are in a destitute
condition. Twenty thousand dollars was
subscribed in a short time aa1 a special
meeting OF the city council appropriated
$40, 900 more.
A large corps OF men have been organ
lied to work on the wreckage unremit,
ingly. the first attention being paid to the
Falls City hall and other points where a
great loss of life is feared.
Fortunately for the homeless the
weather is very mild. The relief
IuLS SNeuluR ulSCuSSeQ the
question Of property loss. Opinions
varied considerably from the fsr~agmentary
reports received. but it is believed it will
reach 81, 500, 900. Tonight the relief
committee prepared the following author
tatIve statement which was furnished the
Associated Press.
To the people: The calamity that has
overtaken the city of Louisville by the
cyclone last night spread over a territory
covering a space of ground some 400
Yards wide and three miles in length,
through the business and residence Dor
ton of the city. The loss OF life is in the
neighborhood, it is believed, of some
seventy-fve persons, and the loss to the
city in damage to houses and goods is
believed TO be $4,000. 600. While the
calamity Is a great one, our citizens feel
able to cope with it, and are not cast
down, but will at once proceed to repair
and resume business in the channels now
interrupted. In all other portions of the
city business has been resumed.
The latest information to night Is that
probably ten of the wounded lying in the
hospital will not recover and many others
In private houses ere In a critical condi-
| ton.
All sorts of stories are afoat as to the
number Of lives lost at Falls City hall.
Some were saying that s%eventy-ive bodies
had been taken out. Associated Press
reporters after a careful search to night,
however, can find trace OF not more than
forty-ive bodies taken out.
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