The record-union., 1896-05-29
AFTER THE STORM.
fContinued from First Page.)

known as Compton Hill, the home OF
the fourth generation of the early
French settlers of ST. Louis. This aris-
tocranic home place is strewn with de-
bris. just east lies Lafayette Park
There the trees, shrubbery, fountains
and statuary that have been the pride
of THE city was caught by the wind, and
the place is shaven bare as with a
giant Scythe.
Farther east and south to the city
limits were the homes of the thrifty
Cerman-Americans, who have given
distinct character to the district. To
might thousands of men are homeless
many of them tenting like nomads
among the ruins or sharing the roofs
Of their hospitable and more fortunate
nedghbors.
Interspersed in this latter section
and on east to the river, are mills
breweries and numberless manufac-
turing concerns. These were fair tar
gets for the storm and they suffered
1t was this class of losses that added
most to the wiping out OF what is con-
servatfvely stated to be $4,000,OO in
vested capital. There are sixteen
breweries within these bounds worth
S4,OO0,00O. and while none are de-
stroyed all are damaged. The losses
fall heaviest on those least able to beau
them-business men of small capita
and owners of humble homes.
After the storm had laid it's heavy
hand upon the southern half of the city,
fire came to complete the work of de-
struction Five columns of flame shot
10 dn11 Of
the blaze was confined to it's starting
points. In three instances the engines
were unable to get nearer than a block
of the fires.
RELIEF FOR THE SUFFERERS.
Unsolicited and without prompting,
the work of relief began at once here by
the whole people. A meeting was held
at noon at the Merchants Exchange
After brief addresses by Rev. DR.. w. w
Board and Mayor Walbridge, contribu-
tions were asked for. Within forty min
utes, or as fast as the sums given could
be acknowledged, $4,000 was in the
Secretary's hands. Contributions con-
tinued after adjournment. 1t it is not
proposed to go outside the city for aid,
though no offering will be refused. Pres
ident c. II. Spencer of the Merchants
Exchange was made Chairman of the
Committee of Distribution. and set at
work at once to place the relief money.
THE STREET A WILDERNESS.
The storm was most destructive in
force when it crossed Seventh street,
going east The eddying currents OF
wind returned again and again to make
that street a wilderness. At least forty
1x.1 &I;- .,<rt&
fare and the streets Immediately ada
cent. House after house was totally
demolished, and the wonder grew with
extended investigation that the num-
Der of deaths is not far in excess of
what it now appears to be.
Daly'S saloon at GOA South Seventh
street was a total wreck. When 1t fell
it was full of men who had taken ref
uge there, and from fifteen to twenty
Were killed. Many of them are Of a
character who have few friends, and
would not be missed. One poor fellow
has been taken out dead and ten others
seriously injured. 1t is thought that
others are still in the basement, and a
gang Of men is busy digging into the
debris.
The force of the wind was so fright
full along here that the iron trolley sup
porting poles Of the Southwestern Elec-
tric Line are bent over the ground.
They did not break, but bent like cop
per wire. OF course all the telegraph
poles snapped with the top-heavy heads
hanging over the street, held aloft by
the wires which still cling to them.
At the Vermont Marble Works, 1125
South Seventh street, the wreck was
complete. 1t was here that Harry Hess,
a driver for the concern, was killed.
He was buried beneath tons of the great
blocks of stone which were hurled by
the wind
The saddest place of this frightfully
desolated street was on the southeast
corner Of Rutger street. Here had
boarding house of Fred Mocken-
heimer. 1t was occupied by twenty
families, the full number of souls
being at the least calculation eighty
When the storm struck it it went uI
like a dry puff ball, burying dozens
No one knows how many dead its
ruined brick and mortar conceal
Eleven persons have been taken out
dead and more than a dozen injured
The body of a gray-haired woman was
discovered and removed, but her name
could not be learned. A company OF
firemen was assigned to the work o1
rescue, and they kept at it manfully
They We're assisted by relatives oi
those who are supposed to be beneath
the debris. Henry Plauchek was there