The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-06-06
The East Approach to the Great Ead's
Bridge is Nothing But a
Ragged Wreck
The Shore Strewn With the Wrecks
of River Graft.

ST. LOUIS, May 2s.-East St Louis
suffers equally with St. Louis. The
cyclone that struck St Louis first did
not seem to gather its full strength
until it reached the city across the
river. Then the havoc wrought was
terrible.
Fully Il hundred ~lives.it is estimated,
have been lost. The manner in which
reports are coming in tends to confirm
the worst.
The destruction waSailaccomDlished
within a few minutes. The force OF
the storm struck at 5:39 o'clock. Ten
minutes later hundreds were dead,
many hundreds were injured, and the
entire remaining population was on
the streets looking Tor relatives and
friends.
The scenes were those Of d~esolation.
No section of the city entirely escaped
the winds work.
The city was tcrrOriZed. Women
faintcd and men lost their senses.
Finally, when their reason returned,
hurried provisions for caring for the
oSdb dilo lIlJuIcNI NSiC lbdtC-
Many buildings were turned into
hospitals. and others were used as re-
ceptacles for the dead.
Every physician in East s.. Louis
was pressed into service.
Hundreds of willing m whose
families had escaped il injury, and whose
homes had not been destroyed, assisted
in caring for the injured. Many of
these were taken to hospitals. Others
were removed to their homes.
ENTIRE FAMILIES KILLED.
in several instances men rushed to
their homes to ind them gone and
their families either killed or injured.
The scenes following Immediately
after the storm had wrought its horr:-
BILE work were of the most narrowing
character.
The city was left in darkness. Every
electric plant had burned out. and the
gas works were paralyzed. Under such
conditions the work of finding the
dead and caring for the injured was
extremely slow.
III Il STORM STRUCK.
The storm struck the levee near the
big elevators. The Virgins ferry
wharf was DESTROYED and two or three
tug boats with their occupants were
turned over into the disturbed waters
OF theriver.
Every house on the levee was either
completely demolished or badly dam
aged.
\ Louisville & Nashville and an Al
ton train standing IN the bridge were
overturned.
The east approach of the bridge was
given Il wrench. twisted and blown
from its ~mooria~s. ana is at present ar
impossible wreck.
The Vardalia freight house was
next torn 70 pieces and everybody
within IS supposed - have beer killed.
EVERYTHING LEvELED.
Every building south of old Cook
street was lcvcied 10 the ground. In
ali Of these there were persons killed
or injured.
Early during the storm the water
works we're destroyed. Lightning
struck in Il number of places. and the
horror, # fire without means II COM
bat il we're added to the othc- awful
conditions. IIctzcl's mill was burned,
at a loss OF SI5C.U1O. and threatened the
entire business portion OF the city with
destruction. Bucket briGades were
formed, and they fought noblg, contin-
ing the fire to the mill.
NJ FoULKE KILLED.
The center of the tornado seemed to
be between st. Clair avenue and the
viaduct. Many dwelling houses in
other parts of the city were demol-
ished. but in this district there were
few buildings hat escaped. \ law
case was being tried by Judge Foulke
in the courthouse The furry had heard
most of the testimony. and according
To usual custom, We're not supposed
to be allowed to depart except
in the custody OF a biiliff. When the
storm clouds began to gather the fore
man of the jury i:np,orcl the Judge to
discharge them. The courthouse at
that time was being shaken by the
wind. Every moment its destruction
was threatened. Judge Foulke at
length decided to let She jnrymen &c.
Five minutes aftc. they departed for
their homes that portion of the court
house in which they had beer sitting
was torn away.
Timbers and bricks were piled on
each other. and it is highly probable
tlat had it not been for the fore
thought of Judge Foulke every jury
man would 'Iave been killed. Judge
F0ulke himself succeeded in making
his way to the Relay depot. where he
as struck by a timber that was blown
through the air and killed instantly.
In the confusion that prevailed his
body was allowed to lie on the plat
form for several minutes. meE "ere