New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-28

tor. Hesel Elevator. all freight depots and stores
and dwellings in ST Clair-ave.
At o o'clock to-nigh. no wire can be obtained
to surrounding territory In the western and
the ,oss Of life In those sections will be very
large The damage to property in s.. Louis Is
estimated at s.. .OOOOOc. and the loss in East St.
Louis is already s200OOOc. and the fire is still
raging.
There really two tornadoes One came
| from the northwes, and the other from the direct
east They met on the Illinois shore Of the Mis-
sssppl River and Joined in a whirns cloud Of
death and destruction.
A startling report reached the Police Head
quarters tha. 200 girls in the ruins OF Light
g. Meyerss cigarette factory. at Tower Grove
! Park. The rumor proved untrue. though seven
men were killed at the factory.
In addition to the river disasters noted later
reports add to the losses. All the wharfboats
on both sides were swept away and sunk The
steamers Med City Of Pittsburg. Belle of Cal
houn and City Of Providence were all driven on
vessels crews tried to swim ashore but were
caught in the eddy OF the Pittsburg dixie and
drowned The river front is a mass of wreck
age From the Eads Bridge south for two miles
every building is damaged that is not in ruins.
The loss to shipping is estimated at 100000.
over in East st. Louis the loss of life is now
placed at 300 and the damage TO property ex-
ceeds S20OO000 The fire in East st. Louis was
not under control at midnight
The wind swept away the roof OF the Exposi-
tion building and that structure is badly dam
aged by the hocd of water.
The greatest anxiety is felt for the safety Of
passengers on the different excursion boats
which were on the river when the storm broke.
The steamer City Of Florence. with an excursion
party. Is reported lost below Carondeet. The
steamer st. Paul. with thirty passengers. left
here for Alton at o'clock and Is believed to be
wrecked. The levee is packed with people, CROP
ing through the darkness and eagerly imploring
Information from loved ones on the river
The destruction to property In this city will
not be learned until daylight The Annunciation
Church. at Sixth and Lasalle-sts., was totally
destroyed. Father Head. the pastor. was fatally
injured Michael Dawes driver. was blown
from his wagon in the vicinity and instantly
killed
railroad tracks the Eads Bridge was blown
completely away. It is not known whether any
nersons lost their lives while crossing the bridge
The Plant -four mills and the works of the ST.
Louis Iron and Steel Company were destroyed
and the big Cupples block Of buildings was
partly demolished
The dead and injured are being taken from the
ruins of the various buildings and manufac-
tories. The WatersPierce Oil Works were de-
stroyed by fire. and buildings in several parts OF
the city have been burning all night
H. c. Rice manager of the Western Union at
the relay station on the east side of the river.
reports a wreck OF terrible proportions He said
the National Hotel. fremont House. Martell
House. De Wolfe's Cafe. Hazel Milling Com
pany's MILL Horns cooper shop and large num-
Der of dwellings, east of that section were swept
into wreckage.
The Baltimore and Ohio and Vandalia round
house the STANDARD OH works East st. Louis
and Crescent eleva tors and dozen freight houses
were caught In the vortex Of the tornado and
reduced to ruin
It Is reported that the Grand Republic and
several other excursion steamers. with call the
passengers and crews. have gone down.
The difficulty In obtaining information from out
living districts is increased by order from Wal
bridge ordering all electric light circuits turned
off This is to prevent death to the persons coming
into contact with broken electric light wires.
Later reports from the City Hospital state that
only two were killed and six Injured a result
Of the roof Of that institution being blown of.
From Soulard-st, southwark as far as Caronde-
let wind played havoc with the residence and
business houses in that territory. The streets
are filed with the wreckage OF demolished
houses over an area Of fifteen blocks. The num-
her OF bodies already found indicates that the
loss OF life In that section will reach at least
thirty.
The body of wel-dressed n an was found at
Marion-st. ana Park-ave. Peter Diedrich was
ID.