Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-06-03
ST. Louis TIE VICTIM.
oFFHE MOST DESTRUCTIVE
CYCLONE ON RECORD.
AN E1eHTY-MILE W1ND--HUN-
,DREps OF DEAD AND MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS WORTH OF
PROPERTY DESTROYED.

PROPERTY DESTROYED.
St. Louis, May 27.-St. Louis
was struck by a cyclone Of fright
full fury at a late hour this after
noon. Hundreds of people were
killed and the property loss is be-
yond estimate.
At SEQ p. M, the clouds that
had covered the city since noon
broke into a furious storm. With
in ten minutes the wind reached
a velocity of so miles an hour,
sweeping with dense waves of rain.
The highest speed Of wind pre-
vlously recorded here was 72 miles
an hour in August, 1878. The
screeching of the wind through
electric wires, the crash of debris
that swept within i'll every direc-
ton, the electric flashes from tan.
gled wires and crashing thunder
made scene indescribable. The
loss of life is appalling.
AT p, NJ. the lowest estimate
of fatalities in East st. Louis. and
this city is placed at 300.
East st. Louis suffered proba-
bly, the greatest. Messengers came
at Z o. M, from there asking for
physicians and nurses.
The steamer D. Fl. Pike, with
so passengers on board, bound for
Peoria, was blown bottom side up
in the middle of the river, and q
number of persons killed. The
steamer Delaphln, with crew of
six and 20 lady passengers on
board, was blown against the
bridge pier aid broken in two.
st. Patrick's church fell and the
debris fills the streets. The elec-
trio railway line is burned out as
well as the electric plant. Four
teen fire-alarms were sounded
within an hour, and three alarms
were sent in from the poor house,
which has 1900 inmates. The
roof of the poor house was blown
off, and the fatalities are great.
During the last race at the fair
grounds the roof was blown off the
grand stand. The crowd had gone
to the open field for safety and but
four men were killed.
At 7:30p. M. the rain, which
had ceased for time, began afresh
and fell in torrents. At s o'clock
the eastern sky was afame with
the light of fires in East st. Louis.
The metal roof of the Merchants
exchange was rolled up like a
scroll and fell into the street.
The Louisville and Nashville
east-bound local passenger train
Just reached East st. Louis when
the storm struck that city. The
train was overturned, but miracu-
lousy only a few passengers were
injured.
The reports of fatalities in East
ST. Louis is is hourly increasing,
and at 9 o'clock it is estimated
that the loss of life will exceed
15O.
at 8 o',lock to-nightno wire can
be obtained to surrounding terri
tory in the western and northern
portion Of Missouri, but it is fear
ed that the loss of life in these
sections will be very large, The
damage to property in st. Louis is
estimated at $1,000,000, and the
loss in East st. Louis nearly ST.
100000, and the fire is still rag
ing.
There were leally two cyclones,
One came from the northwest snd
the other from the direct east.
Both net on the Illinois side of
Tie Mississippi river and joined in
whirling cloud of death and de-
struction.
A startling report has just reach
ed police headquarters that 200
girls are in the ruins Of Liggett &
Meyers cigarette factory at Lower
Grove Park. Alarming reports of
great loss of life in the southern
portion of St. Louis from the rail-
road tracks to Carondelet. The
wind swept away the roof of the
exposition building and that struc-
ture is badly damaged by the food
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 Carondelet.
The steamer st. Paul, with 80 pas
sengers, left for Alton at 4 o'clock,
and it is believed to be wrecked.
III The levee is packed with people,
cropping through the darkness and
eargerly imploring information
from loved ones on the river.
The destruction to property in
this city will not be learned until
daylight.
n. c. Rice, the manager of the
Western Union at the relay depot,
on the East side, reports a wreck
of terrible proportions. He said
the National hotel, fremont house,
DeWolfe's cafe, Hazel Milling
Iii IJn., .