Evening journal., 1896-05-29

AAfAARNN
OF work under ordinary conditions hut
under these trying circumstances IS mo Of
tho 1remen killed. many injured. horses
in "A state Of manic, the wn1ls town wild ~
nlri0st 90 work cogd be done with tho
iinmes. Not a boat was left floating in tho
liver able TO carry fire engines across from
this ciiy. though Chief OF East st. Louis
Police J. T. MARITIME sent an appeal for
help. The burned district embraced Eve
blocks, but single fires, the aggregate Of
whose damage was grent were scattered
hbout tho oty.
The Town Demolished.
SO nach for n brief statement Of the
amount q. dsmagc In East r. Louis Tho
town 4 practically demolished. It had no
elegant buildings 10 speak Of, bht it *as
a hito bi industry The town is on level
ground. the streets wide. and the houses
low. so that the storm had an opon chance
TO do It's worst. It. Is a railroad conter,
many limos oonverRin9 there from all parts
of the east TO cross one OF the bridges
over the Mississippi to get into St Louis.
The railroad yards woro extensive, switch
tracks numerous and almost always hun
dreds aud hundreds OF ears stood about
easy prey 10 such a storm hs this. Ono OF
the leading Industries Of the town is con-
noctod with the stookyards
The larger rart Of the central portion OF
The city 81 razed to the ground. on the
Cats along the river bnnk to the north OF
the kads bridge not house Is left stand
ing. In this latter portion the loss Of life
was terrible. Scarcely a family seems to
have escaped the loss OF at least one
member. and whole families have been
wiped out OF existence. The trail build
Al. I.t, a
the wind every chance. and its path was
marked by q mass OF debris, burying bod
les by scores, fire following TO maks the
horror complete. The wnterworks were
demolished, and the mon were forced to
do the bost they might as a bucket brig
ado
The Work of Rescue.
The work Of rescue, which began lmme-
diatcly after tho storm and has since CON
tinued. will not be completed for a
week or more. Voluntary rescue parties,
squads Of police and companies OF the fire
department arc scattered about tho dev-
astated district searching the RUNS for
bodies Every fow minutes the sudden
shifting OF tho crowds and the eignaling
for a conveyance told Of growsome find,
and tho occasional Identification of tho
mnngled remains by waiting friends added
horror to the scene. Ia the eastern por
tion OF tho wsscied locality are number
OF fnctoI,ss, and ia the ruins Of these it Is
believed n largo number OF bodies will be
found. The great piles Of brick and
broken imbsrs yield slowly to the attack
Of tho sesrchors, and 1t ia probable that all
the victims Of tho Storm will never bo
known.
The path Of the storm through south
& y q. a.. l..
The greatest dam al was done between
Russell avenue on tLe south and Chotoau
avenue and Pappin street on the north.
Within that territory from the western
city limits TO the river the wreck is ho-
yond estimate, and tho loss Of life cannot
he told The most wholesale slaughter
was at Seventh and Rutgers streets, where
3 persons wero crushed TO death In the
Nockhcnheimer saloon and boarding
house Many others we're buried in ada
cont houses In Rutgers street.
The ruin was so complete that tho police
volunteers did not kn,w vhero TO begin
the work OF clearlrg away ths debris.
At tho storm sheight when the rotunda
of tho Iaulodo hotel was crowded vita
terror stricken people wke had sought
rcfpgn from tho winds fury, panic was
almost precipitoted by she falling Of a
chimney down over the rotunda through
the skylight just west OF the clerks desk.
BY miracle no ere was undor the falling
bricks. Tha frenzied mon made a dash
for che doors an tho Chestnut street side,
but tkolr efforts 70 open them were fruit
less. The farcs OF the wind was stronger
than the combined strength of a dozen
mon. This threw the alrsdy panic strieksn
crowd into frenzy Of fear which lasted
until the sonnss OF falling hriek5 ceased,
but 10 cue.was seriously hurt IN tho crush.
Tho following official staRement has
boon furnished for publication:
The convention auditorium WAS practi-
cnlly uniniurcd By tie storm Of Yesterday,
Tho only damage being that some light
roof covering on the sou1lwest corner OF
the building was blown on. The damage
can ail be repaired IN q very few days.
There Is not tho slightest doubt that the
building will be perfectly restored and In
first class condition long before the day
the conyentisn Is TO neet
T. BYRNEs. Sergoant-at Arms.