The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-05-29

Thousands were injured, many so severely
that they cannot recover. The exact num-
Der will not be known for many days, per
haps never, for the debris of ruined build
ings all over the city cover hundreds OF
human beings The damage and destruc-
ton of property will aggregate many mill
ions of dollars, but the exact amount can
not be estimated with any degree OF GER
tainty The terrible tornado that caused
this destruction struck the city Wednes-
day afternoon at '5:i5 O'Clock and all parts
of this city and East st. Louis felt Its ei-
fects.
Many Buildings Wrecked.
The greatest damage on this side Of the
river was inflicted within three mile
strip along the mighty stream. Many
buildings totally collapsed from the force
of the wind, others were unroofed, while
very few in the city escaped injury. With
the hurricane, for that was the first form
the storm took when it broke over the
western part of the city, came a deluge of
rain. For half an hour. from a few min
utes before until $3.50 this hurricane blew
from the northwest. Then there
came lull The currents shifted.
In the southwest there came into
existence a storm cloud with the es-
sential features of the tornado-the fun
mel shape. This second storm burst upon
the city from the southwest II came In
on the south side of Lafayette park, struck
the city hospital and from there tore its
way through the city to the river by a
northcastcrly course. 1t wrought such
havoc as will long leave traces in that
n AZ. al fah ar N
street and north of Cerre street to the
Eads bridge.
Boats Torn from Their Moorings.
The boats at the wharf were torn from
their mooring and capsizcd or sent adrift.
The cloud crossed the river and demol-
ished the upper work at the east end OF
the bridge and then it wreaked its fury on
East st. Louis. shortly after O'Clock,
with the sun more than an hour above the
western horizon, there settled upon tho
city clouds so dense that daylight quickly
gave place to the darkness of midnight.
That was the precursor of the tornado
from the southwest. The hurricane from
the northwest gave the - stern portion
of the city u severe si---.ing up. Ihe
tornado from the southwest, which is re-
sponsible for the loss of life and untold
destruction along the levee district and In
East st. Louis, followed the hurricane by
about half an hour. What must be
charged up to this double visitation only
time can tell. Health Commissioners
Starkloff, two hours after the tornado had
passed, feared that the dead would reach
| 300. and that not fewer than 1000 persons
| had sustained serious injuries.
stricken Portions Of the City.
By midnight reporters of the Associated
| Press had visited all Of the stricken por
| lions Of the city and suburbs. The list ol
| the dead discovered fell far below the flrs'
| estimates, but IL was long enough to b.
| nppallinQ Crushed beneath falling walls
| hurled against the sides of buildings
| struck by falling timbers, cut by shattered
| plass. shocked by the network OF dowf
| wires. humanity suffered In ways innum
cradle. The names of all the injured viii
never be known. Enough were recorded
mt the dispensaries "Wednesday night T.
show how widespread were the tornado
| effects.
OF the destruction of property there cal
he no satisfactory estimate given. III
loss I'm extent and in character Is beyon'
conception. In the flashes of lightning
the city hospital looked like ruin. Th
new surgical ward was partially dcmol
ishci Portions of the other building
were unroofed Walls were cracked.
Nearly 500 Sick People.
There were 450 sick people in the hos
pital when the storm came. Some gatf
cred strength i'm their fright and ra
shricking from the place, finding shelte
an the outside Thirteen were injured 1
| oro ,va,N Conyention hall and the Fou
Courts were In the path of the cloud as
passed from the city hospital towaru tn
river. Convention hall lost a part OF IN
roof at the eastern end and the east On
was punctured In several place
by flying missiles and sustaine
some derangement Of the interior. 1e