Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-05-28

The relay depot in a st. Louis
was totally destroyed and many lives
lost with it.
Twenty employees of the Liggett &
Meyers Tobacco Co. were killed by
the storm.
The scene at the east end of the
great bridge is an appalling one, as it
is also at the west end. AT the former
where the span vas blown away, mes
boys climb on hands and knees
bearing the news to st. Lonis and
back again. Amy number of passen-
ger trans are tied up on both APP
proaches to the bridge and there is no
telling when they will be able to get
away.
The span of the bridge destroyed
was the one next to the Illinois shore
and it was considered an unusually
strong m When the cyclone struck
it it gave way as if made of paper and
fell into the raging river.
A great many residences, both in
this city and East st. Louis, we're de-
molished, but just how great the loss
of life will be from this source is inn
possible to ascertain at this hour. New
bodies are being borne to the impro-
vised morgues every minute or two,
and there is no telling how many rest
under the bosom of the Mississippi.
Some of the great mercantile build
ings down town were badly damaged
and lives were lost in them.
The whole city is wrapped in the
gloom of one of the most terrible &C.
currences in its history. The railroads
are many of them washed out and
people from adjoining cities and
towns, who have relatives in st. Louis,
are frantically trying to reach them
either personally or by telegraph, but
to no effect.
All trains going out of the city on
west side of the river were held until
daylight Thursday morning before
going on their ways.
The storm came up very suddenly
and caught many persons unawares.
In an instant the air was full of flying
debris and the dust and dirt in the cy-
clone made it almost as dark as mid
night. The river was dashed into a
stormy sea and great steamers tori
from their moorings like toys. Never
was such a scene witnessed in the
West and may it eve be again. Al
yet but little attention has been paiC
to the damage done to buildings and
residence property, as everyone ii
busted in hunting for the dead and in
jured.
}, Reports as to the damage done b.
the cyclone in the suburbs and dow
the river are coming in very slowly
but IL the number of lives lost in thes'
|, places is proportionable to the loss IL
the city the total death list will reacl
: into the thousands. AT this hour it |
3 an impossibility to give a list of tn
dead and injured.
RELIABLE FROM ST. LOUIS.
A gentleman who arrived here fror
1 st. Louis at o o'clock to-day says tina
s words cannot depict the wreck in ths
city. A span was not blown out c
y the Eads bridge, but the top we
: blown off the span. The track re
mains. The tunnel is entirely choke
with wreckage. Loss of life estimat
ed at 1000. Six hundred childre
were on a boat, but it is hoped Il
y boat put in at Alton. Every elevate
n and depot in East st, Louis Is blow
1. away. All of the windows in Il
i, north side of the Planters Hou
s. were blown out, but the buildil
s. saved. ALI houses on Choteau av
o. nue. wrecked. The storm went
n Olive street, causing terrible destrr
ton. The Union Station escaped, I
d. storm passing within 100 yards Of
Simmons hardware building, nj
II. the old depot, was entirely destroy
1g South st. Louis is almost RACED to
&c ground. Fire is reported in vario
ld portions of the city.
DISABLED u L "a ~ 40
The following paragraphs relati
to the fearful loss of life and wrecka
= at st. Louis are taken from the Chro
:. icie, the only copy of any st. Lo1
= paper received in this city this NOR
: ing that was printed after the cyclor
The south wall of the -Four Coul
fell with a crash at $40. Every C
on that side was exposed. There W
a panic in the building. Prisont
called on God TO protect them. \
one escaped, as all were locked
their cells. All the windows In
tv great building were broken. t
A. wires connecting with the city we
all cut out. This prevents knowled
of the loss of life in the outlying d
g. trict.
h. The Poor House fire may have be
serious. There was a panic at the oil
set. ~
The Gem Theater, between Wall
Oh and Clark, on Seventh street, v
blown in in the rear. The theater v
g. IN progress and the inmates flew
their lives. Fortunately only one v
!, injured, Emma Brown, of No.
;. Clark avenue.
Almost every building on the Sol
side of streets, between the river q
It. Sixth street we're completely wre'
Mt ed.
The steamer Liby Conger bro
from her moorings north of e.
nc Bridge and has not been seen sin
n The hull of an unknown boat was 81
ng on the East st. Louis side of the ri
q, and is believed to be the Conger.
The entire roof of the grand stant
= the Fair Grounds went kitiDg. Tn
was a panic. In the betting stand
boxes were ~overthrown.