New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-29
RAILROAD OFFICIALS IN THE DARK.
EASTERN AGENTS OF THE LINES RUNNING INTO
ST LOUIS KNEW LITTLE YESTERDAY OF
THE DAMAGE THEIR COM
PANIEs HAVE SUFFERED.


..a PANIES HAVE SUFFERED.
II was impossible yesterday for railroad officials
to say just how great was the damage done by the
tornado to the tracks stations cars and other prop
erty Of the many great systems that run into ST.
Louis across the Eads bridge from East ST. Louis
where the storm most destructive. The means
OF communication were still so imperfect that the
New-York agents Of those railroads were unable to
gather any particulars as to the amount Of damage
done their property. They were obliged yesterday
to content themselves with meagre information,
though all agreed that unless reports have been
much exaggerated their property had suffered great
damage and many of their employees in the stricken
district had been killed or injured For like rea-
sons they were utterly unable to say how soon
traffic would be restored TO something like the
effectiveness 1t had before the storm. but nearly
all the roads make Of the Eads bridge 1t will
undoubtedly be several days before travel resumes
ftscnormai proportions
The great Wabash Railroad, which operates more
than 1900 miles Of road. has branch running into
East ST. Louis f:om Decatur, III. At the New
York offices of the Wabash road II said yester
day that almost nothing was known Of the extent
of the damage to its property. The company has
private wire running from St. Louis where its
main offices are to its New-York office, in the
Western Union Building, at Deyst and Broadway.
but this wire. with all others. went down in the
tornado. that the agents of the road in this city
were almost entirely ignorant to the condition Of
their st. Louis branch yesterday.
All of the New-York agents Of the st. Louis roads
equally In the dark At the Offices OF the Chica-
go and Alton road, of which Morris X. Jesup and
John A. Stewart directors. a branch OF which
runs from Chicago TO East ST. Louis, advces what
ever had been received late yesterday afternoon and
the agents could not hazard guess to the damage
done their property or as TO how soon II could be
made good. The same story told at the offices Of
the Illinois Central which Is now operating the St.
Louis. Alton and Terre Haute. No word whatever
mad come to them All wires were down. they said.
and they could get details.
The New-York agents of the Louisville and Nash
vile and the Mobile and Ohio likewise with
telegraph lines.
Among other railroad systems that have termini IN
East St. Louis. and whose traffic also suffers from the
damage done the Eads bridge are the ST. Louis
Randalia and Terre Haute. line of which runs from
East ST. Louis TO the Indiana State line and the la ST
ST, Louis and Carondelet. The Baltimore and Ohio
and the Pennsylvania roads have Western connec-
tfous at East st. Louis and travel over those roads
will suffer with the rest
James Charlton general passenger and ticket agent
OF the Chicago and Alton Railroad. telegraphed yes
terday to Mr. Mccain, the general Eastern passen-
Ger agent. of this city. follows Not passenger
was hurt and not even a passenger car was damaged
on the Chicago and Alton during the cyclone
except two cars on a short local train which were
deraied and one or two passengers slightly hurt
Al OF our passenger trains were held outside OF East
st Louis In consequence of the storm ahead of them
They are now going forward In all directions. All
trains VIII be on time to-day"