The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-06-03
HUNDREDS KILLED.
CITY OF ST. LOUIS DEVASTATED
BY A CYCLONE.
Hundreds Of People Killed-vast Destr uc
ton Of Property.

One OF the greatest disasters OF recent years
overwhelmed The city of st. Louis Wednes-
day night in the shape OF q cyclone, which
began shortly after o'clock and for thirty
minutes tore lite awful way through the city
with a velocity Of over eighty miles an hour
Although reports from there are only meager
owing to the almost total destruction Of the
telegraph wires, II seems certain that the
number OF dead and wounded will amount to
fully 1000, and the damage done to millions
OF dollars.
The city hospital, which fortunately sur.
vived the storm, In filed to OVERLOOKING with
mangled men, women and children, and the
morgue within two hours after the end OF
the storm, was so full of corpses that II was
necessary to provide other quarters for the
reception OF the dead.
In addition to those who were killed in
their houses and in the streets, hundreds OF
dead are beneath the waters OF the Mssis-
sippi river or all the steamers on the levee
when the storm broke out but one Is now
aaoat. All the others have gone down. In
many Instances every soul on board Is lost,
and In others not two or three we're able to
reach place OF safety.
The center of the city is wreck. Many
buildings have been demolished and others
partially wrecked. The streets are utterly
impossible to street cars, and in many places
progress on foot is a matter of great dim
Guilty.
To add to the horrors of the night the cleo
tric light plants we're rendered incapable Of
service. and the gas lamps also shut OF, leav-
ing the city in total darkness
Fire also broke out In several portions OF
the city, and the fire department was unable
to make an effective fight because of the
choked-up condition OF the streets, and the
large number of flremen who were engaged
In the imperative work OF rescuing the dead
and wounded.
The driveway OF Eads bridge from the low
or to the first pier on the East st. Louis side
is crumbled mass OF mortar and granite ly-
ing thick on the railroad tracks. Parts OF
the lower end OF pier No. l were also torn
away.
Another message says: The most terrific
wind ever encountered In the Mississippi val
ley struck the western part OF st. Louis, and
cut its way right through the most densely
populated and important part OF the city,
then whirled across the river and finished
up its work In East st. Louis. Across the
river the whole western portion Of East st.
Louis suffered greatly, and all communica-
ton with the city and outside points was cut
of. II Is impossible to even approximate
the loss of life. 1t is variously put at from
30 to 150.
The city bears the appearance OF having
been shelled by an enemy. In some places
structures have been entirely destroyed,
while In others high, jagged walls stand q
constant menace to passersby.
At Milan, which is In Sullivan county, no
damage was done, but between IL and the
city dozen small towns were DESTROYED
and about which no Information can be Sc
cured.
Venice and Namloki, villages Just outside
OF 81. Louis, were totally destroyed, and a
great loss Of life is reported from them.
The storm was circular. The day had been
very hot, with clouds in the west and no
xt..I hA..e f.l.s all Ntn tt..xs - t
clouds, one upon the other, on the western
horizon, gave some warning Of what wa
coming but not one has been found who ap-
pretended at that time anything worse than
a hard thunder storm.
Suddenly out OF the cloud bank came n
whirllng funnel which dipped to the earth.
The storm was then east of Clayton, q small
town a short distance from st. Louis.
In the Incredible time OF five minutes II had
traversed the distance from the western
limits OF this city to its heart, and there 1t
ragged.
The high buildings served to conflne Land
until they we're destroyed there was no
chance for its escape.
The river was literally raised from Its bed,
with the Hundreds of boats that were plying
UP and down the river or were moored at the
whsrves. Where the crossing was made to
East st. Louis the river IL almost mile In
width, but the leap was taken with all the
fury with which the cyclone had struck the
city proper. Once over. the immense de-
struction OF railroad property began. Cars
went rolling one way and depots the other,
while the valuable cargoes OF freight were
scattered beyond any possibility OF future re-
covery.
m East st. Louis the whole western por-
ton OF the city is suffering greatly. II Is
life. 1t Is variously put at from 90 to 100.
Judge Foulk OF Vandalia, is said to be
emong the dead.
The storm struck Just north OF the East st.
Louis elevator and passed up the levee In an
northeasterly direction along the same path
as the memorable cyclone OF March 8, 1871.
In its course II struck the Big Four freight
house first; then the blocks In which the
stores front on the levee: destroying all back
to C street, The swath was three blocks
wide and four long.
Tho top OF the bridge was knocked off, a.
we'll as the big abatement. Four trains
including wagons. contents and the horses
were piled upon the railway near the abut'
m8nt.
Hundred Of cars are rolled from the tracks
on the south south and Broadway is com
completely blocked up with parts OF houses
The Martell house, with all its guests, was
thrown into Cohokio creek, and no one bu
Judge Hope, OF Alton, and Mr. Martell wert
saved.
Bradstreet's Commercial Agency estimate,
the damage In st. Louis at $40, 600, 900, anc
the average damage caused by this series o
storms at the immense sum Of 50.000, 900.
The convention auditorium was practi
cally uninjured by the great storm OF yester r
day. the only damage being that some ligh
roof covering on the southeast corner OF thu
building was blown of. The damage can b.
repaired In very few days.
There Is not the slightest doubt but tha
the building will be perfectly restored ant
be In frst-class condition long before tn
day the convention Is to meet.
r. L. ByRSEs.
Sergeant at Arms.
HOW EAST ST. LOUIS SUFFERED.