San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-05-28

certain, if possible, what the loss OF
life and the number Of the in
jured really is. Among the houses
known to have been destroyed are
the furniture store of Frederick
Ottends, at the corner OF Broadway
and Southland streets, in the south
ern part of the city, where elk men
are reported killed; a saloon at
GOA South Seventh street. where
nine men are reported in the ruins;
st. Patrick's church, at the corner
OF Sixth and Biddell streets.
One thing that binders the work
of taking out the dead and rescu-
ing the injured is the fact that the
electric light and telephone wires
are down. The loss Of life, there
is no doubt, is greater than any
thing the country has known since
the disaster at Johnstown. 1t is
evident that the tornad o pursued
it's track for many miles In length,
as reports from various railroads
show that nothing has been re-
ceived from any point west Of here
as Iar as MoDerIy.
Scattering bits of Information
show that between Moberly and
this city various small towns have
been wiped out and that many
persons have been killed in them.
1t was at first thought that
scores had been killed in the
fair grounds in the western
part of the city, where the
roof of the grand stand was blown
of while the last race was being
run, but IL is now known that the
people saw the storm coming and
Fastening out OF the grounds
took refuge in the adjacent fields.
Three alarms were sent In to-
night from a poorhouse which
has 1900 inmates. The roof Of
that structure was blown off and
it is feared that the number Of
fatalities there is great.
LOSSES ON THE RIVER.
AS to the losses on the river it is
reported that the magnificent
steamer Grand Republic was sunk
with all on board. The d. K. Pitt
with 30 passengers on board,
bound up the river for Peoria, was
blown bottom up ashore. The
steamer Conger was blown nearly
across the river. and sank at
point opposite Csrondolet. The
steamer Dsuphin, a pleasure boat
containing 20 women passengers
and crew of six men on board,
was blown against the middle pier
Of the Eads bridge and was broken
in two.
In some miraculous way the
women and crew managed to cling
to the stone work OF the pier and
were saved.
The steamer Libby Conger, wit h
the captain, his wife and crew Of
six men, was sunk in the middle
of the river.
1t is thought the number OF
killed and injured will reach into
the hundreds on the river.
Excursion steamers lying at the
wharves, and also running up and
down the river were sunk immedi-
ately.
Excursion steamers City OF
Vicksburg and City OF Providence
lying at the foot OF Olive street
were blown out and floated down
the river badly damaged. Dia-
mond 10 steamer, Pittsburg, lying
at the foot of Washington Ave. was
blown out and fioated down. The
Anchor Line packet, City OF Mon
roe, broke from her moorings at
her wharf at the foot OF Chestnut
street and was blown across
the river to the east side. Pas
sengers all saved. Steamer Belle
of Calhoun broke from her moor
ings and fioated down the river.
Tow Boat Dolphin, No. sunk. A
detail of officers has been sent
along the banks of the riv-r search
ing for some traces Of the missing
steamer Republic, which had 800
excursionists aboard. No reports
Of her whereabouts. have been re-
ceived at police headquarters and
the police authorities fear she has
been lost. Rumor has it the
Steamer Republic has landed
at Jefferson Barracks, and
has sustained considerable dam
age. No authentic report
can be obtained. The dis
trict between Clark avenue and
Washington avenue, Twelfth street
to the river suffered fesrfully from
the ravages OF the wind storm.
The brunt OF the violence of the
storm, however, was borne by that
portion of the district lying to the
south and along the. river bank, as
comparatively little damage was
done to the property further north