Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-28
IN CYCLONES TRACK
Continued from First Page.)

extends east for about 300 feet The en-
tire upper portion. trayersed by cars and
carriages. is carried away, while the tracks
beneath are buried in the debris, In some
places eight feet deep.
Nenrly a Panic at the Fair Grounds.
Captain Pat Carmodys presence of mind
prevented a panic at the fair grounds
When the crowd appealed for protection
from the tornado Pat co-ralled the fright
ened people under the stand, and forced
them to remain there. He held a mob OF
about 80 in check, and 1t was lucky for
them that he did 50. Everybody was trying
to get oul. and wanted to make break for
the south SIDE of the stand.
While Carmody was holding them back
the roof of the stand was blown out. and
the debris fell just where the people wanted
to 60 Carmody's good judgment saved
many lives The roof Of :he stand was
blown in all directions. Part of it landed
on the Natural Bridge road, and several
bodies were buried beneath the debris
In the crush a number lost part of their
bank rolls, and the Uou-s had a scramble for
the coin.
Mrs Charles Van Dusen, wife Of the we'll
known jockey, was cal 8ht in the stampede
and knocked down. she lost her pocket
book. containing $40. Another woman
from Sun Francisco lost purse which it is
said contained several hundred dollars
worth of diamonds
one or tho supporting pillars of the stand
Tell through the first floor when the roof
went on. and a number hid narrow escapes
. from being crushed to death. Johnnie
Goeoel, one Of the 5ookmakers, was nearly
killed.
On the River Boats
The passengers on different river boats
relate many acts of heroism performed by
rouStabouts. On the Libbie Conger. when
she was ground to pieces on the Illinois
shore. was Captain Seaman, his wife and
MS child, little boy who is five years of
age.
When the storm first appeared a negro.
whose name is unknown, took the child I'D
In his arms. and plunged overheard. bear
ing the captains boy safely through the
boiling waters to the Illinois shore Cap
tain Seaman rescued his wife
This morning Jno. Mcdowell, a roust-
about on the tug Reliance, which is per
forming great work among the boats which
lire the Illinois bank for miles down the
river. returned to the city. He was bur-
dened with messages to loved ones in this
city from fathers and brothers, telling of
their safety They reported that the Ma
OH had been blown 10 pieces and that
the crew swan ashore. He said he thought
that every man of the crew escaped with
his life
He reported that the ferries at the foot
OF Anna street and at East Carondelrt had
been blown to pieces and gone to the bot
tom with their crews and passengers
This could not be verified but the messen-
ger stated positively that such was the
case.
The steamer City of Vicksburg is almost
total wreck. The City of Providence was
blown Up on the bank. Her rudder her
catin and smokestack are gone
No News of ti:e St. Paul
The St Louis and St. Paul Packet Com
paay's steamer St. Paul had started for
keokuk when the tornado struck the city
She has not been heard of since. She had
a fun cabin list.
The Belle of Calhoun and the Libbie Con-
ger, which were moored near Choteau ave-
nue. were almost totally broken up.
The Ellen G.. Smith, the harbor boat, was
blown away down the river, and was
wrecked near Arsenal Island. 1t is thought
no lives were lost on this boat
The steamer Ed. Harvester of the Mis-
souri, Valley Transportation Company was
the river.
When the City of Monroe had listed away
from the Anchor line wharf there were
about forty passengers on board and a full
crew, as the boat was just making ready
for the trip to New Orleans. When the
moorinss finally gave way the boat lurched
over on its starboard side and nearly cap
sized The movement threw nearly all the
freight to the starboard side and served to
hold the boat in its periIous position. Capt.
Niegler made reassuring speech TO the
passengers, which slightly quieted the ex-
treme excitement He said they were all
safe When the boat struck the Illinois
bank the captain as not to be found
The crew of the tug Dolphin, No 2, had
marvellous escape from drowning when
the boat was blown from its moorings at
the foot OF Washington avenue. On board
We're three men and two women. the latter
Jennie Mitchell. cook. and Emma Nolan,
chamHermaid. When the storm broke the
men were on deck and the women below
The men saw the storm was to be a hard
one. and began to ring the alarm bell
Then the steamer Dragon. which left its
moorings, was blown out into the stream
AT the same moment the Dolphin's ropes
parted. and the tug began to ship water
The wind blew her against the bridge.
While this was going on the women and
the other men on the boat climbed to the
upper decks. When the boat struck the
bridge these on board had to dodge to
escape the ironwork of the structure. The
mate saw there was no hope If they stayed
on board.
Jennie Mitchell vas the first to climb onto
the ironwOrk. She was assisted by two of
the men, while the mate stayed on deck to
help Emma Nolan. As she swung herself
to the beams the boat drifted away and
sank before the eyes of the Mortified crew
Slowly, with the wind blowing at a force
that caused the big structure to rock like
a cradle, the three brave men assisted the
women on the laborious climb to the road
way. Several times they were nearly blown
off. They finally reached the railroad track
on the bridge, where they lay down until
the full force of the storm was past Then
they CraW'led to the Washington avenue
station.
Seventy Thought to BE Buried.
Al midnight a reporter penetrated the
mud and debris to the burning st. Louis re-