Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-29

residence section. known as Compton Hnl
the home OF the fourth generation OF the
early French settlers OF st. Louis. This
aristocratic home-place Is strewn with
debris. Just east lies Lafayette Park.
There the trees. shrubbery, fountains. and
staiuary thet have been the pride Of the
city were caught by the wind and the
place Is shaven bare as with giant
scythe.
Farther cast and south TO the city limits
were the homes OF thrifty German-Ameri-
cans, who'have given a distinct character
TO the district. Tonight thousands OF
them are homeless. many OF them lying
like nomads amid the ruins or sharing the
roofs Of their hospitable and more fortu-
nate neighbors. Interspersed in this lat
ter section and on the east to the river
are mills. breweries, and numberless man
ufacturing concerns. These were fair tar
gets for the storm. and they suffered. II
was this class Of losses that added most
10 the wiping out OF what Is conserva-
lively stated to be four million dollars OF
invested capital. There are sixteen brew
cries within these boundaries. worth 81
000.0o0 and while none are destroyed all
are damaged. The losses fall most heavi-
ly on those least able to bear them.
After the storm had laid its heavy hand
upon the southern half of the city. fire
came 10 complete the work OF destruction.
Five columns of fame shot up, but thanks
10 the deluge OF rain. the blaze was main
ly confined TO its starting point. In three
instances the engines were unable to get
nearer than a block from the fires.
WORK on RELIEF.
Unsolicited. the work of relief began
here at once by the whole people. meet
ing of the citizens was held at noon at
the Merchants Exchange. After brief
addresses by Rev. DR.. W. w. Boyd and
Mayor c. j. Walbridge contributions
were asked for. Within forty minutes.
or as fast as the sums given could be
tary's hands. Contributions continued af-
ter adjournment. 1t is not proposed TO 20
outside the city for aid, though no offer
ing will be refused.
President c. II. Spencer president OF the
Merchants Exchange. was made chair
man of the Committee on Distribution,
and set to work OF once to place the relief
money.
THE CONVENTION HALL.
Every flagstaff on the Auditorium
building. where the Republican conven-
ton win be held. was broken, and. the
pole on which the Stars and Stripes waved
an hour before was blown off, and TIE
flag ripped into shreds The east root
OF the building was blown off. The fly
ing boards shattered windows within
a radius OF $50 feet. The plaster on tho
roof was carried away. This caused many
holes and crevices through which
the water poured and submerged thC
floor of the building. There is not much
left Of the roof at best. and it vii
have TO be rcplastered and repapered.
4 couple of roof Joints went through
the south wall of the building, tearinG
out in their path a space OF ixl5 feet
and this was not through the windows
but the solid portion Of the walls. The
portions of the roof thus damaged hangeC
threateningly, and were removed after
the storm had abated.
WHERE TEE STORM WAS WORST.
The storm was most destructive in force
when il crossed Seventh street from
the east The currents of wind agair
and again returned TO make that stree
a wilderness At least forty people were
killed along this thoroughfare. and tn,
streets Immediately adjacent House
after house was totally demolished, anC
the wonder grows with extended investi
CATION that the numbers Of deaths is no
far in excess of what it now appears
to be.
Nallv's saloon. on south Seventh street
was total wreck When It fell it wa
fun of men. who had taken refuge there
and from fifteen to twenty were killed
one poor fellow has been taken out dead
and ten others have been rescued. serious
lv wounded. 1t is thought others arr
still i'm the brick-choked basement and
gang OF men is busy digging into the de
brs
All telegraph poles are down, many OF
them snapped in twain. with the top
heavy heads hanging over the street
held aloft by the wires.
EIGHTY PERSONS BURIED.
At the Vermont Marble-W Works. 112,
south Seventh street the wreck was com
pletc. Harry Hess, a driver for the con.
cern. was buried beneath tons of the
great blocks Of stone Here had stood
the thres-story brick saloon and boarding
hhuse Of Frederick Merkenhemer. 1t was
occupied by twenty families, the fun mum
Der of souls reaching at least eighty
When the storm struck II 1t went up lik'
a dry puff-ball. burying the inmates. M
one knows how many dead its ruine'
brick and mortar conceal Eleven per
sops had been taken out dead. and mor'
than a dozen more or less injured
company OF fremen was assigned 10 th'
work of rescue.
Across the street. on the southwes
corner. the wreck was as bad, but th
number of people in the building was no
so large. Several dead bodies and 4 half
dozen persons sorely wounded have beer
removed and others are thought to b.
there.
The soulard Market was blown Il
pieces. and so II ran along this ill-starre'
street.
The anxiety of hundreds was relieved a
$50 o'clock this morningwhen the steame
Grand Republic anchored at the foot 0
Olive street. The big triple-deck passen
Der boat left here yesterday afternoon
with about 800 women and children G.
board. IL was feared she was lost, an
her safety caused general rejoicing.
PROPERTY LOSS.
The damage TO property in East 81
I.ouis is estimated at over S2,0)J.OOo. IN
burned district embraces 1--WE blocks.
The telegraph wires are all down, an
the freight trains have all Deen sldc
tracked. so as TO minimize the chanc
for collisions and accidents to the pas
scnrar trains. All the north-bourd an
west-bound trains and trains "hich can
south by western outlets. are passin
over the Merchants bridge Which remain
practically unharmed.
The Eads bridge and the whole net
work of tracks east north. and south, a
far as Pinckneyville. are impassabie 10
traffic. and viii probably remain so 10
some days. Ii is reported that over
dozen heavily-loaded passenger train
coming here from the East were caugh
I'm the cyclone and ditched or bloeKe
from three TO ten miles out on IN
prairies OF Illinois
REIGN or TERROR.
A reign of terror prevails. almost,
East 81 Louis tonight. save Tor