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

up, their cabins and smokestacks
blown away.
The Ellen G. Smith, the harbor
boat, was blown down the river
and was wrecked near Arsenal
Island. 1t is thought no lives
were lost on the boat. The steamer
Harvester, OF the Mississippi VAL
ley Transportation company, was
also torn away from her dock and
carried down the river.
Those on board had no oppor-
tunity to escape.
HOW 1T STRUCK THE CITY.
Venice and Nameoki, H., vii
lagos just outside OF st. Louis We're
totally destroyed and great loss OF
life is reported from them, but it
will be later before positive infor-
nation as to the deaths can be Sc
cured. The storm was circular.
The day had been very hot with
clouds in the west and no wind.
About four o'clock dark clouds, one
upon another, massing in the west
gave warning Of what was coming,
but no body can be found who
thought at the time that there
would be anything worse than q
heavy thunder storm. Suddenly
out OF the mass came a funnel,
which dipped tc the earth.
Some sections Of the city bear
the appearance OF having been
shelled by an enemy. In some
places structures have been en-
tirely destroyed, while in others
high, Jagged walls stand a con-
slant menace to passers by. There
must be a great number OF peo-
pie imprisoned in the destroyed
buildings, who cannot be got out
for hours, although thousands OF
citizens have offered their aid to
the police department In the work
of rescue.
The hospitals are all filled with
injured, but there is a lack OF
nurses. When the people get
their wits about them the work
Of rescuing and succoripg the
| wounded will be taken up syste-
matically. At the morgue, 18th
and Poplar, bodies are being
brought In every minute.
The only telegraph service had
here of the origin OF the storm is
from Milan, where late in the az
ternoon the dark funnel shaped
cloud was seen which descended q
little later on this city. At Milan,
which is In Sullivan county,
no damage was done but be.
tween there and here q dozen
small houses were destroyed.
The storm first struck
Clayton, small town just outside
of st. Louis. In an incredible
time, it had crossed the city from
| the west limits, through the
heart and across the river. There
was no chance for anything to
escape that was in tho way. The
river was literally raised from its
bed with the hundreds OF boats
that were plying up or down 1t, or
were moored at the wharves. Then,
the crossing was made to East st.
Louis. The river is almost a 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 destruc-
ton OF railroad property began.
Cars were rolling one way, depots
| the other, while the valuable car
goes of freight were scattered be-
yond any possibility OF future dis
covery.
A CLOSE CALL FOR THREE. ..
Many heroic acts were performed
in the saving OF lives as a result OF
the storm. When the City OF Mon
roe was twisted away from the
anchor at the wharf, about 40 pas.
sengers on board and full list, as
the boat was just making ready
for a trip to New Orleans when
the mOorings finally gave away,
the boat lurched over on its star
board side and nearly capsized.
The movement threw nearly all the
freight to the stsrboard side and
this served to hold the boat in this
position. Capt. Viegler made re-
assuring speech to the passengers
which slightly quieted the extreme
excitement. He said they were all
safe. When the boat struck the
Illinois bank the captain was not
to be found. TIE crew Of the tug
Dolphin had a marvellous escape
from drowning when the boat was
blown from :its moorings at the
foot Of Washington street. On
board were three men and two
women, the latter, Jennie Mitchell,
cook, and Eta Marshall the cham
bermaid. When the storm broke
| A. ..,a 70 ,raS ON dock and the two