The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-04
WEIRD and DREADFUL Scene
CAST OVER DEVASTATED DIS
TRICTS OF ST. LOUIS BY THE
GLOOMY NIGHT.
A REIGN OF TH|EVERY HIS SET IN.
Military Patrol the City and the Police
Force Has Been Doubled-It is
Probable Citizens Will Take
Outside Aid.

st. Louis, May 3O.-The scene through
out the wrecked district last night was
weird and dreadful one. Up to midnigf
it was in broken darkness her
and there where a dim lamp sent fair
CLEANS outward indicating the fey
houses which had not suffered to such
extent as to be uninhabitable. Thcs
seemed but TO accentuatc the gloom o
the constantly passing to and fro o
shadowy forms, sometimes alone, bu
most often in twos, and Accompanying
their progress could be heard faint me
tallic clicks which indicated the prescnc
of the military. The first regiment, t.
the number $50 men, were patrolling TIM
district embraced by Choteau and Geye
avenue, from Grand avenue to the river
They had received orders to halt every
one they met to demand explanations OF
their presence on the street, and if these
were not satisfactory they were arrested
In the event of resistance they were to
use their rifles, bayonets, etc, and il that
would not suffice, then the cartridge.
The demeanor and evident determination
of these military men was encouraging
and impressive.
Every nook that might prove the hid
ing place of those bent ON evil mission
was infinitely examined. and it would
have gone hard with any one caught
committing crime. A large number of
hard looking characters with appear
ances against them were halted and
given explicit orders to move on. In
passing the more noticeable wrecks II
most uncanny feeling came over one that
it might be the funeral pyre OF some I'M
fortunate whose life had been crushed
out. Relief and rescue work had been
entirely suspended, and even relatives
of people for good reasons presumed to
be under some particular mask, had gone
to some hospitable roof to seek rest after
the fatigue of the dreadful day. All
who had room uninhabited had freely
offered it 10 the people who were out
casts. Rank and station were tenderly
forgotten each remembering that he was
but a member of the great human family.
Vacant houses were thrown open, and
cots and bedding furnished by neighbors.
The frequent rapping of night sticks
Indicated too, the presence of the regular
police, whose number had been increased
as far as possible, consistent with the
adequate portion of the balance of the
iiremen. The two elements of protection
were on very good terms, stopping When
ever they met and exchanging reports
and advice. The police, being the more
accustomed to such duty, gave their CO.
adiutOrs many valuable pointers.
On every hand could be seen ruined
houses in more or less irreparable con
ditions of demolition. In some cases the
front wall was gone, and the midnight
streaming in revealed the wreck OF what
had been the treasured household goods
of the former occupants.
But little marked disturbance was en-
countered. except at Seventh and Park
avenue. where Il gang of hoodlums,
headed by Thomas McDermott. no
torious character, attempted to hold high
carnival of bccchanalian FOSTERING. They
entered the home OF William Dolphin
picked his lamp from the table and took
il across the street. Dolphin reported to
First Lieut.. +. 5. Chariot of Company A,
who was in charge at that point. He
took squad and proceeded at once to
where the gang was, where he rounded
up fifteen. BY this time n very lage
crowd gathered at Eighth and Park
avenue, intent upon rescuing the prison
ers.
Lieut.. Chariot was Informed of their
design. and leaving two of his four men
on guard, took the other two and pro-
ceeded to clear the street. The crowd
was inclined to dispute this, but Char
lot gave his men orders to shoot straight
and fast if necessary, while he displayed
his revolver cooked. 1t was question
for n moment whether or not there was
to be bloodshcd, but only for moment
There was a surging back and forth, and
finally the mob broke and dispersed.
Thieves We're active last night, and al
though south end men are protecting
property, the thieves did considerable
stealing. Several hundred suspicious
characters were arrested by the police
and militia last night, and today the pO-
ice station was crowded They were |
placed under the care of the militia. |
There are many people missing in st. |
Louis. and anxious relatives and friends |
ire beginning to mourn them as dead. |
rs no information as to their whereabouts |
mas been obtained as yet.
The list is as follows:
CHARLES \. SchOll.
Bertha Jacobs
Maggie Hickey.
I. !. Stephens.
j. h. Smith.
James Evans.
James Wendlc.
Harry Pence of Minneapolis
Herman Schellenbach.
Mary Wagner.
Walter Grunewald.
James Young.
James Mcclellan, Webster Grove, Mo.
Adolph Goodman.