Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1896-05-30
the number of fatalities there is great
Loss of Life on the River

Loss of Life on the River
1t is reported that the magnificent
steamer Grand Republic vas sunk with
all ON board. The steamer d. III. Pike,
with 80 passengers on board, was blown
bottomside up. The steamer Conger
was blown nearly across the river and
sank at point opposite Carondolet,
one mile below. The steamer Dauphin,
pleasure boat containing 20 women
passengers and crew of six men on
board, was blown against the middle
pier Of the Eads bridge and broken in
two. In some miraculous manner the
women and two of the crew managed
to cling to the stonework of the pier
and were afterward rescued. The
steamer Libbie Conger of the Diamond
10 line, with Captain Seaman, his wife
and the crew of six men, was sunk in
the middle of the river.
Had No Chance to Escape.
Apart from the number of lives lost
here and ON the east side of the river,
the number drown, enc Mississippi
will aggregate hundreds. Excursion
steamers lying at the lcvee and those
running up and down the river were
sunk almost Immediately, those ON
board having absolutely no opportunity
to escape.
The city bears the appearance of hav-
ing been shelled by an enemy. In some
places structures have been entirely
destroyed, while in others high, jagged
walls stand, constant menace to pass
ersby. ......
There must be great number of peo-
pie imprisoned in the destroyed build
ings who cannot be gotten out for hours,
although thousands of citizens have Of
fered their aid to the police department
to help the work of rescue.
Every Hospital Filled With Victims.
Every hospital in the city is filed
with victims and there is a lack of
nurses, physicians and medicines, but
as soon as the people get their wits
about them again the work of alleviat-
ing the suffering of the injured will be
proceeded with in systematic manner.
At the morgue bodies are being brought
in every minute.
The only telegraphic advice had here
of the origin of the storm is from Milan,
where late III the afternoon the dark,
funnel-shaped cloud was seen which
descended little later upon this city.
AT Milan, which is in Sullivan county,
no damage was done, but between 1t
and this city dozen small towns We're
destroyed and about which no informa-
ton can be secured Venice and Mani
oh, villages just outside of St Louis,
were destroyed and great loss of life
is reported.
Some of tho Fallen Buildings.
Liggett 81 Meyers tobacco works was
destroyed and 10 killed and 20 injured.
One corner of the city hospital was
blown out and the Stilding otherwise
damaged. One patient died from fright
and two others We're killed by falling
debris, with many seriously injured,
number of whom will die. The Sidell
81 Shenley building fell in and it is
rumored that 1S women are buried III
the ruins Engine house No. was
blown down and all the fremen buried.
Every hospital in the city is filed with
the wounded victims of the storm and
the morgue is taxed to the utmost to ac-
commodate the large number of dead
bodies that are being brought i'll from
every section of the devastated district.
The Extent of the storm.
Judging from the reports of the great
est damage done, the path of the storm
was on an average of 10 TO IL blocks
in width The worst damage was done
in a path about six blocks in width, ex-
tending eastward from Grand avenue
ON the south to the railroad tracks on
the north. About every other block the
wind seemed to reach out and crush a
few buildings and unroof residences
outside of its main path. Every wire
along Chouteau avenue from Grand av-
enue east to Twelfth street was down,
and the poles and their heavy freight of
cables were scattered along the streets.
All streets from Park avenue to Chou
toau were in similar condition. None
of them were passable with a horse or
vehicle, and walking was ljfficult and