The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-30
AT EAST ST. LOUIS.
Militia PatrOlIinE the Streets-Rail-
ways Removing the Debris.

ways hemOVlnB tne DcoTlBs
EAST ST. LOUIS, May 29-Two companies
of the Illinois State militia, from Greenville
and Belleville, in all about 100 men. patroled
the levee district Of East st. Louis all day.
Dead lines were established and no one was
allowed to pass without permit II wired
Governor Ahgeld. yesterday, to take this
action" said Mayor Bader, to-day. 1T was
done in order to protect the exposed prop
erty, for our force was insufficient TO prop
erly guard it. In a case of this kind. the
criminal element come in very quickly for
the purpose of pillage, and they frequently
resort to incsndiarism, and, although We
have not been troubled much as yet, it was
done as measure of precaution and to pre-
vent a beginning of thievery. telegraphed
TO Chief OF Police Harrigan in st. Louis to
prevent as much as possible, the influx of
thugs. This he has done and has sent a
number Of detectives and officers to help us
out. lie has also stationed men on the other
side, and unless a man appears all right he
Is refused permission to cross. There is
nothing, however, in the report that martial
Law has been declared"
The effect of these stringent measures was
soon seen to-day In the greatly decreased
number of people in the devastated district.
over sixty suspects have already been ar
rested and were sent out of town or locked
have also been arrested. In addition 70 the
militia and police force, Chief of Police Ganey
swore in fifty deputies. who were placed in
different parts OF the city.
The property loss is hard to estimate, but
two to three millions are conservative fig
ures. Late figures rather tend to reduce the
number killed, and the probabilities are that
it will not run much over $50. The bodies OF
Mike Kilday and Will Farrell were recov-
ersd from the ruins Of the vandalla general
identified body Of middle-aged man was
found by workmen while removing the debris
from the location of the. old fremont House.
found about noon.
One feature Of the storm. end one OF the
was the large number of horses killed. on
every side could be seen the mangled bodies
of these animals. The police department. was
busy all day removing carcasses, and none
too soon for the warm weather OF the past
two days had already starred decomposi-
The railroad yards are gradually being
cleared CT debris, rendering the moving OF
trains once more possible, though it will
restored. At least four hundred freight cars
were overturned, andeither wholly or partially
demolished, and as many of these were
loaded with merchandise. the work OF clear
ing the tracks will necessarily be slow.
A ladies' relief corps mas been organ
ized, OF which Miss Louisa Gross, of East
st. Louis. Is president, and Mrs. Ira Sweet
of East st. Louis, vice president. Committees
have been appointed from all churches of the
city, ana are actively at WOrk soiicitlng alQ
and are meeting With good success. The new
library building has been the general relief
headquarters. The tickets will be distributed
to the needy ones for food clothing and
shelter. Mayor Bader estimates that at least
500 families are left entirely destitute, and
will need immediate assistance. May have
not sufficient clothing.
H. ID. Sexton, vice president OF the Work.
ingmen's Bank, and principal owner Of the
East st. Louis street-railway, was CT
the fortunate ones who escaped injury. His
story is worth repeating: Il was standing
outside of my. Office" said Mr.. Sexton,
watching the storm There were appar-
emily two currents of air. A strong wind was
blowing almost directly from the north,
while from the direction of St. Louis could
gee the black clouds coming towards US. AS
the north wind struck the clouds. they lifted
momeniarily and then down they came again
The wind, however, ceased and it began to
rain. Then the wind came from the south.
All OF a sudden one OF the big windows
few out, and just as it did saw the roof
Of a building across the street blown or
and come toward Us. Run for your iivesv /
got under a desk and remained there for
what appeared a half hour. but was really
not more than five minutes. Soon, by the
| aid of the lightning, / saw that the street.
| car pole in front Of the office had stopped
| the flying roof. If it had not been for that
| every one OF US would PROBABLY have been
killed. As. 1T was l escaped with a few
scratches