The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-29
THE ST. LOUIS HORROR
ternally," which is practically the same
thing.
EAST ST. LOUIS LOSS.

| ternally," which is practically the same
thing.
EAST ST. LOUIS LOSS.
| These figures relate to the city prop
er. On the other side of the river. in
East st. Louis, it is there that
! the elements gathered themselves
together for a supreme effort to-
wards destruction of life and prop
erty, the latest reports to the
United Press place the total of deaths
and missing at 205 and the injured at
Il. Another tabulation made this eve
| ming by the St. Louis Chronicle gives
these figures: Identified dead in st.
Louis. 12l; unidentified dead, 80: in
jured, 447.
| East st. Louis: Dead 129: unidenti-
fed, 125; injured. 15S. The total num-
Der of families who are without homes
and whose every article of household
effects was swept away by the storm,
| is variously estimated at from 800 to
500 1t will be several days before Il
! complete and reliable roster can be
made.
THE REIGN OF TERROR.
Almost reign of terror prevails ir
East St. Louis tonight. Save for tug
and few row boats placed at the SER
vice of newspaper men others, whose
duties called them to the scene. the
/ place has been cut off from communi
cation with this city since last night,
section of the upper or railroad por-
tion of Eads bridge having been car
ried away, while guards were sta
TONED at either end to prevent pedcs-
trians using the foot bridge. The
thieves and toughs of the city, how
ever. reinforced by scores from the sur
rounding country, started in this af-
ternoon to pillage the overturned
! trucks in the streets and the freight
cars on the sidings, and which We're
filled with valuable merchandise.
groceries and provisions. The small
police force had been detailed to aid
the injured and assist i'm the task of
searching the ruins and realizing that
they were pOwerlesS to preserve order
or prevent the pillaging, Mayor Badcr
called upon Governor Altgeld for aid.
He quickly responded by ordering two
companies of militia to the scene. The
first company arrived from Belleville
at o'clock and the second Is en- route
from GreenVille on a special train and
Will be on the ground at | a. m. The
governor himself arrived late tonight
and directed the detailing of the troops
about the various properties to be pro-
tected Prior to his arrival, Il meeting
of leading citizens was held in the First
National building in response to call
hurriedly issued by eX-Congressman
w. $. Forman and others, and after a
full discussion of the situation it was
decided to issue the following appeal
and the United Press was requested to
give 1t circulation:
AN APPEAL FOR AID.
To the People of the United States.
The city of East St. Louis has been Wis
! tied by one of the most terrible and de-
structive tornadces in the history of til"
country. AS Il result of its fearful work
at least 200 lives have been lost, while the
number of manned and wounded we are
unable as yet to estimate, but it viii, prob
ably run into the thousands. 4,,J
The amount Of damage to property Is
very great and it is impossible at this time
TO ascertain, but 1t is safe to say that
at least COO families are rendered home,
less. great number of these must de-
pend upon charity for shelter.
While the loss appears to fall upon the
poorer classes of people, almost every citi-
zen has directly or indirectly suffered
damage.
While We regret exceedingly to call upon
the country at large in this extremity, We
feel utterly unable to supply the abso-
lutte necessities of these afflicted people.
although our own citizens are putting
forth every effort and are contributing ;.s
their means allow.
We. therefore. appeal to the generosity
OF our sister cities and other communities
for help in this hour of trouble We will
be pleased to receive subscriptions and as
sistance in any form which may be deemed
advisable.
The executive committee has appointed
raul w. Abt, president of the First Ma
tional bank of this city, treasurer, to
whom all contributions can be sent.
(SigneD Fl. +. Bader,
Mayor
w. s. Forman.
II. D. Sexton,
h. II. Candy,
Joseph Nestor,
J. j. Reader,
Paul W. Abt,
Leo Scherrer
Louis Moser
Executive Committee
The roadway at the Eads bridge was
cleared of wreckage at IL o'clock to-
night and test engine and car passed
over in safety.
In addition to the injured in the two
school houses, there are ninety four
| manned women, children and men in
ST. Mary's hospital
Women and girls from the farms of
the surrounding country poured into
the city in drotes this afternoon and
| evening with bundles of old linen.
clothing and other necessaries and
| pronered their services as nurses. The
good samaritans We're badly needed by
| the hospital people and city authori
ties. and nearly every victim in the
public or extemporized hospitals has
an individual attendant tonight.
TWENTY MEN LOST.
| Twenty men employed in the Van
dalia freight depot are missing and are
believed to have been killed when the
building fell. A thorough investiga-
ton of the destruction is being made
ana when 1t Is known what the death
rate has been, it will exceed 200.
Many injured on both. sides Of the
river are beyond hope of recovery. The
list of injured reported. numbers over
l,5OO and great many were located
at home and no report made. Two
school houses in East st. Louis serve
as temporary hospitals, while on this
side the armory does the same service
Every private hospital is crowded.
A district in this city bounded north
ny Choteau avenue. west by Grand ave
rue, south to the city limits. and east
to the river, is virtually a mass of ruins
Not an electric light has burned, nor
a car run in that section, comprising
I2O blocks. since $50 p. m. yesterday
Within this territory, scarcely build
ing has escaped injury and thousands
of them are in ruins. On surveying the
desolate scene. one marvels that the
deaths are not much greater. Begin
ming at the western boundary of the
scene. is the handsome and exclusive
residence section. known as Compton
Hill, the home of the fourth genera
tion Of the early French settlers of st.
Louis. This aristocratic home place
is strewn with debris. Just east lies
Lafayette Park. There trees. shrubbory.
fountains and statuary that have been
the pride of the city, were caught by the
wind and the place Is shaven bare as
with Il giant scythe.
Farther east and south to the CITY