The record-union., 1896-05-28
A Terrific Tornado SveePsOver the Two
River Cities.
Death and Destruction Marking the Pathway Of
the SvirEng Wind
No Estimate as Yet Can Be Made OF
the Loss of Life, But is Supposed
to be Way Up in the Hundreds
Fire Adds to the Destruction in
East St. Louis, Three Million Dol
lars Worth of Property Being
Laid in Ruins.

LdlO III kulHS.
ST. LOUIS. May 27.-Death and de-
struction mark the pathway of tor
nado which passed over this city short
ly after o'clock this afternoon. The
list of the dead in st. Louis cannot be
estimated until the alarming reports of
loss of life in collapsed buildings can be
confirmed At least forty lifeless bodies.
have been found up to 10 o'clock. If
the reports are true that 200 girls are
in the ruins of a cigarette factory, and
that many We're killed in South ST.
Louis, the list will reach nearly 300.
The city is in state of panic. Nearly
all electric wires are down, and the
city is in darkness. To add to the con-
fusion the tornado was followed by a
deluge of rain and vivid flashes of light
ming, which still continue. Telephone
wires are useless, and livery men refuse
REQUESTS IOT COlN tS dHCSS c1l account III
PROSTATE electric wires.
The situation in East st. Louis is ap-
palling. The tornado struck that city
with terrible effect, and it is now esti-
mated that 300 persons are dead as
result of the wind, flood and flames.
The tornado was followed by an out
break of fire caused by lightning, and
before the flames were got under con-
troll property to the value OF S3.00U,OOO
was destroyed.
The tornado passed in an easterly di-
rection, and it is reported that Wanda
liza and Caseyville, Illinois, suffered Sc
verely. One report states that the rail-
road depot at Vandalia was blown
away and thirty people killed
There were really two cyclones. One
came from the northwest and the other
from the direct east. Both met on the
Illinois shore of the Mississippi, where
they joined in a swirling cloud
The list of the dead in st. Louis is
beyond present computation There are
now fifteen dead bodies at the Morgue.
A startling report has just reached
police headquarters that 200 girls are
in the ruins of Liggett & Meyers cigar
ette factory at Tower Grove Park
Alarming reports also are in circula-
ton of great loss of life in the southern
portion of ST Louis, from the railroad
tracks to Carondolet.
The following are among the dead on
both sides of the river: Captain Sea-
man and wife and three of the crew Of
the steamer Libbie Conger; Wallace
Bradshaw, colored, aged IL; Katie
Claypool, aged Z; Josephine Martini,
aged %; Henry Besichis, aged 70; John
Nolta. aged 40; Michael Dawes, driver;
Peter Diedrich, William Ottendale, fac
tory proprietor; Benjamin Burgess,
Joseph Carpenter, foreman of st. Louis
Mailing Works, wife and child; Alexan-
der Schulinger, dairyman; Fred Vets,
aged Il; Theresa Wetts, his sister, aged
IS: Julius Marano; Frederick thinner
man. chief electrician Sculler Line
Power House. East st. Louis; Judge
Falk of vandalia, killed in wreck OF
Martell House East St. Louis; David
Sage and wife, killed in wreck of resi-
dence. East ST. Louis; Philip Stricken.
ksrr~ fa6 In
wreck of residence, East st. Louis.
The wind swept away the roof Of the
Exposition building, and that structure
is badly damaged by the flood OF water.
The greatest anxiety is felt for the
safety of passengers on the dinerent
excursion boats which We're on the river
when the storm broke.
The City of Florence, with an excur-
sion party, is reported lost below Car
ondolet The St. Paul, with thirty pas
sengers, left for Alton at o'clock, and
is believed to be wrecked
The levee is packed with people, who
are cropping through the darkness and
eagerly imploring information for loved
ones on the river.
The destruction to property In this
city will not be learned until daylight.
The Annunciation Church, at Sixth and
La Sale streets. was totally destroyed
Father Head, the pastor, was fatally
injured. Michael Dawes. a driver, was
blown from his wagon in the vicinity
and instantly killed
The middle span of the roadway
above the railroad tracks on the Eads
bridge was blown completely away. IT
is not known whether any persons lost
their lives while crossing the bridge
A cyclone destructive of life and much
property visited East st. Louis in June