Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-30
ST. LOUIS DISASTER.
No Reason Why Republican Convention
Should Re Postponed.
NUMBER OF DEAD, 3ff.
Missing, fc-Fatnliy Injured, i0G-
Whole Number Injured, 1,3OO-
sfO.COO.OOO 10 $4,000. .OsO.

ST LOUIS. MO. May e9-The Business
Mems League this morning issued a
statement TO the country. to the effect
that the disaster viii in no way inter
fere with the arrangements already made
Cor the Republican convention, or the
housing and entertainment Of the dele
gates. Despite the exaggerated stories
that were given circulation during the
hours Immediately following the calamity.
II should be now definitely known
throughout the country that only a mar
row strip across the Mill Creek Valley
was devastated. and that the principal
business portion Of the city is unscathed
The damage to the structire in which
the convention is to be held is much less
than was AT first anticipated, and Will
not exceed 81 800. and the repairs can be
completed by the end of next week.
None Of the large hotels were injured
in any way. ard the section Of the city
that felt the brunt Of the storm includes
but a handful Of the houses that have
been placed in the list OF contingent extra
accommodations for visitors. More than
those covering a radius Of from half
mile to two miles west Of the Auditorium
are in district entirely outside the path
OF the storm
Up to noon to-day Coroner Waite had
held eighty inquests. In each case
stereotyped verdict. setting forth the fact
that the deceased had come 10 his or her
death by injuries received as the result OF a
tornado, was returned. About the same
number of inquests have been held in
East ST. Louis, the verdIcts being in
similar terms.
TN \ SOFT PLACE"
While workingmen were digging in the
ruins Of one OF the tcnements at Seventh
and Rutger streets. where so much havoc
was caused. an infant voice cried out.
please don't be so rough" An opening
was quickly made in the debris above
the spot whence the voice issued. and,
through its depths a l0year-old boy
leading three girls about the same age.
appeared. All were uninjured, although
they were weak from hunger and con-
fuement for nearly forty hours. \ shout
OF Joy went up from the crowd. and be-
fore the police could ascertain any par
ticulars the little ones had been carried
away. Somebody asked the little boy
as he was disappearing how he came to
be 20 lucky and he pped in childish ac-
cents. I'VE just fei! in a soft place"
No fault I'm construction. but purely the
frightfu velocity OF the wind Is re-
sponsible for the damage TO the Eads
bridge.
EAST ST. LOUIS.
East ST. Louis is waking from its
stupor Of terror. and things there are
beginning now TO shape themselves TO
the amelloration Of the condition OF the
afflicted and the preservation OF the pro-
perty left after the work of the hurri-
cane. A relief committee has beon
formed, with an auxiliary womans
corps Money Is being subscribed; the
town is thoroughly pollccd with local
constabulory and two companies OF mill
tia: the streets are being cleared. and
feeble effort Is beiHg made at being
cheerful by the townspeople.
There are two companies of the Ma
tlonal Guard IN the city. one from
Belleville Company -, under Captain
Rogcrs) arrived at ? \. NJ. A Company,
from Greenylle, under Captain Harris,
arrived this morning Thursday the lat
ter body was at BirSner helping remove
the dead and injured In tnat place 20
the county farm
About fifty extra police were sworn In
by the Chief, and these. with the regu-
lar police force and the militia. are ample
10 guard all the exposed property
Hundreds OF homeless persons slept
in the open air last night The public
buildings were thrown open for the
Of the destitute and these
places were crowded TO their capacity.
af.strs no
rally by citizens and keepers OF rcstau-
rants in the neishboFhood Of these tenn
porary shelters.
ST. LOUIS PROPERTY Loss.
The property loss In this city is grow
ing. Bradstreets agency. on figures OBJ /
tained from reliable sources. reports that |
,iO.OOOC0 will amply cover the financial /
loss. II Is reported moreover, that Dun's /
agency, OF New York denies the state /
ment printed by the morning papers /
that IL had placed the total destruction Of |
property az N).l0'te3.
The principal losses are IN the dis !
.rict between Russell and Ch0uteau ave-
1ucs, jefferson avenue and the river, /
and the fury Of the tornado is told more |
.raphicany than in words by the tables
showing that in this stretch Of territory /
,lone no fewer than : 90 residences were
either totally or partially destroyed.
THE DEATH-LIST.
The death-list in St Louis Is growing
'ast. Up to noon ll2 bodies had been
.ecovored from the ruins OF wrecked
buildings. OF these i6l hal been identi-
led. and q remained unrecOynized.
In East 81. Louis. at the same hour,
4 bodies had been recovered. OF these,
90 have been Identified by relatives or
riend1. and are without Identification.
n. -i,nntin,, nr..rn-, tho rnaf-..i.io mil |