Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-05-28

ceased for time, began afresh and
fell In torrents. At the eastern sky
| was afame with the light Of fires in
East st. Louis. The metal roof of the
| Merchants Exchange was rolled ur
like a scroll and fell into the streets
The Louisville < Nashville east bound
| local passenger train had just reached
st. Louis when the storm struck that
city. The train was overturned, ,miracu-
lously only few passengers were in
jured. They We're taken from the cars
by railroad yardmen.
The Chicago & Alton eastbound local
passenger train which left st. Louis al
., was on the east span of the bridge
when the wind picked the cars up and
turned them over on their sides. The
iron spans and trusses held the cars
from toppling into the river. 100 feet
below.a The passengers We're thrown
wires made rescue difficult and dan
into a confused mass. The network of
gerous, but IL is thought that all will
be got out uninjured. The east span Of
the bridge is so badly wrecked that it
will take three days to allow trains to
pass.
The reported fatalities in East ST
Louis are hourly increasing in number
and at . O'Clock it is estimated that
the loss of life will exceed $50. 1t is
impossible To cross the bridge or the
river 10 get particulars. Lightning
struck the Standard Oil Works and
flames were soon pouring from a dozen
buildings The fire department is ut
tcrly pCWcrless To cope with the con-
Hagration and it is feared that nearly
the entire business and a great portion
of the residence section will be de-
stroyed by the flames, If not already so
by the wind.
Among the principal buildings al
ready in ruins are the National hotel.
Standard Oil Works, East st. Louis
Wire Nail Works. Crescent elevator
Hesel elevator. and all freight depots
and streets and residences on st. Clair
avenue.
At O'Clock, tonight, no wire can he
obtained to the surrounding territory
in the western and northern portion of
Missouri but it is feared that the loss
large. The damage to property in St
Louis is estimated at 81, Zoo, 900: and the
loss in East St. Louis is already 81
900, 000 and the fire is still raging
There We're really two cyclones. One
came from the northwest and the other
from the direct east Both met on the
Illinois shore of the Mississippi river
and joined in whirling cloud of death
and destruction. The list Of dead in
St. Louis is beyond present computa-
ton.
A startling report reached police
headquarters that 200 girls are in the
ruins of Light & Meyers cigarette
factory Tower Grove park. Alarm
ing reports come in of great loss of
life in the southern portion of st. Louis
from the railroad tracks to Caronde-
let. Five identified bodies are at the
morgue.
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 different
excursion boats. which We're on the
river when the storm broke. The
steamer City of Florence with an ex-
cursion party. is reported lost below |
Carondelet. The steamer st. Paul
with so passengers. left for Alton at T.
and is believed to be wrecked. The |
levee is packed with people. cropping |
through the darkness and eagerly i'm |
ploring information of loved ones on |
the river.
The destruction to property in this |
city will not he learned until daylight. |
The Apnunciation church. Sixth and |
Lasalle streets, was totally destroyed. |
injured. 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 Fades
bridge was blown completely away. |
1t is not known whether any persons
lost their lives while crossing the
bridge
The Plant flour mills and the works
Of the St Louis Iron and Steel mills
were destroyed and the big block of
buildings partly demolished.
The dead and injured are being taken
rom the ruins of the various buildings
md manufactures. The Waters Pierce
oil works were destroyed by fire, and
buildings in several parts of the city
nave been burning all night.
The manager of the Western Union,
II the relay depot on the EaSk side, re-
Continued on page 81 !