The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-06-03
4 Thousand Killed.
St. Louis Struck by a Terrifce
Cyclone.
Millions Of Dollars Worth Of 10
perty Swept Away in a Few
Moments.
Boats Wrecked and Trains BIown
From the Tracks. Passengers Droaen-
ed or Dashed to Pteces-4he Loss Of
Life Appa7ing.

struck 5y cyclone o. lrlgd';ul LUZ a'
a late hour this afternoon. Hundreds
of people we're killed and the property
loss is beyond estimate.
A. 5 20 IN. the clouds that had
covered the city since noon broke into
a furious storm. Within 10 miautes
the wind reached velocity Of 80 miles
an hour. sweeping with dense waves of
raio. The highest speed of wlod pre-
vlously recorded here was y miles an
hour, iu August. 1878 The screech-
ing of the wind through electric wires,
the crash of debris that swept
in every direction, the electric flashes
from tangled wires and crashing thur
der made scene indescribable The
loss of life is appalling
At p. IN the lowest estimate OF
fatalities iu East St. Louis and this city
is placed at 800
East St. Louis suffered probably the
greatest.
The steamer D. H. Pike, with 30
passengers on board, bound for Peoria,
was blown bottom side up 10 the mid
die of the river and number of per-
sons killed The steamer Delaphin,
with a crew Of six aud 20 lady passen-
gers on board, was blown against the
bridge pier and broken in two. The
ladies and two Of the crew clung to the
bridge s:one work and we're rescued.
The steamer Libbie Couger, with only
Captain Seamen. his wife and three Of
a crew aboard, went adrift
The electric railway line is burned
out, as we'll as the electric plant
Fourteen fire alarms we're sounded
within an hour.
The armory at Seventeenth aud Pine
streets is being used as temporary
hospital
At 80 p. N. the rain, which bad
ceased eor time, began afresh aud fell
in torrents. At 5 o'clock the eastern
sky was aaame with the light of fires
10 East St. Louis
The Louisville and Nashville east
boapd local passenger train had just
reached East St. Louis when the storm
struck that city. The train vas over
turned, but mirarculously only a few
passengers were Injured. They we're
taken from the cars by railroad yard
men. The Chicago aud Alton east
bound local passenger train, which lef:
St. Louis at 5 o'clock, was on the east
span Of the bridge when the wiod pick
ed the cars up and turned them over
on their sides. The iron spans aud
trusses held the cars from topping into
the river 100 feet below. The pas
sengers were thrown into q confused
mass. The net work of wires make
rescue difficult and dangerous, but it is
thought all will be got out uniDjured.
The east span OF the bridge is so badly
wrecked that it will take three days to
allow trains to pass.
The reports Of fatalities iu East St
Louis is hourly increasing, at 8 O'Clock
it is estimated that the loss Of life will
exceed Is. 1t is impossible to c;oss
the bridge or river to get the partlcu-
lars. Lightning struck the Standard
Oil works and flames we're soon pouring
from dozen buildings. The fire de-
partment was utterly powerless to cope
with the condagration, and it is feared
nearly the entire business aud great
portion of the residence section will be
destroyed by flames if Dot already so
by the wind
The damage to property 10 St. Louis
is estimated at S1,000,O00, and the
loss iu East St. Louis is already ST.
600. 600, 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 side Of the Mississippi river aud
Joined in whirling cloud Of death and
destruction. The list ofthe dead in ST.
Louis is beyond present computation.
It is reported hat the Grand Republic
and severel other excursion steamers,
with al! the passengers and crews have
gone down
\ cyclone destructive Of life and much
property visited East St. Louis in Juoe,
1872. Tbc principal destruction was
along the water front and in railroad
wards. Between so and IS lives were lost,
boats were blown from there moorings
apd sunk with all cn board Pcrsons
we're picked Up Gu the levce aud hurled
to their death, buildings we're scattered
to the four winds
In addition 10 the river disasters no.
led later reports add to the losses. Ali
the wharf boats on both sides were
swept away and sunk. The steamers
Medill, City Of Pistsbarg, Belle of Cal.
houn, City Of Providence, we're all
driven on the Illinois shore and wreck
o1 EIoueo of the vessa}s' crews tried