The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-28

st. Louis. May PA tornado blow
ing at the rate of so miles an hour
struck st. Louis at Sis O'Clock this
evening and ragged for half an hour
with great fury. AS a result hundreds
of lives have been lost on both sides
of the river. Many buildings were
blown down and several river steamers
sunk with all on board. At present II
is impossible to estimate the number
Of lives lost The hospitals are full of
injured and the morgue contains many
dead, while numerous slain lay among
the ruins of demolished buildings. A
portion of ne Eads bridge is de-
stroyed. The grand stand at the fair
grounds and the woman's portion of
the Jail were blown down. The Waters
Pierce Oil Works are burning and
buildings in various sections of the
town are on fire. The Plant -four mills
and the St Louis Iron and Steel Works
are demolished and the immense Cup
pies block partially destroyed. The
dead and injured are being taken from
the ruins.
At East st. Louis the destruction
seems the greatest. H. c. Rice, West
ern Union manager at the relay depot.
climbed across the demolished bridge
and reported the National hotel Tre-
mont house. Martelle house, De Wolfe
cafe, Hazel Milling companys mill,
Horns cooper shop and a great many
DWELLINGS, "a or ~ thara nc e. -. r,,e.t-
street. were gone and many killed.
The Baltimore & Ohio and Vandalia
roundhouse, the Standard OIL Works.
East st. Louis & Crescent elevators
and II freight houses on the levee are
demolished. The Grand Republic and
several excursion steamers with all on
board are reported sunk in the river
and all steamers on the levee gone
down. The city hospital is full of
wounded and the morgue contains a
great number of dead. A rough esti-
mate would place the number killed
and wounded at 1000. Both the West
ern Union and Postal Telegraph com
panies lost every wire out of the city.
which Is in total darkness.
The storm broke out about 5 o'clock
In the afternoon, after a most cppres-
sively hot day and rain began to fall.
II soon developed into a fierce thun-
derstorm with the wind in the east,
little later the wind gained a We
locity of SO miles an hour. driving the
rain before II and tearing loose eigns,
cornices, chimneys and everything in
Its way. Many buildings of every ce-
scription were demolished and others
set on fire by lightning and crossed
wires. The fire department responded
to ii alarms. The streets were full of
people going home from work and a
panic ensued as soon as the storm
broke; men were picked up and hurled
against the buildings. horses and car
riages were sent flying here and there,
and falling wires full of deadly iluid
added to the horror of the scene Sud
denly the wind veered around 10 the
west and completed the destruction.
1t Is asserted by some of those who
have traversed the down town part
Of the city that there are few buildings
In ST. Louis that have not suffered I'm
some way from the storm. Tonight
he streets are In complete darkness
md travel in any direction Is danger
)us by the falling of live wires and de-
oris. The wagon way Of the Eads |
bridge on the East St Louis side IS a |
,rumbling mass Of mortar and stone |
md parts OF the tower and pier No. ! |
we're also torn away. Thousands OF |
dollars wiz not cover the wreckage
An outbound accommodation train |