Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-29
NEARLY 500 DEAD.
Reports from St. Louis Cyclone
Are Simply Appalling.
One Thousand Injured Already Found
and Constantly Increasing.
Word from Suburbs Hourly Brings News Of
Still More Fatalities.

81. LOUIS, MO-, May Zo.-A pan oil
gloom and death hangs over the
Mound city. tonight. Twentyfour
hours have scarcely been sufficient to
bring its people TO a realization of the
horror with which it has been visited,
and they are yet daZed and stupefied.
Save for the fitful glare of the gas Jets
i'll the windows Of the saloons and res
taurants and electric lights OF the few
hotels and other concerns that operate
their own plants, the entire city is in
darkness.
In the devastated district the search
for the dead, buried in the ruins. is
being carried on by the aid of torches
and locomotive headlights. Details OF
police keep the crowds at distance,
while the air Is filed with the shriehs
and sobs and hystericai lamentations
Of the hereaVed. Ever and anon the
changing of the gong is heard in the
distance. and vehicles and street cars
come to a stop while the ambulance
dashes BY to add one more victim to
the record Of the dead at one or an
other Of the extemporized morgues
The streets in the center Of the city.
usually active with pedestrians until
whose avocations keep them from their
families or friends while the summer
gardens and other points Of entertain
ment are bare of patrons Grief.
mourning and stupefaction have taken
possession of the city.
Careful fluctuations of the informa-
ton gathered by the United Press from
all official sources shows at $. tonight.
that there were ia victims identified
Fifteen still await Identification. Most
of the bodies claimed have been re-
moved to their late homes. The num-
Der missing, the majority being sup
posedly in the ruins of the industrial
establishments and residences totally
demolished, is varously estimated at
50 to 500
Only complete search of the acres
of ruins can tell the true story. for the
people in the stricken regions are ut
terly unable to tell a coherent story.
Men and women reported among the
missing are continually putting in an
appearance. and many believed to be
safe. turn out to be among the missing.
In the matter of age. the dead range
from a male baby of months to a
great grandmother of 80.
The number of injured reported to
the police up to the same hour foots up
lS9 OF these five are unconscious and
unidentified. Their injuries range from
slight cuts and commissions to one I'M
fortunate reported as having sustained
the loss of both eyes and fracture of
his skull, both arms and legs and ribs.
OF the list of injured which is one
of NO n1n hi
whelming majority of those caught in
the tornado having found their way to
their homes, nearly 100 are reported by
the physicians as fatally injured or
injured internally" which is practi-
cally the same thing These figures
relate to the city proper.
On the other side of the river. in East
st. Louis, Illinois. where the elements
gathered themselves together for a
supreme effort toward the destruction
of life and property. the latest reports
to the United States Press place the
total of deaths and missing at POS in
jured at II. Another tabulation made,
this evening. by the ST. Louis Chroni-
Gle gives these figures: Identified dead
in st. Louis. 121; unidentified. so; in
jured. 447. East ST. Louis. dead, 129;
unidentified, 1875 injured, 15S
The total number of families without
homes and whose every article of house
hold effects We're swept away by the
storm. is various estimated at from 500
to 500 1t will be several days before a
complete and reliable roster can be
made.
Almost n reign of terror prevails in
East St. Louis. tonight. Save for tug
and a few row boats. placed at the ser
vice of newspaper men and Others whose
duties called them to the scene. the place
has been cut off from communication
with this city since last night. Il section
of the upper or railroad portion of the
Fades bridge having been carried away.
while guards were stationed at either end
to prevent pedestrians using the foot
bridge.
The thieves and toughs of the city, re-
intorced by scores from the country sur
, rounding; started in, this afternoon, TO
streets and freight cars on the sidings
filled with valuable merchandise, gro
ceries and provisions. The small police
force which had been detailed to aid the
injured and assist in searching the ruins.
WAS powerless to prevent the pillaging.
Mayor Bader called upon Governor Alt
companies of militia to the scene. The
first company arrived from Belleville at
=. and the second is enroute from Green
ylle The himself arrived
about the properties to be protected.
Prior to his arrival. a meeting of the
leau1nE CITIZENS was helu ana after n 1ull
discussion of the situation it was de-
clied to issue an appeal for aid TO the
people of the United States. This appeal
says that East st. Louis has been visited
by one of the most Observation-Disclosures
ia the history OF the country. A, least
GG0 lives We're lost. while The ndmoer OF
AHMED and wounded will probably run
into the Thousands The damage to
srcperty is very great: and al least 600
families were rendered homeless. A great
number of these must depend upon
chs rty for shelter.
The appeal says that almos, every citi-
zen has directly or indirectly suffered
damage, and we feel utterly unable to
supply the absolute necessities OF these
afflicted people, although our own citizens
are rutting forth every effort and are
more literally than their
means allow. We therefore appeal to the
generosity of Or sister cities and other
for help in this nour OF trout
lle.' Paul W. Ait. president of the First
National Bank Of this city, has been NJ
l.ciEted treasurer. to whom al cOntribu-
ti.rs can be sent.
The roadway of the Fades bridge vas
cleared of wreckage at H. tonight, and
a test engine and car. passed over in
safety. Inaddition to the injured i'm the
two schoolhouses there are 81 MANNED
women, children and men in ST. Mary's
hospital.
Women and girls from the surrounding
poured into the city in drOveS |
this afternoon and evening. with bundles |
of old linen, clothing and other neces- !