The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-06-03
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE KILLED AND
MUCH PROPERTY DESTROYED.


Sunk and Fire Adds Horror to the Scene
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, May 27.-Death and
destruction reigns supreme in st.
Louis and vicinity tonight as result
of the most terrible storm that ever
visited this section of the country, 50
widespread is the destruction IN both
St. Louis and East st. Louis that it is
impossible to even estimate the
amount of damage and loss of life.
Buildings of every description are in
ruins and as a result hundreds of peo-
ple are reported dead and injured, but
until daylight comes and order is re-
stored, it will be impossible to make a
definite statement. A report is in cir
culation that seven steamers lying at
wharf boats on the East st. Louis side
of the river have been sunk with all
on board. The city is nearly in dark
ness as the electric lights and trolley
wires are down. With one or two ex-
ceptions, all the street car lines IN the
city are at standstill and thousands
of people are compelled to remain
down town or walk home.
The storm broke about 5 o'clock in
the afternoon, after most oppressive
ly hot day. and the rain began to fall.
It soon developed into fierce thun-
derstorm, with the wind from the
East. A little later the wind had
gained a velocity of eighty miles an
hour, driving the rain before it and
tearing loose signs, cornices, Chin
neys and everything in its way. Many
buildings of every kind were demol-
ished and others set on fire by light
ming and crossed wires. The fire
department responded to fourteen
alarms. The streets were full of peo-
pie going home from work and pam
ic 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 the deadly
fluid added to the horror of the scene.
Suddenly the wind veered around
to the West and completed the des-
truction. 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 in some way from the
storm. Tonight the streets are in COM
plete darkness and travel in every dl.
rection is dangerous because of fallen
live wires and debris lying every
where. The wagon way of the Eads
bridge on the East st. Louis side, is q
crumbling mass of mortar and stone,
and parts of the tower and pier No, l
were also torn away. Thousands Of
dollars will not cover the wreckage.
An outbound accommodation train
on the Chicago and Alton was wreck
ed by a broken rail, but fortunately
nobody among fifty passengers was
hurt. A trolley car loaded with pas
sengers bound for the West side is
said to have fallen through the rail
road track below, but with what re-
suit is not known. The roof of the
Republican hall.w blown off and a
20 foot section of the Western hall of
the city Jail clear down, exposing the
interior. 1t was during exercise hours
and two hundred prisoners exercising
in the building were panic stricken.
The tanks of the Waters & Pierce Oil
Company on Gratiot street blew up,
spreading destruction on every hand.
Three stories of the Coe Manufactu
ring Company building, Ninth and
Gratiot, and nearly half of the Vain
wright Brewery were blown down.
The summer high school, Eleven and
Spruce McDermott's saloon, Eleventh
and Chester; the livery stable; Elev.
enth and Walnut, were unroofed.
The engineer of the Etna Works,
Twenty.frst and Pappin streets, was
almost instantly killed. The walls
blew in snd he was scalded to death
by steam. The Consolidated Wire
Works, Twenty-first and Pappin
streets, was almost totally wrecked.
Seven people are known to have been
injured seriously by this wreck, and
many more are said to have been hurt
by falling walls.
The two story building of the G. II.
Sawyer Manufacturing company, 1919
Choteau avenue, was demolished.
John Sawyer, member of the firm,
and Emma CLANCY and Isabella Hall.
den, typewriters, were crushed to death
under the walls. H. H. Sawyer, a
member of the firm, was injured fatal
ly. The st. Louis Refrigerator and
Woodenware company factory, Sec
end and Park avenue, was completely
destroyed by fire, caused by lightning.
The loss is estimated at 100000. A
rumor was widely circulated that the
gas tank near the Consolidated Wire
Works at the South end of the Twen-
ty-frst street viaduct had been blown
over and crushed in the wire works
buildings, killing four men to a Ger.
tainty and possibly more.
Temporary hospitals abound in ev-
cry part of the city. The armory at
Seventeenth and Pine streets mas been
opened for the care of the wounded
and many injured have been taken
into private houses. The city author
tiles at midnight were sending mount,
ed policemen through the city to as
certain If possible what loss of life and
the number of injured really is. So
far as absolute facts are concerned,
nothing definite can be learned before
tomorrow.
To add to the dismal situation, the
rain which fell shortly after the tor
nado passed, began again about 7:30
o'clock and is now coming down in
torrents. 1t is impossible to get re-
ports from the police stations, where
many of the dead and injured have
been taken, and consequently all
statements in regard to the dead and
Il "a,