The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-06-04

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Hundreds of barges were moored all
along the river bank. In some in
stances as many as ten or twelve per-
sons were on board when the anchor
age gave way.
4 st. Louis, May 81. Desolation still
reigns supreme in the tornad stricken
districts Of East st. Louis and this
city. The day opened up clear and
cool, and everywhere could be seen
gangs Of men delving into the ruins
for buried victims. clearing the streets
of dismantled poles, wires and general
debris, repairing the damage done to
thousands Of buildings and relieving
the injured and homeless.
AS the time goes on it becomes more
and more evident that the tornado is
the worst that ever visited this or any
other city on the North American con-
tinent. Horrors multiply every hour
and the list Of dead is appalling. More
than 100 dead bodies have been recov-
cred in st. Louis and over 400 persons
are known to have been injured.
Mangled cadavers are still found along
the path Of the storm and are taken to
the improvised mOrgues. It will be
weeks before complete list Of those
killed can be made, but the list of dead
in st. Louis alone is climbing up to the
200 mark.
Only mere guesses can be made as to
the property loss on both sides Of the
river, but mercantile agencies say that
it may reach $5O,OO0,O0O in this city
alone, while in East st. Louis it will
be several millions. In East st. Louis
The Disaster Was Complete,
the western section Of that railway
town being one vast charnel house.
Only a single dwelling was left stand
ing on what is called the Island" and
600 families are homeless. Citizens es-l
East side. In the wake of the tornado
of them-the protection of the city in
Missouri regiment has gone on duty
for patrol service and the police COM
missioners will add 100 men to the
force.
The business men of St. Louis have
taken up the work of relief. An ear
nest meeting on change yesterday was
the beginning. There are thousands
who can pull themselves out of this
trouble. There are other thousands
who have lost all and must be helped.
A partial resumption of the street car
service has been effected. The east
and west roads north of Market street
are in operation and also the Broad
way and Grand avenue division of the
north and south lines. Within the
southern division the Scullen system
is the most badly crippled, owing to
the destruction of the power house,
and the officers venture no prediction
as to when cars will be running. A
partial restoration Of the electric light
service is promised in forty-eight
hours, but it will be a couple of weeks
before all of the circuits are in order
The destruction of poles and wire
along the path of the storm was COM
plete. Inquests on the bodies of ~
of the slain in st. Louis have been
held. A verdict Of "shock and injuries;
accidental was rendered in each case.
East st. Louis has issued
A Touching Appeal for Aid,
and the committee which prepared the
manifesto estimates that 200 persons
were killed and that the number of in
jured will foot Up in the thousands.
1t is known that number of persons
are still buried in the debris on the
southwestern end Of the island and in
the ruins Of Halsey's hotel, the Mar
tel house, the Relay Retreat and the
Durant house. Conservative people as
sert that the list will not reach the es-
timated total Of 200, though enough
persons are now missing to create a
fear that the fatalities will approach
that number. Many of those who have
not been seen by their families since
Wednesday are supposed to be stop
ping with friends or detained from re-
turning to their homes by injuries that
may not prove fatal. Street car traffic,
telephone service and electric lighting
facilities are entirely suspended. All
business is virtually suspended
Every one agrees that months will
fail to reveal the extent of the lorna
dos devastation in the Illinois towns.
From the surrounding country thou
sands of men, women and children
focked into the city to view the scenes
of ruin and death. -
The officials Of the board of educa-
ton are busy figuring out the enormous
loss which the schools suffered. All
the South end schools between Cho-
teau avenue and Arsenal streets We're
badly damaged. Some had roofs blown
away and walls caved in and others
got off with ruined windows and chin
neys. The schools which suffered most
are the Clinton, Clinton branch, Pea
body, Charles, Hodgen, Pestalozzi
Grant, New Shepard, Lokverture, Aroe-
bel, Lafayette, Longfellow and Madi-
son. The Compton, Marquette, Cho-
teau and Garfield also suffered. The
school board cannot repair the damage
for less than $4,000, and perhaps a
larger sum will be needed Several
Of the schools will not be opened again
until September.
Churches Damaged.
st. Patrick's Roman Catholic church.
Sixth and Biddle streets, was damaged
even more than first reported. The
spire was entirely demolished and in
falling destroyed two-story brick
building on the corner Of Sixth and
Biddle. The organ loft Of the church
is a wreck and the organ covered with
brick and debris. Despite this state
of gloomy affairs services will be held
as usual Sunday morning.
The emergency hospital at the old
Good Shepherd convent on Hines street
is running along in good shape. con-
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