The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-29
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Speclal 10 the Indianapolis JOURNAL
EAST ST. LOUIS. May 2s-The city is
wild with woe It is practically destroyed.
But yet there remain standing without a
scratch many buildings In the midst of the
most complete ruin. AS most of the resi-
dents OF the city belong to the poorer classes
the result has brought the most pitable and
heart-breaking scenes. The rescuers knew
not where to begin. 1t was probable that
every separate pile OF debris held
its dead and imprisoned. The work Of relief
was indiscriminate and without organiza-
ton. but much was accomplished The
search was conducted for the most part by
relatives and friends of the missing. Many
hazardous risks were taken by the more
jealous, who kept at work all night.
The loss Of life was greatest at the vandalia
freight depot and office. the fremont House
and the Marten Hotel. The dead were
sometimes pushed aside as the workers
searched for the living. The groans of the
injured and piteous appeals from hidden
human beings made the workers snow almost
fendish zeal. The patrol wagons and un-
dertakers' wagons drove here and there.
soon receiving their freight Of dead and
wounded. Nearly all the railroads brought
in surgeons to care for the injured. Super
eight with him. The physicians of the city
turned out to man, and many people
who bore no affiiction as a result Of the
storm helped them in dressing the wounds.
rude kind. The wounded were dressed and
then sent to the hospital or the private
houses that were open to them.
Long before the hour of dawn the work
of pillage began. The police force was con-
centrating its power in succor, and the loot
ers met with little opposition There was
really little to take of much value. 1t
seemed strange, to see uncouth women COW
cred with the dust Of the debris clutching
armfuls Of motley dresses. More than one
group of little children could be seen hud-
died together while they waited for word
from missing parents. Sight-seers were
merciless and kept stony faces in the midst
OF all misery. This was the rule. not the
exception.
FRANKS OF THE STORM.
The pranks of the storm were manifest
everywhere On the Eads bridge the SEEM
ingly invincible stone bulwarks were broken
and the massive iron supports and stays
bent like pins. When the storm struck the
bridge Chicago & Alton train was crossing.
Two of the cars were toppled over in one
In the other. A horse lay dead under
the engine. 1t had been hurled from
| the roadway above the tracks. One OF the
| things that resisted the furious wind was an
| ice house The walls were stripped from
around the ice. but the wind did not disturb
| the contents much. A giant tree lay with
! its roots lifted to the sky. Fast among the
roots was a bed mattress and the body OF
dead dog. Freight cars were carried con-
siderable distance. and one man was lifted
| OF the track and buried in lagoon. Some
| shanties were blown into hundred pieces;
| Others were torn asunder, and at daybreak
revealed the families trying to make habta-
| BILE the squalid remains.
| East of the city the deluge seemed great
| est. Acres of young corn were washed out
| by the roots. Small lakes formed. showing
! that the rain had fallen at once and had no
opportunity TO escape to the usual water
courses.
| During the excitement succeeding the tor
| nado several cab drivers refused handsome
fees to drive into the desolated territory.
| An excited man accosted a cab driver near
the -Four Courts.
my wife and children are alone at home"
| he said. mentioning his street and number.
take me TO them." and then he handed the
cab driver $50.
'All the money you've got" said "cabby."
wouldn't make me drive there tonight"
The destruction of wires was so general
that not until early morning could word be
sent to the world of the general details OF
| the storm. The telegraph Offices were be-
sieged by many persons Some wanted TO
| telegraph friends Of their safety and others
wanted to telegraph inquiries of safety 10
| friends and relatives living in the prob
able path OF the storm. The crowd
was impetuous. 1t took patience and
explanation to appease it. The police had
to fairly fight the crowd mat assembled
near the city morgue yesterday. 1t was
composed partly of well-meanins persons
who thought they could identity missing