The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-28

named Moore, reached land safely. The
two former Jumped before the eEpIO-
sion and caught drilCWO0d- Moore was
blown overheard by the explosion and
was cut about the head. but managed
to- swim ashore Three others of the
crew chung to the pier and made their
way up to the bridge proper.
There is no way Of estimating the
number az lives that We're lost on the
river craft that happened to be near
when the cyclone came. Hundreds OF
barges were mOOred all along the river
bank I'm some instances as many as
ten and twelve persons We're on board
OF each when the anchorage gave way
under the terrible strain. Men were
blown into the water. and barges in the
river turned over and the destruction
of life was large. Several boats were
jerled from their mornings and carried
Ear down the river The tug. Belle OF
Baton Rouge, which was anchored UP
the river was carried Tar down the
river, rolling over and finally struck
the raft of The Wiggins Ferry company
all the foot OF Choteau avenue. where
it sunk.
The excursion steamers City of Vicks-
burg and City Of Providence lying at
the foot of Olive street, We're blown out
and hoated down the river badly dam
aSed- Diamond JO steamer, Pittsburg
lyius at the foot of Washington avenue
was washed out and noated down. The
Eagle c0mpany's boat and ten river
packets We're blown away and hoated
down. Anchor line packet Capt
Moore. broke from her noorings at the
wharf at Chestnut street and was
blown across the river to the east side.
Passengers all saved. Steamer, Belle
of Calhoun broke from her mooring and
hoated down the river.
COURSE OF THE STORM
The second storm. which was the fun
mel shaped cloud that did the most ser
lous damage. burst upon the city from
the southwest Tt came ia on the south
side of Lafayette park, struck the city
hospital and from there tore its way
through the city to the river by q
northea sterly course lit wrought such
havoc that viii long leave traces ia
thaL part OF the city which lies east of
seventh street ana north of Carr street
TO the Eads bridge
The boats at the wharf were torn
nom their mornings and capsized or
Went adrift- The cloud crossed the
river, demolished the upper work 1T
the east end of the bridge and then it
Wfeaked its fury on East St Louis
9nortly after o'clock, with the sun
more than an hour above the western
horizon, there settled upon the CITY
clouds SO dense that daylight quickly
save place to the darkness of mid
night That was the precursor of the
tornado from the southwest.
The hurricane from the northwest
save The western portion OF the CITY q
severe shaking up The tornado from
the southwest. vs. hich is responsible for
the loss of life and destruction along
the levee district and East St Louis
1OlloWed the hurricane by about half
an nour ~ hat must be charged up
70 inns double visitation only time can
t1li- t1ea4ln Commissioner StarklOff,
two hours after the tornado had
passed. sent word that the deaths
would reach 200 and that no fewer than
l-vlV persons had sustained serious in
Jufles- By midnight reporters of the
Associated Press had visited all of the
stricken portions of the city and
suburbs. The list of the dead dfscov-
ereo fell far below the first estimates, +
but 1T was long enough to be appalling
Crushed beneath falling walls hurled
against the sides of buildings. struck
by flying timbers. cut by shattered
glass; shocked 10y the network of down
wires humanity suffered in ways i'm
q Vulnerable The names of all the in
cured viii never be known. Enough
were recorded at the dispensaries last /
night to show how widespread were I
the tornado's effects. OF the destruc-
ton of property there can be no salts
factory estimate given. The loss in
extent and in character is beyond con
ceptiOn
AT THE CITY HOSPITAL.
In the flashes of lightning last night
lle Clly hospital looked like a ruin The 4
new surgical ward was partially demol- /
ishd. Portions of three other buildings
We're unrO0Eed. Walls were cracked +
Even i'm the darkness the ply sicians /
began the removal of the patients to +
temporary quarters, fearful that the F
strained structures would so down in I
q general collapse There were $50 sick I
people i'm the hospital when the storm 4
came Some gathered strength i'm their /
fright and ran shrielIing from the place /
and finding shelter on the outside. 10 I
were injured in one ward. Convention I
han and the Four Courts We're in the /
path of the cloud as it passed from Ehe I
City hospital toward the river COnven- (
ton hail lost part of the roof, at least 4
one end, and the eastern end was pune I
tured i'm several places by flying mis- I
sles and sustained some arrangements (
of the interior Ten days work and the /
expenditure Of $4,000 viii make the han /
good again.
A section of the brick wall of the jail /
went down and the prisoners We're pam (
lie stricken In the district between /
Sixth street and the river. north from (
ChOteau avenue the tornado tore a dI- /
ag0nal path. The district comprises /
business houses, many Of them of the 4
older type. Every building within the |