The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-29
not found until several hours after

81 Louis, May S,-During the ther-
rifle storm the great Auditorium build
ing in which the National Republican
convention is to be held was so badly
damaged that 1t will take at least ten
days to repair it. The convention was
scheduled to be held in the building on
June 16.
All the workmen that can be employ
ed will be needed to repair the DANA
ges to buildings in ST. Louis and East
st. Louis. This may cause extra de-
lay in the reconstruction of the conven-
ton building. 1t Is thought not likely
that the city will be in shape to re-
ceive the Acknowledgements, even If the
building is repaired by the time that the
convention is called.
When the Auditorium building was
constructed it took two months to COM
plete it.
The Convention hall, as 1t is called
here, is the only building in the city
that can accommodate 5000 or 5000 per-
sons, and unless it is repaired in time
some action will have to be taken by
republicans to change the date and pos
sibly the place of holding the conven-
ton. Under ordinary conditions it
would be an easy matter to get the
building In shape again, but hundreds
of dwellings and factories have also
been destroyed or damaged, so that
there will be lack of accommodation
for the delegates if the Auditorium
building is repaired in time and the con-
vention held here.
When the Windstorm was at it's height
report was received at police head
quarters that the Auditorium building
had been totally destroyed, 1t was
some time before the actual damage
to the building could be ascertained
1t was then learned that part of the
roof of Convention hall on the east end
had been carried away and destroyed
The walls in several places We're pune
tured by flying timbers, and much of
the interior was more or less damaged.
The hall was in the path of the storm,
and that it was not totally destroyed
was &. surprise to every one The
building is constructed of Georgia
pine. Its size was one of the strongest
arguments used to induce the republic
cans to hold the convention in ST. Lou
is.
SCENE IN THE PATH OF THE
STORM.
St. Louis, May 2S.-Great heaps of
debris, fallen buildings that had been
wrenched and twisted from the founda-
tons; obstruction and desolation, at
daybreak this morning marked the path
of the death-dealing tornado that
swept over part of this city last even
ing. How many had been killed could
not be told this morning, except that
the number was in the hundreds.
At noon to-day the work of recovery
of the dead bodies was continued. 1t
was then estimated that fifty were dead
in the city. The number of the injur-
ed will never be known. During the
night the worktof the band of rescuers
was slow. Wires had been torn down
and formed a network in the streets.
The electric currents were turned off
and those searching for the dead and
injured had to work in the dark.
The fire in East ST. Louis, it is es~
timated, did damage to the extent of
81, 900 600.
There was an anxious time after the
storm when St Louis could not COM
municate with the outside world. The
citizens could not communicate with
GaCn OlnpE ny ltlSpllDilC. ihNtA NSoid
not get word to their homes Wives
at home could not reach their husbands.
Breaking at the hour 1t did, and the
night following, the work of rescue was
slow.
The firemen and police were made
aids to the, surgeons of the city.
The only fairly reliable report of the
storm came in about midnight from Mi
Ian in Sullivan county. That is north
west of St Louis The big black cloud
was seen there and there was a high
wind, but no damage. 1t crossed the
Missouri in ST. Charles county and then
attacked this city.
PASSENGERS SAW THE STORM.
Decatur. May 2S.--Passenger train NO.
10 on the Wabash railroad, which was
due here at $50 last night, arrived at
11:40 o'clock and is the only train ex-
pected. The other trains cannot get
out of ST. Louis owing to the wrecked
bridge.
Train No. 10 left East st. Louis be-
fore the storm struck the city, but at
Bridge Junction, ten miles north, the
passengers and trainmen saw the storm
sweeping toward the city.
1t was within half a mile of the train
and appeared to be making directly for
it. Fortunately it turned and swept
toward the river unrooting trees, de-
molishing fences and leaving track
of waste behind.
FREIGHT HOUSE DESTROYED.
Chicago, May 2S.-Word was received
here by wire to-day that the Vandalia
freight house at East st. Louis was
blown into atoms and all the employees
at work inside, except four clerks, were
killed.
Arrangements were made by the Chi
cago and Alton railroad to send spec
ial train to ST. Louis with two carloads
of Western Union supplies and a party