The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-06-04
STRICKEN ST. LOUIS.
Tho Missouri Metropolis Over.
 whelmed by a Tornado.
Hundreds Killed and Many More Injured- Buildings and Vessels Wrecked and General Destruction by the Re-
 morseless storm.


 rose on St. Louis and vicinity this morning it showed scene of terrible ruin and disaster, wind, rain and fire having combined in a mission of de- struction. At least 200 lives were lost tn this city and as many more in East St. Louis, while thousands were in. iurcd, many so severely that they cannot recover. The exact number of dead and injured will, however, not be known for many days for the debris of ruined buildings undoubtedly covers scores of people The damage and de- struction of property will aggregate many millions of dollars, but the ex- net amount cannot be estimated with any degree of certainty.
 The tornado, which caused this de. struction, struck the city yesterday afternoon at 5:l5 o'clock and soon swept to East St Louis. The greatest damage on this side of the river was inflicted within a three mile strip along the Mississippi Many buildings were totally wrecked by the force of the wind and others were unroofed, while very few escaped some injury. Signs and cornices were torn off, shade trees and everything else suffered.
 Health Commissioner Starkloff, two hours after the tornado had passed, feared that the dead would reach 200 and that not fewer than 1000 persons had sustained serious injuries. By midnight reporters of the Associated press had visited all of the stricken portions of the city and suburbs and Dr. Starkloff's estimates were fully confirmed. The dead were found in all parts of the devastated section, while crushed be. heath falling walls, hurled against the sides of buildings, struck by flying timbers, cut by the shattered glass, shocked by the network of down wires, humanity suffered in ways innumer- able and the names of all the injured will never be known. Enough were recorded at the dispeusaries last night to show how widespread were the tor nado's effects
 In the flashes of lightning last night the city hospital looked like a ruin. The new surgical ward was partially demolished. Portions of the other buildings were unroofed. Walls were cracked. Even in the darkness the physicians began the removal of pa. tients to temporary quarters, fearful that the strained structure would ge down in general collapse.
 The city hall and the Four Court, were in the path of the cloud as i, passed from the city hospital toward the river, and both were damaged Part of the jail wall was demolished Convention hall lost part of the root on the eastern end and the east enc was punctured in several places by fly. ing missiles, and sustained some de. rangement of the interior Ten days work and the expenditure of S5,OOt will make the hall good again.
 In the district between Sixth street alAt the river northward from Choutear avenue, the tornado tore q diagona path. The district comprises bushes, houses, many of them of the olde, type Every building within tht path sustained damage. Smokestacl,. and chimneys were toppled over, walls were leveled and roofs vert lifted. Thousands of windows were broken and miles of telegraph and telephone wires were left in network | on the ground. Through this distric | the streets are impossible.
 No words can do justice to the hor TOTS of the scene at Seventh and Rut | ger streets In one wreck alone 1t il known that more than 20 bodies are still buried. Five manglcd forms were uncovered and removed just befort midnight.
 Of all the crafts that lined the rive, for miles, but one remains to tell tho story of the disaster. After the tor nado had passed it left scene of des olation where ten minutes before steamers had rocked quietly at the docks, s,some just arriving and discharg ing their passengers; others preparing l for departure. Trucks and baggage had been tossed hither and thither, most of it into the river; blows and az ricultural implements had been dis. i tributed up and down the levee as fa, | as could be seen, and the whole ap. pearance was that of waste and wreck
 The death dealing cloud crossed the river at such an angle as to strike and | wreck the upper works at the east end | or the Eads bridge and to sweep part of East St Louis. In comparison to Its size the fatalities and losses in East st. Louis greatly exceed those on this side of the river. The larger part of the central portion of the city is razed to the ground, while on the flats along the river back to the north of the Eads bridge not house is left standing.
 Fire added much to the loss account Down wires, wild currents of electric ity' crushed buildings, all contributed 10 this element of destruction. The alarm system was paralyzed. Alp. breaches were blocked. A S200, GOO eonflagration on the St. Louis side was supplemented by dozen lesser fires. In East St. Louis a mill was burned and two other considerable losses were sustained. To the enormous total fires added at least $500, GOO. Such another night of horror may St. Louis never know.
 --
 Near the Two Million Mark.