The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-30
PATH OF THE TORNADO.
Where Havoc Was Greatest in the
Residence Part OF the City.

ST. LOUIS Mo-. May 29.-A,though thou
sands of men have been at work night and
day clearing away the wreckage in the path
OF the tornado, they have scarcely made a
percepti5le impression toward restoring the
chaotic confusion to anything like order.
Passageways have bee.i made through some
of the principal thoroughfares, II is true. but
for the most part the streets are still choked
with the battered remains Of homes and fac
tories, hospitals and churches. The path OF
the storm is fully mile and half wide
1t starts away out In the suburbs of the
city. where beautiful homes of people of
wealth are located. Taking a zigzag course
it extends down through where the dense,y
populated tenement houses are located, fully
six miles, and crosses the river.
AT the extreme limits of the city to the
west is a quarter known as Tower Grove
Park. 1t is populated by people of wealth.
and the houses are palatial, with beautiful
grounds and surroundings. To the southeast
Of this is another region of wealth. The
storm moved its way through them both
Magnificent residences in both places were
cleared off the earth in some cases, while
in others roofs were carried away, trees torn
from their roots and al the picturesque
beauty destroyed. Along California avenue
and Compton Heights are strewn wrecked
homes, roofs Of houses, trees and masses of
rubbish whirled into the city from the farms
and wild timber beyond the city limits. The
same is true of the other thoroughfares. Not
a tree or a house in the way of the storm
was left without damage. From the corner
of ST. Vincent and California avenues away
to the northwest as far as the eye can reach
is stretch of devastation and ruin. The
Christian Church, at this corner, is an al
most unrecognizable pile of brick, mortar
and timbers.
A little to the south stands the Missouri
Pacific Railway Hospital. A greater portion
of the roof was torn off and the whole build
ing was so badly wrenched that the superin-
tendent, DR.. p. F. Vasterling, says 1t will
take at least $1,000 to repair the damage.
There are nearly one hundred patients in
the hospital, and they were thrown into
state OF panic. The Hogden school, still south
of the hospital Is wrecked 10 the second
floor, while row of RESIDENCES across the
street were not harmed. The chouteau
school, half mi.e north, was 50 badly dam
aged that it will probably have 10 be re-
built, while nearly every dwelling intervenr
ing was unrocfed or demolished. At Califor-
MIA and Russell avenues the houses at the
northeast corner are in ruins, while those on
BUT for boss IN raned
buildings. Looking from this point toward
the business center Of the city as far as the
eye could reach are wrecks of homes.
The course of the storm was down val
ley where. before the city was laid out
stream had run. Chouteau avenue lies
ougafare leading 10 the heart of ct. Louis
For mile TO the south and nearly half
mile north OF Cbouteau avenue. was the
path of the storm. I-cngfellow boulevard.
a winding street, lined with handsome
homes. was left with scarcely building
unharmed. AT Missouri and Russell ave-
almost swept clean of the buildings that
stood upon IL before the storm. North from
| here is an immense pile OF brick and ma
ch.nery and street cars. II. is wnat remains
of what was Scullins's electric street-rail-
way power house II Is estimated that $780,
600 will scarcely cover the damage done
here. East from this ruins foss half a mile
| there is scarcely building left standing.
Lafayette Park, one OF the most attractive
public pleasure grounds In the city. has not
| thickst of underbrush, with the trunks OF
| great trees, twisted and torn, scattered
throughout The Lafayette Park Methodist
| Church, facing the park. is In ruins, as is
nearly every beautiful house in that vicinity.
| AT Lafayette and Missouri avenues is a
fayette-avenue fasYs e. Venue Baptist C Church North Of
Lafayette Park are the ruins OF Schneider s
| beer garden. Nearly every house on the
| east side OF this street for a mile or more
| is blown down or badly injured.
| Browns tobacco factory. a six-sto-y struc-
| ture az Eighteenth street and Chouteau ave-
| the north of ii is what remains of Evans
| Bros, tobacco warehouse. A snort distance
4 east of the warehouse Is the wreckage left
| from the exploded gas1ouse- a short dis
/ tance south OF Chouteau avenue, on Seven
| teenth street, is the Fulton Grammar
| School. or tire ruin OF ii. From here can
| he seen the remains of the Citv poSpitai.
Tais structure. according 10 Adolph Berriner,
| the superintendent. has been damasea 70
| the extent OF over $100,000 The stables OF
| the hospital have been razed to the ground,
| while the building itself is so badly
| wrecked as to be- almost uninhabitable. The
| patients have fol> the most part been re-
moved 70 the Good Shepherds Hospital De