The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-05-28

hsre and at East ST. Louis. ProDaO's
an or 600 Killed: twice that number In
~, ,.rsd We have rumors of cyclone at
WoberIy, Warrcnsburg and other towns
IN Missouri. Thirty killed at Vandalia'
His n Local situation terrible"
' THE REPUBLICAN,"
ST LOUIS. Mo-, May a.-peath and
,..,ruc,Ion reigns in St. Louis and Vi
cIr,ty tonight as a result of the most
, ,.r,ibIe storm that ever visited this
section Of the country. So widespread is
me destruction in both St Louis and
East St. Louis that 1t IS impossible to
even estimate the amount Of damage
and loss of life. Buildings Of every
Ss,criptIon are in ruins and as a result
hundreds of people are reported dead
and injured. but until daylight comes
and order Is restored, it will be impos-
sIble to make definite statements.
Reports are in circulation that seven
steamers lying at wharfboats on this
and East st. Louis side of the river
have been sunk with all on board. The
div "a in darkness, as the electric lights
and trolley wires are down. With
one or two exceptions. all the street
car lines in the city are at standstnl
and thousands of people are compelled
10 remain down town or walk home. The
storm broke about hve o'clock in the
afternoon after most oppresively
hot day and the rain began to fall It
soon Developed into a fterce thunder
storm, with the wind from the east
A little later the wind had gained a
velocity Of eighty miles an hour, driv-
ing the rain before IT and tearing loose
signs cornices, chimueys and every
thing in its way. Many buildings OF
every description were demolished and
others set on FIRE by lightning and
crossed wires. The first department
responded to fourteen alarms. The
streets were full of people going home
from work and panic ensued as soon
ns the storm broke. men were picked
up and hurled against the buildings
horses and carriages were sent flying
here and there and falling wires full Of
the deadly fluid, added to the horror
Of the scene. Suddenly the wind veered
around to the west and completed the
destruction.
Complete DarLnsss.
It Is asserted by some of those who
have traversed the downtown part OF
the city, that there are but few build
ings In St Louis that have not suffer-
ed in some way from the storm. To-
night the streets are in complete dark
mess and travel in every direction IS
DANGEROUS because Of fallen live wires
and debris lying everywhere. The
water ways of the Eads bridge on the
East st. Louis side is crumbling mass
Of mortar and stone and parts of the
tower and pier No. 1 were also torn
away.
Thousands Of dollars VIII not cover
the wreckage. An outbound accom-
modation train on the Chicago & Alton
was wrecked by broken rail, but for
tunately nobody among the passengers
we're hurt.
A trolley car loaded with passengers
bound for the west side is said to have
fallen through to the railroad track be-
low but with what result is not known
The roof OF the Republican hall wal
blown on and a very great section ol
the western wall of the city jail clea'
down, exposing the interior. 1t wa'
during exercise hours and two hundred
prisoners exercising in the building
we're panic-stricken.
They were too frightened to try tc
escape. JalIer Wagner was on The
soane in Il moment and with the aiC
Of n number of detectives and police
men the prisoners were placed in theil
cells.
The tanks OF the wuters-Pieree ol
Company on Gratlot street blew up
spreading destruction on every hand.
Three stories OF the Coo manutactur
ing company'B building, Ninth ant
Grauot, and nearly half OF the VAIN
wright brewery were blown down Tn
summer high school, Eleventh ant
Spruce, MeDcrmott's saloon, Eleventh
and Chestnut. the Central Emigrnnt oil
the opposite corner, Jerc sheehan's iV
cry stable, Eleventh and Walnut wer
unroofod. Tho engineer Of the Actin
iron works. Twenty-flrst and Pappll
streets. was almost instantly Killed
The walls blew in and he was scalde'
To death by steam, ,,
The Consolidated wire WORKS lWei
ty-nrgt ma pappin streets, was alnloH
totally wrecked. Seven people M
known 20 have been injured aerlousi
by this wrecl, and many more arn sni
10 have been hurt by falling walls' =,
Tho two story building ot inc u y, D
Sawyer manufacturing company 20
Chotcau avenue. wPS domolfhed Jon
SAWYER, a member Gf inc hru anu lsin
ma Chimney and Isabella linilhth' W.
writer's. were crushed to death under W
uaIta " u SAWYER, a member OF W