Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-29
REPORTS FROM ST. LOUIS
Anxiouily Looked for BY Missouri Congress-
men.
Representative Cobb Among Those
Whose Property Was Damaged
What He Has Heard.

Representative Cobb Is the only one of the
st. Louis members Of Congress who has
been able to get any news from that city
He received several kilograms from there
last night and this morning.
His apprehension yesterday that the
storm had done great damage at Lafayette
Park and near his residence was correct
Lafayette Park" said Mr.. Cobb to a Star
reporter, SIS completely destroyed. 1t was
the prettiest park Of its kind In the world
It contained about twenty acres, and was
a grand spot" Mr.. Cobb's residence at
No. Benton place. within one hundred
yards Of the park, was badly damaged, as
was that of relative at No. Z Benton
place, but the families In the houses es-
capped unhurt. The following are copies Of
some Of the kilograms to Mr.. Cobb, the
first three being from his business partner.
w. A. Gardner:
IAN at our house and Wales safe and
we'll. The scenes Of distress and destruc-
ton are appalling. The greatest fury Of
the storm in Southwest st. Louis,
along the river front, and in East St.
Louis.
Reports of the loss of life and property
are increasing. The southwest part Of the
city, in the neighborhood of Lafayette
Park and the reservoir, is wreck Mr..
Hubbard says all houses in Benton place
badly damaged. yours among the others
--latest reports place the loss of life at
five hundred, aside from East st. Louis
and the loss Of property at ten to fifteen
million. Decentralization reigns. No wires,
mails or trains. Markets sick. Can't tell
how we may suffer, but hope for the best"
From the manager of the Postal Tee-
graph Company. who is a close personal
friend of Mr.. Cobb, the following telegram
was received.
Our beautiful Lafayette Park completely
ruined. Only few trees left. Wrecked all
street car power. Streets full of rubbish
md Vryfr Of ~ in n II Ia
and loss of life we dread to estimate
Looking for News.
Representative icy of st. Louis stated
to Star reporter this morning that he
had received no news from ST. Louis. and
that he did not expect to hear from there
until tonight or tomorrow, as he knew the
wires would be packed with business for
several days.
Mr.. Joy said that. from the newspaper
accounts. he was So tisfled that the brunt Of
the storm had been in Representative Cobb 8
district, and that the district Of. Represen-
tative Bartholdt, who was much alarmed
yesterday. had been barely touched prac-
tically no damage being done there.
Talking of the crowded condition of the
telegraph wires Mr.. Joy said: II expect
there are 100000 people scattered through
out the country who have relatives in St.
Louis, and are trying to hear from them
This VIII give you an idea of the enormous
business the telegraph companies have on
hand"
Senator Teller is telling story of Eads.
the architect and designer of the great
Eads bridge at ST. Louis, which was dam
aged in the storm. Mr. Teller says that
when Mr.. Eads had completed The designs
| for the bridge and had submitted the plans
estimates of cost, etc, he happened 20 read
in paper a story of a railroad engine be-
ing blown off a bridge by a cyclone. He
thought over the matter and said to him
self: Il believe 1 will dc this over" He
Immediately revised his plans, strengthen
ing the bridge in many ways so as to
make 1t almost impervious to a storm His
wise action is seen Although the bridge
was damaged. it was not swept into the
river, as might have been the case had it
been constructed on the original plans