Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-29
SHROUDED IN DARKNESS And Wrapped in the Silence of
 DeSoIation. LARGE PORTION OF ST. LOUIS Is Virtually Mass ofRuins-No Lights Burn,
 No Cars Run.
THE WONDER IS NO MORE WERE KILLED
Fire at Five Points Added to the Horror, But Mercy Came With the Deluge. Citizens Are Shoulderlng the
 Burden of Relief.

St. Louis, May 2S.-A district in this city bounded north by Chouteau avenue, west by Grand avenue, south to the city limits and east to the river Is virtually a mass of ruins. Not an electric light has burned nor car run in that section, comprising 72O blocks. since 5:2O D. m. yesterday. Within this territory scarce ly building has escaped injury and thousands of them are in ruins. On sur veying the desolate scene one marvels that the deaths are not greater. Begin ming at the western boundary of the scene Is the handsome and exclusive res- idence section known as Compton Hill,the home of the fourth generation of the early French settlers of St. Louis. This aristocratic home place is strewn with debris. Just east lies Lafayette park. There the trees, shrubbery and statury that have been the pride of the city were caught by the wind and the place is shaven bare as with a giant scythe.
 Farther east and south to the city linn it's were the homes of thrifty German Americans, who have given a distinct character to the district. Tonight thou sands of them are homeless, many of them lying like nomads amid the ruins or sharing the roofs of their hospitable friends and more fortunate neighbors Interspersed in this latter section and on east to the river are mills, breweries and numberless large concerns. These were fair targets for the storm and they suf- fered. It was this class of losses that add most to the sweeping away of what is conservatively stated to be $4,0000 900 invested capital There are sixteen brew cries within these boundaries, worth $4,- 100000, and while none are destroyed all are damaged. The losses fall heaviest on those least able to bear them.
 After the storm had laid its heavy hand upon the southern half of the city fire came to complete the work of de- struction. Five columns of flames shot up but, thanks to the deluge of rain, the blaze was mainly confined to it's starting point In three instances engines were unable to get nearer than a block from the fires.
 Unsolicited, the work of relief began here at once by the whole people. A meeting of the citizens was held at noon at the Merchants exchange. After brief addresses by Rev. pr. w. W. Boyd and Mayor c. P. Walbridge, contributions were asked for. Within forty minutes, or as fast as the sums given could be acknowledged, $14,000 was in the secre- tary's hands. Contributions continued after adjournment. It is not proposed to go outside the city for aid, though no offering will be refused. President c. Spencer of the Merchants exchange was made chairman of the committee on dis tribution and set to work at once to place the relief money.
 Every flag staff on the auditorium building, where the republican conven- tion will be held, was broken, and the pole on which the stars and stripes so proudly waved an hour before was blown off and the flag ripped into shreds The east roof of the building was blown off. The flying boards shattered win dows within radius of 150 feet. The plaster on the roof was carried away. This caused many holes and crevices, through which the water poured and submerged the floor of the building. There is not much left of the roof, and it will have to be replastered and repa- pered.
 A couple of roof joists went through the south wall of the building, tearing in their path a space 4 by 15 feet, and this was not through windows, but through the solid portions of the walls. These portions of the roof hung threateningly and were removed after the storm had abated.
 Thestorm was more destructive in force when it crossed Seventh street from the east. The eddying currents of wind again and again returned to make the street wilderness. At least forty peo- pie were killed along this thoroughfare and the streets immediately adjacent House after house was totally demolish- ed, and the wonder grows with extended that the number of deaths is not far in excess of what it now ap- pears to be. Nally's saloon at Seventh street was a total wreck. When it fell it was full of men who had taken refuge there and from fifteen to twenty were killed.
 One poor fellow has been taken out dead and ten others seriously injured. It is thought others are still in the bricle choked basement and a gang of men is busy digging into the debris. The force of the wind was so frightful along here that the iron trolley supporting poles of the Southwestern electric line are bent over the ground. They did not break, but bent like copper wire.
 The storm was more destructive in force