The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-26
Nearly Approaching the Great
Tornado in Velocity.
TWO PERSONS KILLED.
Several Injured and Much Dam
age to Property.
Roofs Torn Off and Big Build
ings Shaken.

St. Louis. Jan. ga gale of wind
that reached the highest velocity Of
any experienced here since the tornado
of May 27, 1896, when the destruction Of
life and property was so great pre-
vailed yesterday. It's highest velocity
was sc miles an hour and up to noon
two deaths and one fatal injury ana
several minor casualties had been re-
ported as well as considerable destruc-
ton of property.
The dead: August Weymyer, aged 81,
a carpenter who was blown from the
roof of the Shields school. He lived but
ten minutes after being taken to the
city hospital.
Thomas Joseph Peterson, four years
old, blown from the roof of a porch and
killed.
Injured: Mrs. Sarah ]. Lorin, spine
crushed, and she may die. Injury
caused by blowing down fence.
Mrs. w. B. Doddridge blown under
an express wagon, internal injuries.
Mary Wilson, struck by a sign and
hip dislOcated.
a terrific thunder storm, accompanied
by a heavy fall of hail and rain struck
the city and prevailed for an hour or
more. By daybreak the sky had cleared,
but it soon became cloudy again and
the wind began to rise. By 1915 the
wind was blowing at the rate of sc
miles an hour, but IA miles less than the
recorded velocity during the tornado of
96. 1t was a straight blow from the
southwest, and the residents of the city,
especially in the tornado stricken sec
ton, were seized with CONSERVATION.
Swinging signs and window paneS were
blown down and broken out, houses
demolished and fences leVeled, tele
graph poles and wires broken and in
some instances roofs were taken off.
frame building in Twelfth street
was blown down but no one hurt. The
east wall of the ruins of the RaVenWOOd
distiuery at Madison and Twenty-third
streets was blown over.
At Nineteenth and Market streets the
roof of a twO-story building was blown
down There were several thrilling
escapes, but so far as can be learned
no one was injured
The roof of two One-story buildings,
Nos. 809 and 81 Locust street occupied
respectively by J. B. Smart & Sons
tailors, and the Old Mansion barber
shop, were blown down clear across
the street.
The occupants of the store made
mad rush to escape and several were
caught by flying debris, though all es-
capped serious injury. The guests of the
ST Nicholas hotel, Immediately adjoin-
ing, rushed excitedIy from their apart
ments.
The wind created much alarm at the
-Four Courts, especially among the Jail
prisoners. The big old building swayed
perceptibly and there was a general ex-
odus from the upper floors.
AT the electric power house which
supplies East st. Louis with light the
large smoke stack was blown down
carrying with it the main wires of the
city circuits, leaving the city in dark
ness.
In Belleville, Ill, many large smoke
stacks and chimneys were blown down.
and there We're numerous narrow es-
capes from death there and in East St
Louis. The damage along the river
was comparatively slight as there were
but few steamers in the harbor and
these were safely tied to the shore.
1t is reported that several Of the
houseboats scattered up and down the
river have been wrecked