Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-08-13
STORM AT ST. LOUIS.
A Miniature Twister Tore Through
the Worlds Fair Grounds.
one MAN KILLED BY A FLYING PLANK


st. Louis, Aug. Gone Of the heav-
lest storms of the year, and OF brief
duration, swept over st. Louis at three
o'clock yesterday. being preceded by
a wind that in the western portion OF
the city developed into q miniature
twister which tore through the world,s
fair grounds, killing one man, probably
fatally injuring another and seriously
injuring seven others, besides causing
damage to worlds fair buildings and
other property generally throughout
the city to the extent Of $4,000. The
greatest fury Of the storm was felt at
the worlds fair grounds, where the
casualties occurred. The day had been
extremely warm. the temperature reg
istering "a degrees. Suddenly the SKY
began growing dark and within a COM
paratiyely short time 1t became neces-
sary to resort to artificial lights IN the
stores. Soon after the storm broke
with the force Of a gale. In the city
pedestrians hurried to shelter and the
wind swept through the streets, caus-
ing little damage outside Of broken
windows here and there, the falling OF
a few street signs and leveling OF shade
trees
At the worlds fair grounds the wind
swept from the southeast to the north
west In q miniature cyclone, revolv-
ing as 1t went. The agricultural build
ing stood in it's path and six laborers
working on the scaffolding were hurled
to the ground. Nine sets OF trusses
and timbers were RACED.
Theodore Richter, florist from
Kirkwood, a suburb, was on the
ground, running to shelter, when a fly
ing plank struck him, killing him IN
stantly. The wind next struck the
machinery building and one of the two
towers, 800 feet in height, was stripped
of scaffolding in a twinkling and two
workmen hurled to the ground In the
debris. Both escaped with severe
bruises. Debris was blown against the
staff-covered sides Of the completed
electricity building and sections OF the
staff were torn away.
The Missouri state building, the only
one of the six state buildings now In
the course of erection that is not pro-
tected by trees, was damaged to q
small extent.
On the administration building tow
ers, situated 40 feet apart, are two
flags. AS the twisting wind reached
this building 1t lifted and passed be-
tween the towers. One flag blew tc
the east and the other to the west and
vet neither was displaced or injured.
Along Skinker road, which passes
through the worlds fair grounds, u
telegraph poles, heavily strung witt
wires, were snapped like pipestem'
and fell across the street car track
for the time blocking traffic.
The wind lasted about five minutes
and was followed by torrential rain
accompanied by hail. Within 20 min
utes the rainstorm had spent itsel
and settled down to a fine summer
rain, which continued until evening
The temperature dropped within tel
minutes from "a to SO degrees.
Along the river front the wind swep
a number of lumber piles into the wa
ter and blew light freight from tn
wharf boats.
Across the river, in East st. Louis
considerable damage was done AM
Mrs. Margaret Riechmann, aged AZ
fearing a repetition of the 1895 tor
nado, dropped dead from fright
Three 16O-foot smokestacks at tn
street car power house were blow
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