The Western news., 1906-03-07
TWENTY-FIVE KILLED.
RESULT OF TORNADO down AT
MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI.
Twenty-four Persons Were Injured
and Property Loss Will Be Over a
MiIlion-TweIve Blocks of Business
Center Swept Away-State SweIIs
Relief Fund-Convicts Aid.

Meridian, Miss, March 4-Twenty
persons are known to have been killed
as result of the tornado which swept
over section of this city. Twenty
four persons were injured and prop
erty with an estimated value of ST.
100000 was destroyed. Twelve blocks
in the center of the business section
was swept away and not one house of
any consequence along Front street
was left standing. In the terror and
confusion following the storm reports
of an appalling loss of life were cur
rent, but after careful canvass OF
the situation the following list of dead
appears to be complete:
Whites: Patrick McGinnis, conduc
tor; Cliff Edwards, fagman; j. P.
Tarry, w. B. Nelson, Mrs. E. A. Sin
gleton and 2 year old granddaughter,
J. r. Smith, Mr.. Stewart and little
son of Cottondale, Mrs. Smith of Cot
tondale, Claude Williams, B. F. Elmire,
proprietor of a restaurant; seven col
ored persons.
The 16 clerks in the Queen and
Crescent Offices who were reported
killed have all been accounted for.
A mass meeting of citizens was
scribed to aid the destitute and in
jured. The Mississippi legislature, in
session at Jackson, has appropriated
$4,000 to the relief fund
Governor Vardaman secured spe-
cial train and, loading it with convicts
from the Rankin county farm. de-
spatched it at once to Meridian. The
city now enjoys the unique spectacle
of state convicts aiding in the rescue
work.
Freaks of the Tornado.
Charles Harris, an operator for the
Queen & Crescent railroad, owes his
escape from injury when the wind
struck that building to the fact that
he was already cripple. Many of the
others in the building when they heard
the wind roaring outside attempted
to escape and several of them were
killed. Harris was handicapped and
suuatted on the floor hoping that the
storm might pass over his head, which
it did. He escaped with few scratch
es.
Among the other freaks the wind
played was the carrying of little ba-
by of Jim Stewards from it's home,
sweeping it through the air many feet
above the ground and finally deposit
ing it gently on the ground uninjured.
The baby lay in the rain for some
| time but appeared none the worse for
| it's experience. This morning about 5
o'clock when the searchers found the
missing child it was peacefully sleep
| ing.
| One of the tragedies of the tornado
| was the suicide of Claude Williams,
| floor manager of the Meier-Neville
Hardware company. Mr.. Williams was
at the center of the first floor when
| the building collapsed. His cries for
help were heard, but all efforts to
reach him were futile. When he
realized his doom he ended his suffer
ings by slashing his throat with his
pocket knife. His body was recovered
Mr. Williams was about 25 years of
age, unmarried, and the only support
of two sisters.
Later Reports.
Meridian, Miss March 5.-The re-
vised list of the dead and injured as
the result of the tornado shows total
of "a dead and 46 injured, number of
| whom are not expected to live.
The property loss is estimated at
$1,250,000, the number of destroyed
| residences alone being placed at 500
practically all being in the Lindsey
| Hill section of the east end and
Georgetown.
OF the sufferers from the tornado
| only five carried tornado insurance
| amounting to $4,000.
Work of relief was continued all day
and hundreds of mechanics will begin
| the work of rebuilding tomorrow.
| Reports received from Macon, Ma
rion and Meehan Junction, all of which
We're reported destroyed, stated that
there were no fatalities at those places
Meehan Junction escaped entirely. The
| general relief committee today decided
to accept the volunteer contributions
from other points, but stated positive
| ly that Meridian was not seeking out
side aid.