Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-04
NINETEEN KILLED;
MANY INJURED
TORNADO AT MERIDIAN LEAVES
HUNDREDS HOMELESS
Latest Reports Tell Of Awful Storm
Convlcts Aid In Rescue Work.
Governor Arrives on
Special Train
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
MERIDIAN, Miss, March 3.-Nine-
teen people are known to have been
killed as the result of a tornado which
swept over section of this city short
ly after o'clock last evening.
Twenty-four persons were injured
and property with an estimated value
of S1,000,000 was destroyed. Twelve
blocks in the very center of the bus
mess section were swept away and not
one house of any consequence along
Front street was left standing.
In the terror and confusion follow
ing the storm reports of an appalling
loss of life were current, but after a
careful canvass of the situation to-
night the following list of dead appears
to be complete:
List of Dead
Patrick McGinnis, conductor Mobile
Ss Ohio.
Cliff Edwards, flagman.
j. P. Tarry.
w. B. Nelson.
Mrs. Ella Singleton and little grand
daughter.
John r. Smith.
Mr.. Stewart and little son of Cot
tondale.
Mrs. Smith of Cottondale
Claude Williams.
3. F. Elmore, proprietor of a res
tsurant.
Seven colored people.
Sixteen clerks in the Queen & Cres-
cent office, who We're reported killed,
have all been accounted for.
A mass meeting of citizens of Merid-
ian was called today and $4,000 was i'm
mediately subscribed to aid the des-
titute and injured. The Mississippi
legislature in session at Jackson to-
day appropriated $4,000 to the relief
fund.
Convicts Aid In Rescue Work
Governor Vardaman at New Orleans
secured a special train, and loading it
with convicts from the Rankin county
farm, dispatched it at once to Meridian.
The city now enjoys the unique spec
tacle of state convicts aiding in the
rescue work.
Business is practically suspended,
and every citizen is giving his best ef-
fort toward alleviating the suffering.
The tornado appeared in the south
west at 6:27 o'clock last evening. A
low funnel-shaped cloud was seen to
form near the city. A heavy rain had
been falling and soon the humidity be-
came intense. With a roar that could
be heard great distance the storm de-
scended on the city.
The greatest loss of life is reported
from the east end, in what is known
as the cotton mill settlement The
largest cotton mill there was partially
wrecked and probably 400 small houses
were entirely or partially demolished.
The tornado swept Front street and
wrought great damage there.
City Thrown in Darkness
The electric light plant was partially
wrecked and the city was thrown into
total darkness. Lanterns, candles and
even coal oil lamps were used by the
people in seeking places of safety.
The tornado also did severe damage
on Twenty-second avenue between
Front and Railroad streets. Several
houses on this avenue were wrecked
The work of the storm lasted only for
a brief period, the entire destruction
being wrought within the space of
seven minutes.
Among the buildings destroyed and
practically ruined We're those of the
Thomas Lyle Grocery company,
Elmer's restaurant, Myer- Neville Hard
ware company, Grand avenue hotel
Thornton's Transfer company building
Culpepper hotel, New Orleans & North
eastern freight depot, Young Mems
Christian association building Meridian
Chair company, the city electric light
plant, w. j. Woodside & Company,
Pearce Compress company, Gulf Com
press company and innumerable smaller
buildings used for residences by work
ingmen and negroes.
1t is generally understood that little
IL any tornado insurance was carried
and the loss will therefore fall heavily
on the owners of the damaged prop
erty