New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1906-03-07
MERIDIAN, MISS, IS
WRECKED BY TORNADO
DEATH HARVEST OF CYCLONE
ESTIMATED AT ABOUT NINE
TEEN LIVES.
LOSS ESTIMATED AT
OVER MILLION DOLLARS
Storm Passes Over Town in Less Than
-Four Minutes - Buildings Blown
Down - Confusion Reigns - Gov.
Vardaman to Aid Rescue.

Meridian, Miss, March 5.-The total
list of dead from tornado which
struck this city numbers 10, with one
missing, and perhaps several bodies
under the debris. The number of in
jured is about so. The militia is keep
ing the crowds back, while the search
Of the ruins progresses The citizens
held meeting and organized for re-
lief work
Thirteen bodies have been recovered
from the Wreckage Of buildings causes
by the storm, and the search goes on
The property loss by storm and fire
is far greater than at first supposed
| A special train has left Jackson for
this city, With Gov. Vardaman, 100
members of the legislature, and man.,
| at Meridian
| Town Has Reign of Terror
| The storm was estimated Of about
four minutes duration. During this
time reign of terror was over every
one. The air was flied with missiles
of death. 1t seems remarkable that
more did not meet death. A rain fell
steadily for half an hour following the
| tornado, as if in a manner to Dalliate
the terror and aid in the suppression
of the innumerabe fires that were
springing up.
| While Meridian has suffered the
greatest disaster Of the year, yet she
iS hplr1pCc tba, IN, ictr
cept it be in sympathy with those who
have lost life and property. The resi-
dence portion of the city is safe from
| harm.
Considered Tornado Proof.
| Meridian had always considered
itself tornado-proof. Mount Barton
and the sand mountain hills were ac-
copied as a sentinel against such dis
asters. The Sowashee valley was
crossed by the storm, and this was
F., most unexpected, for if ever wind were
to swoop down on the city it was ex-
pected to pass this valley
F. z. Woodruff, bookkeeper for the
Meyer-Neville Hardware company,
had the most narrowing experience of
those left to tell the story He was
plnioned Nnder the debris of this five
story structure, his foot caught but
his body peculiarly protected from in
jury. Workmen are busily engaged in
an effort to relieve him, and with saw
and hammer he was aided. The fire
department has recovered the charred
bodies of several negroes taken from
the ruins Of small tenements which
were in the wake of the wind and fire.
Huddle About Fires.
Before others of these huddled about
bonf1res kindled with the debris of
! their former homes, others sit clus-
| tered and wonder how many more will
be found among the dead instead of
| the missing.
The property loss cannot be safely
estimated, for reports are in conflict.
1t is safe to estimate the figure at a
round million. The largest single loss
will probably fall on the Meyer-Ne-
| Vile Hardware company. This in
stitution is in totally collapsed con-
dltion. The building is brick heap.
The Meridian Fertilizer company's
loss is almost total 1t was this build
ing that the storm first struck in it's
mad fury. In northeasterly direc-
ton the wind wound it's way, tearing
path through negro settlement.
Little is known of the loss of life
there. The property loss will not be
great
| Power Station Destroyed.
The power station was visited. and
while the tall chimney escaped the
fury OF the wind, yet other parts OF
the plant are SO demolished that it is
| said it may be ten days before it is
| possible to reestablish it's lighting
facilities. Along north of the power
| house the storm overturned a few box
cars and crossed the tracks of the
Alabama & Vicksburg railroad. There
is cluster of depots in this vicinity.
and two operators in these were in
jured. The buildings were damaged.
but no lives lost The Armour Pack
ing company's building barely side
| stepped the path Of the storm. 1t was
grazed by the flying timbers, but was
missed. The Tom Lyle Grocery com
pany was crushed to a heap of spin
tered lumber and fire followed its fall.