Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-03

Company, one of the largest in east Mis-
sissipp, had fits yards swept away.
VIII Ethridge, young man, was carried
100 yards through the air and set down
well balanced on his feet unhurt. At this
hour details are meager, and the city is in
total darkness. Not until daylight can con-
ditions be properly discovered and COM
plete story of the disaster be told.
Vivid Description of Storm.
F. NJ Strutz of Washington, Mo-, who
arrived here today from Meridian, Miss.
gave a vivid description of last nights
tornado. Mr.. Strutz said;
II in the dining room of the Southern
Hotel when the death-dealing wind struck
the city. Late in the afternoon l noticed
dark clouds lowering around the city and
the humidity was very trying. Shortly
after 6:15 o'clock a terrible looking cloud
could be observed bounding out from the
southwest toward the city. This was fol-
lowed by downpour of rain, and then with
a rush and noise that struck terror to the
stoutest heart the tornado descended upon
that portion Of the city near the passenger
depot.
TT came toward the city from the south
west, following the railroad tracks which
passed through Meridian along Front
street. The noise was terrible. Among
the first buildings to go down was the cleo
trio lighting plant and the city was thrown
into sitting darkness. Confusion reigned.
People We're panic stricken and rushing into
the street from every direction. That the
death rate is not larger than that given is
marvellous, but can be accounted for prob
ably by the fact that many employees OF
wrecked houses, depots, offices and other
places maintaining large clerical forces had
finished the days work and gone to their
homes.
Path Two Blocks Wide.
Front street is devastated Few houses
are left standing there. The path of the
tornado was about two blocks wide, ex-
tending from the passenger depot north
ward to beyond I'd street. Buildings on
22d avenue from 1st to I'd street In north
erly direction are wrecked. large por-
ton of the Grand Avenue Hotel was de-
stroyed. The Y. NJ. C. A. building, directly
opposite, was wrecked, and the Old Sulphur
Hotel and the new union passenger station
was destroyed.
I'm this same area was the Meridian
cement works, which the storm wrecked.
officers of the company estimated their
loss at S250OOO A large cotton warehouse
where thousands of bales of cotton were
stored was demolished and cotton was
1T is almost impossible to tell the
amount of damage, but I think 1t viii be
more than a million dollars; The loss Of
life is estimated at about thirty-fve, about
twenty-five Of whom are negroes
Terror Of the Night.
ITO add to the terror of the night and
thronged the streets, fire broke out in va
rious parts of the ruined district. 1t was
known that many We're under the ruins of
the wrecked buildings. To rescue these
was the uppermost thought in the minds
of those who remained self possessed
Vandalism was also soon apparent. and to
keep back persons who were frenzied with
grief over missing friends and relatives
the local militia was called out by the
mayor Gordon of armed men was
thrown around the ruined business dis
trict. Lamps, candles and lanterns were
pressed into service by those engaged In
the work of rescue.
'I did not know of any persons taken
from the ruins, but some were dead ana
others so badly injured that they cannot
live. -. a.o -;
alarm was sent into the hre department.
The firemen worked heroicaliy to connne
the fire to the ruined area and by O'Clock
their efforts had succeeded.
"Wreckage, ruin and death appear 10 the
eve along the path of the tornado as II
leads into the country. Telegraph wires for
miles in either direction are prostrated-
I'm the area struck by the tornado the
wreck is complete. But few buildings are
left standing, and they are probably dam
aged Among the mercantlle houses oe
stroved are some of the largest concerns In
Meridian AS to the dead, only the clearing
away of the debris and wreckage can give
a complete list"
dispatch received at l O'Clock this
morning from Meridian announced the death
of r. F. Elmires proprietor of Elmires' res
taurant Elmires' relatives live in Mobile.