The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-03-04


many of the furious tornadoes of the
ground and sent men. women, and child
rem to early graves. the one which
spread death and destruction over Mer-
idian and vicinity last night came Un-
aware.
Not the least warning did the atmos-
pheric conditions give a few minutes be-
fOrehand of the great storm that was
to follow the clearing of the sky after
il had rained all day. The storm did
its work in five minutes.
From figures indicated by systematic
canvass IL is hoped that the death list
viii be lowered, although nothing de-
finite at this time can be advanced as
TO the aggregate.
Under Martial Law.
The district swept over by the cyclone
has been placed under martial law, and
national guaTdsmen are aiding the police
in keeping back the crowds that are
anxious to aid the searchers who are
carefully going over the debris TO ascer-
tain absolutely that none are under the
ruins.
Governor Vardaman arrived shortly
after I O'Clock on a special train bear
ing forty cOnvicts. The convicts and
laborers are to remain under command
Of General Fridge to assist in clearing
away the debris.
Before striking the city proper Friday
night the tornado struck and demolish-
ed the plant OF the Cotton State Lum-
Der Company at Meehan junction and
caused damage there amounting 10
$3.50. 900. The mammoth plant was shat
tered to spIinters. and fire, which fol-
lowed, aided the work of destruction,
wiping out all of the outbuhdings.
Then Came Meridian.
The mighty storm bore down on the
city with fury that knew no bounds,
even after it had wrecked buildings and
hurled roofs down on the heads Of hu-
man beings
First the storm struck the immense
factory structure of the Meridian Fer-i
tiIizer Company, and there is where for
tune favored many in the employ of
that concern. Twenty minutes prior fifty
men were al work in that building. and
had the storm come twenty minutes
earlier those nifty men would undoubt-
edly have been crushed to death along
with the seven colored men who were
at work there when the wind tore the
building 10 pieces.
From here the storm proceeded east
ward and the next obstacle which it en-
countered in its path was the electric
light plant which it damaged to such
an extent that il WAS some time before
the power could be regulated.
Business Section Swept.
The principal business street of Merid-
ian is today a vacant strip of territory,
many blocks of debris. Only one build
ing. the Armcur & Company's plant
was left standing.
Suddenly. when all in the city was
quiet save the roaring OF the wind and
the cries of the stricken human beings.
there pealed out bells and whistles.
Fires broke out in half a dozen sec
tiOns of the city about the same time.
The militia was called into service and
all hands that were not injured or busy
caring for the wounded and the dead
were called into service to check the
flames. which threatened to devour that
part of Meridian which had not been
ruined by the hurricane. The fire was
checked after hard fight.
Searching the Ruits.
The search of the ruins. which is SOW
going on. may result in many bodies be-
Ing found OF persons who lost their lives
in their homes, which were demolished
without warning.
Tn to this evening there was a veri-
fed death list OF eighteen whites and a
number of colored people. Reports from
the outlying districts are coming in very
slowly.
The pathway of the storm was two