Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-08

Storm, Cuts a Swath TWO Blocks Wide
Through TIE Business Center. Few
Buildings in lis Path Escaping De-
struction-Proeersy Damage Conser.
vativeiy Estimated at More Than
One Million Dollars.
Meridian. Miss. March S,-The loss
of life in the tornado which plowed a
pathway from the southern 10 the
eastern suburbs o. this city numbers
i. t~enty-siN and folty-SiN persons were
injured. The property daulase is fully
s~l.250,o0o.
The storm broke over the city al
e:a7 p. NJ. and was OF four minutes
duration. During this time 2 reign OF
terror prevailed. TIE wind Vas fol
lowed by q rainfall lasting half an
hour. aiding in the suppression Of the
ipnumerabla fires that were springing
up.
HS hSAN ~ = hhS AANs
from the southwest. followins the
railroad tracks, which pass through
Meridian along First street. One OF
the first buildings TO go down was the
electric lighting plant and the city
was thrown into darkness. Among
the oChe. buildings destroyed are the
following: The Meridian cotton mill:
the Queen and Crescent freight depot;
the Lyle Grocery company; the c. u.
Rubbish lumber yards; the Meyer
Neville Hardware company; the Grand
Avenue hotel: the Ogden hotel; the
railroad y. NJ. c. \ and Elnlire's res
taurant. y large number o. small
buildings were either demolished or
damaged.
That the death rate is not larger
than that given is marvellous, but can
be accounted for probably by the fact
that many employees OF the mercantile
houses, depot. Offices and other places
maintaining large clerical forces had
finished their days work and gone TO
their homes in other portions OF the
city. where no damage was done.
Few Houses Left Standing.
Front stree presents a devastated
appearance and but few houses are
left standing, The tornedo's path was
about two blocks in width, extending
from the passenger depot northward
10 beyond Second street. Buildings
Of Twenty-second avenue from First
10 Second street and a northerly di,
rectiou are wrecked. 4 large portion
Of the Grand Avenue hotel was torn
away, the y. NJ. c. 4. building directly
opposite was wrecked and the old
Sulphur hotel and the new Union pas
senger station destroyed. In this
same area was the Meridian cement
works, which were totally destroyed.
Officers OF the company estimated
their loss at s250.000. \ large cotton
warehouse. where thousands Of bales
IF cotton We're stored. was demolished
and the cotton strewn in every direc-
ton by the fierce wind.
To add TO the terror OF the night
and the fears of the panic-strichen
people who ~thronged the streets fire
@toi ~ III me d!ISu ulSt!ICl. IL was
inown that there were many persons
unue. The ruins. To rescue these IN
~tortunaJes was uppernlost in the
minds OF those who remained self.
possessed. Vandalism was also soon
apparent and 10 keep back persons
who We're frenzied With grief over
missing friends and relatives the local
militia was called out by the mayor.
a Gordon OF armed men was thrown
around that portion OF the business
district in ruins and in this manner
the escuers were able TO work.
Lamps. candles and other means OF
securing a light BIZ which work could
De prosecuted were resorted 10. but
progress was slow.