The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-03-09

TWENTY-FIVE KILLED.
prsuIT OF TORNADO Down AT
MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI.
1x.nty.four Persons Were Injured
and Property Loss Will Be Over a
MiIion-Twelve Blocks of Business
Center Swept Away-State SWelIs
Relief Fund-Convicts Aid.

IenICt S"SF 'S
p.Iief Fund-convicts Aid.
Meridian. Miss, March 4.-Twenty
,orsons are known to have been killed
as a result of the tornado which swept
ovor a section of this city. Twenty
four persons we're injured and prop
ortv with an estimated value of ST.
oOO 600 was destroyed. Twelve blocks
in the center Of the business section
vos swept away and not one house of
anv consequence along Front street
was left standing. In the terror and
confusion following the storm reports
Of an appalling loss of life were cur
ront hut after a careful canvass of
the situation the following list of dead
anpears to be complete:
Whites: Patrick McGinnis, conduc-
tor: Cliff Edwards, fagman; ]. P.
larry. W. B. Nelson, Mrs. E. A. Sim
oleton and 2 year old granddaughter,
7 R Smith. Mr.. Stewart and little
SON of Cottondale, Mrs. Smith of Cot
tondale. Claude Williams, B. F. Elmire,
nroprietor of a restaurant; seven col
ored persons.
The 16 clerks in the Queen and
Crescent offices who were reported
killed have all been accounted for.
A mass meeting of citizens was
called and $4,000 was Immediately sub
scribed to aid the destitute and in
mred. The Mississippi legislature, in
session at Jackson, has appropriated
$4,000 to the relief fund.
Governor Vardaman secured spe-
cial train and, loading it with convicts
from the Rankin county farm. de-
snatched it at once to Meridian. The
city now enjoys the unique spectacle
of state convfcts aiding in the rescue
work.
Freaks Of the Tornado.
Charles Harris, an operator for the
Queen & Crescent railroad, owes his
escape from injury when the wind
struck that building to the fact that
he was already cripple. Many of the
others in the building when they heard
the wind roaring outside attempted
to escape and several of them were
killed. Harris was handicapped and
squatted on the floor hoping that the
storm might pass over his head, which
it did. He escaped with few scratch
eS
Among the other freaks the wind
played was the carrying of little ba-
by of Jim Stewards from it's home,
sweeping it through the air many feet
above the ground and finally deposit
ing it gently on the ground uninjured.'
The baby lay in the rain for some
time but appeared none the worse for
its experience. This morning about 5
o'clock when the searchers found the
missing child it was peacefully sleep
ing.
One of the tragedies of the tornado
was the suicide of Claude Williams,
hoor manager of the Meier-Neville
Hardware company. Mr.. Williams was
at the center of the first floor when
the building collapsed. His cries for
help we're heard, but all efforts to
reach him were futile. When he
realized his doom he ended his suffer
lngs by slashing his throat with his
pocket knife. His body was recovered
Mr.. Williams was about Is years of
age. unmarried, and the only support
of two sisters.
Later Reports.
Meridian, Miss, March 5.-The re-
sised list Of the dead and injured as
'ne result of the tornado shows a total
OF "a dead and 46 injured, a number of
"nom are not expected to live.
The property loss is estimated at
si'loo'OOO. the number of destroyed
'es'aences alone being placed at 500,
Practically all being in the Lindsey
niil section of the east end and
Georgetown.
VI the sufferers from the tornado
onis nVe carried tornado insurance,
amounting to $4,000.
"orK OF relief was continued all day,
anu hundreds of mechanics will begin
'"r WORK OF rebuilding tomorrow.
neports received from Macon, Ma
.'on anu Meehan Junction, all of which
w.. ~ reported destroyed, stated that
M ~ were no fatalities at those places.
neenan Junction escaped entirely. The
% relief committee today decided
~ accept the volunteer contributions
l.. otner points, but stated positive
side aid. ~ ~