Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-03-03
PEOPLE WERE PANlcSTRICKEN
To Add to the Terror Of a Hor.
ribIe Night Fire Broke
Out.
Ruins Were Soon In Flames, Making
Lurid q Scene Of Death and
Destruction.

of washington, Miss, who arrived here
from Meridian, gave vivid descrip-
ton Of last nights tornado. He said.
Il was In the dining room of the
Southern hotel when the death dealing
wind struck the city. Late In the
afternoon / noticed that dark clouds
lowered around the city and the hu-
mldity was very trying. Shortly after
SIS p. m. an ugly looking cloud could
be observed bounding toward the city
This was followed by downpour OF
rain, and then with rush and noise
that struck terror to the stoutest heart,
the cyclone descended upon that por-
ton Of the city near the depot.
III came towards the city from the
southwest following the railroads
which pass through Meridian along
Front street. The result was terrible.
Among the first buildings to go down
was the electric light plant and the
city was thrown into darkness. The
people were panic stricken and rushed
into the streets from every direction.
That the death list is not larger than
that given Is simply marvellous. but II
Is accounted for probably owing to the
fact that many employees of the
wrecked houses. depot Offices and 9TH
er places maintaining large clerical
forces had finished their days work
and gone to their homes in other por-
tons OF the city.
Front street presents a devastated
appearance and few houses are left
standing. The storms path was about
two blocks In width, extending from
the passenger depot northward to be-
yond Second street. Buildings on
Twenty second avenue from First to
Second street are wrecked A large
portion OF the Grand avenue hotel was
torn away; the Y. NJ. c. A. building.
directly opposite. was wrecked. and
the Old Sulphur hotel and the New
Union passenger station destroyed.
In this same area was the Meridian
cement works, which was totally de-
stroyed. Officers of the company es-
timated their loss at $250,000 A large
cotton warehouse where thousands OF
bales OF cotton were stored, was de-
mollshed and cotton strewn In every
direction. The warehouse employees,
by the use Of hose, prevented greater
losses by fire which broke out In var
ious parts OF the ruined area,
1T Is almost impossible to tell the
amount of damage, but | think II will
be over million dollars. The loss OF
life is estimated at about IS, many of
whom are negroes.
ITO add to the terror of the night and
10 the fears OF the panic stricken peo-
pie who thronged the streets. fire broke
put in the stricken district 1t was
known that many were under the ruins
Of the wrecked buildings. To reach
these unfortunates was uppermost in
the minds OF those who remained self
possessed. Vandalism was also soon
apparent, and the local militia was call
ed 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 resouers We're
able to work. Lamps. candles, and
other means of securing a light by
which work could be prosecuted were-
tesorted to, but progress was slow.
Soon after the ruins caught fire an
alarm was sent into the fire depart-
ment. They worked heroically to con-
fine the flames to the ruined area and,
p o'clock this morning had succeeded.
Wreckage, ruin and death appear along
the path OF the cyclone, as 1t leads
Into the country. Telegraph wires for
miles in either direction are Frustrated,
and although telegraph companies sent
out a large number OF men to repair
the damage II will be many hours be-
fore this is accomplished.
I'm the area struck by the cyclone
the wreck is complete But few build
lngs are left standing and they are
damaged. Among the mercantile
houses destroyed are some OF the larg-
est concerns In Meridian. II VIII take
months to repair the damage, and It
VIII be days before the actual number
OF injured is known AS to the dead,
only the clearing away OF the debris
and wreckage can reveal the magnl-
tude."
dispatch received this morning
from Meridian reports the death Of b,
r. Elmire, proprietor Of a restaurant.
LOSS OF LIFE.
New Orleans. March IA special
from Meridian, Miss, estimates the
loss OF life at 100 with about 200 IN
!ured, The dispatch which was re-
teived In New orleans at II n. M,
says much confusion prevails IN Merl-
uian and detailed lists of the casual
Ties are still unavailable.
DAMAGE TO RAILROADS.
New orleans, March president
Z. G, Harvey of the New orleans &
Northwestern railroad. left for Me-
ridian today The Northeastern officers
have been unable to obtain any In
formation as TO the extent Of the dis
hster at Meridian SO far as their losses
nre concerned. and Mr.. Harvey went
north TO inspect the situation and as
tist In the rehabilitation OF the road
property. Supt. ID. ID. Curran proceed
ed In a special train which left here
shortly after midnight but no advices
have been received that the train had
succeeded In getting through to the
stricken city. The regular eastern
train due this morning, did not arrive.
Both the Western Union and Postal
Telegraph wires leading In this direc-
ZION are still Frustrated. The Postal
began one wire, but II has been In SER
vice only internationally.
TWELVE DEAD RECOVERED.
Jackson. Miss March 3.--Judgc T..
w. Brame OF Macon, Miss, who was
10 Meridian last night and reached
jackson today, says that up to 3
o'clock this morning 2 dead had been
recovered from tho wreckage OF tho
storm, and that the property loss Is