Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-04

ern railroad which were directly IN the
path of the storm, was the unroofng OF
the round house, which was hurled about
100 feet distant. The freight depot and
| many smaller ones between 1t and the tor
nado were destroyed The records, papers
and everything contained in the building
are lost. the first floor being blown away
from under the second. The upper floor
was crowded with clerks, but fortunately
not a human being was on the first floor.
None of them were more tha>slightly hurt
and no lives were lost.
A row of brick buildings along 18th ave-
nue. from the freight depot to 9Th street
were wholly demolished. The two-story
brick building of Theodore Surge was UNI
rooted and the Greenwald junk house and
many smaller buildings from that corner
to 9Th street We're dana ged, the fronts
being in many places blown through the
buildings. The store occupied by Lyons 4
Co. was swept from its foundation ana
hurled across 25th avenue and I'd street
Suicide From Despair.
One of the sad tragedies of the cyclone
was the suicide of Claude Williams, floor
manager of the Meyer-Neville Hardware
Company. Mr. Williams was at the center
of the first floor when the building coli
lapsed. His cries for help were heard but
all efforts to reach him were futile When
he realized his doom he ended his suffer
ing by slashing his throat with his pocket
knife. His body was recovered at o'clock
this morning. Mr.. Williams was twenty
nNe years OF age, uIlIldTIleu anu Tie olly
support of two sisters.
With tons and tons of debris settling
down on them all the time, with the crack
| ling of beams over their heads on all sides,
| six of Meridians citizens gave an exhibit
| ton of bravery rarely witnessed even by
| wearers of the Carnegie medal While
| these men were trying to rescue c. u.
Woodruff, an employee of the Meyer
| Neville Company who was pinioned under
| the debris with Il heavy beam his right
| foot. despite warnings they continued. with
| walls topping all around them. Although
| death was staring him in the face, the i'm
| prisoned was cool and collected. how
| EVER, suffering terribly, but exhibiting
great courage. When the crash came
| Woodruff. Mr.. Bennett and Claude Will
| liams were in the store.
| Williams body was found at the front
| door of the building late this afternoon.
Bennett escaped unniured out of the back
door. and Woodruff was caught at the
| bottom of a number of timbers. which, in
falling. formed a triangle and protected
and he was discovered in this position by
| DR.. Card who Immediately started the
work of rescue.
a man named Gallagher. connected with
one of the railroads, and VIII Dobbs, a
machinist. lay fiat on their backs, and with
| a gimlet and small keyhole saw worked
| their way to freedom. AS they would saw
away one of the beams a carpenter ma med
| Gilbert would Jack the beam up After
working from about GAS until nearly .
O'clock Woodruff was released from his
temporary prison, anu Will SuHeF no INJURY
other than the loss of three toes on his left
| foot.
Gov. Vardaman's Appeal.
Gov. Vardaman issued the following APP
peal tonight to the citizens of Mississippi:
ITO the people of Mississippi find on
arrival that the very destructive cyclone,
which visited the city of Meridian yester-
| day evening. left great many poor people
| in pitifully destitute condition. Their
| houses were wrecked and household goods
destroyed The accumulation of a lifetime
| has been swept away. They must be cared
| for and their wants supplied, and it is too
much to ask the good people of Meridian
| to bear this burden alone. To this end j
| call upon all good people of Mississippi to
| contribute generously to this cause. Let
| the contributions be sent to Col. Fl. NJ.
| Street. chairman of the relief committee.
| Meridian Miss. l trust that you will act
| promptly In this matter"
Doesn't Want Outside Aid
The following communication was adj
dressed to the Associated Press by Presi-
| dent George of the Meridian, Miss, board
| of trade tonight: