The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-04
MARVELLOUS TALES ARE TOLD
Survivors Relate Their Experiences
 of the Night.
Earlier Accounts of the Disaster Were Exaggerated. Not Known with Definiteness the Number KILL cd, as the Ruins Have not
 Been Thoroughly
 Explored.


 Mobile, March s--(special) Latest reports show that the damage done by the cyclone at Meridian. Miss, last evening was slightly exaggerated in the earlier reports. All communica- tion was cut off. thus affording no way to get news direct from the city, de- pendence being put in verbal reports of persons who had come from the stricken districts. The total number Of white persons dead, taken from the ruins at q late hour this evening Is eighteen. To this is added score of negroes. The number of injured will run the list casualties to over q hundred.
 The damage to property Is variousiy estimated at from Sl,S6J.000 to $s2.ooo.- 00e, The latter will more nearly tell the loss. The Lyle Grocery Company, the Electric Plant, Merer-Neville Hard ware Company and Thorntons Stables make up the heaviest losses these alone being over one million. Various res taurants. hotels, smaller wholesale and retail stores, .railroad shops and resi- dsnces will make ID the remainder of the list. 4
 There Is no way at present to make who have lost their lives, At the sup per hour there were many transients in the restaurants in that part of the city. and 1t may be that several of these will be found as the debris is cleared away. Dozens of carts and wagons are working everyS hour of the day and night to clear the stormswept sections, but 1t will be several days before 1t can be positively. stated that all bodies have been recovered.
 lFhe tornado came without any warn ing beyond a roar as of many railroad akw4Sr rFNa etf al doing it's damage in less than fifteen minutes. Striking at g point on the New Orleans and Northeastern -Rail- road southwest of the city 1t followed that Foad as far as. the depqt and, fnsn c0ttOa factory and in a dense quarter, then lifted Into the air without doing damage to any other part of the coun- try 50 far as present reports show. 4
 The fertilizer plant was the fret buiIding struck. being entirely denaoi- Iighed. burylng several negroes who have since been taken out alive. Next in its path was the electric lighting plant. which supplies current for the railway and light circuits of the city, This turned the city into darkness. making the work of rescue more diff fcuIt. but at the same time ridding the stricken district of the danger of live wires "s
 Buildings are Razed.
 From this point to the. depot, dis tance of several blocks. the path of the storm was about 100 yards wide. In this section Of the city were many old brick buildings, all of which were razed The frame buildings were rip- ned from their foundations, and rent into kindling wood. Switch houses and smaller buildings were reduced to splinters.
 Those who were ofi the scene, and who have escaped with minor injuries, say that there was no warning but a dull rumble for 3 moment before the tornado struck. Several say that they distinctly saw the whirling cloud and that fire was pouring out from 1t at tho top. This is explained as being lamps and fire from the stoves. which were sucked into the vortex of the storm The hour was such that the crowds who are usually In this section had de- parted for the evening meal All re- tail and whoIesale business houses in the city close at 6 o'clock and the clerks had started for home. Many of these were on the cars, which were brought to a stop by the destruction of the power house.
 AS soon as the storm had passed and the extent of its work was impressed on those who were near, the whistles of the water works and the shops were blown. Engines took up the signal while the ire bell in the central house was rung As a warning that danger was at hand. Attracted by these sig nals thousands were soon on tho scene of destruction. Darkness wal changed to a scene Of wierdness by the dames, which were started in the ruins by overturned lamps and stoves
 Heavy Down Pour Of Rain.
 Just at this time a heavy down poui of rain commenced, adding to the dis mai situation. Picking their way carefully about the streets, with Ian ferns and candles, the braver ones be 9an the work of rescue, while womer and children ran here and there. cry ing and moaning for loved ones whc were supposed to be In the wreckage
 The ire department began work or +ha 6anoes lighting them for two hourg before getting them under con troIf The rainfall continued for two bo1sqe after which the skies cleared and the stars shown brightly. Groant cs distress were heard from many ncsnts in the great masses of debris Snd toward these the rescue partie: h1rrIed in their work finding that thu iteht of lanterns was insufficient en ~tyes were sent along the tracks fol Use of their headlights, and piles O. wooden wreckage were set afire. Iw' military companies in the city wer' called out ana thesO oO-OPSt ~'S1 - tLA noItce and volunteers in forming N . cordon about the storm swept sec tion holding back the surging crowds who were anxious to get among thu rnins. All night and through todd! these soldiers and police stood suar' over the section, relieved oy no on' vrtil late this afternoon. when tw' '.,ore oompanies were sent in unde aayanoand of colonel Arthur Fridge, ad ivtant general of the state.
 Bodies Taken from Ruins.
 Little could be done towards reseu during the night, but early tooay or SsnIzation of regular brigades wa Sssac9s6, after which the work pro eresses very we'll One by. one tn bodieg were taken from the ruins. Eigh feen dead whites and a score of negroe have been taken out at this time Scores were . 9uItev ssA i asg ssveral hay