Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-04
MERIDIAN CYCL0 ONE
Latest Estimate of the Killed
and Injured.
PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTIONS
Great Damage to Business and Resi-
dence Property.
LITTLE TORNADO INSURANCE
Governor, State Officers and Legisla-
tors on the Scene-Work Among
the Ruins.

Teople are known to- have been killed as a
result of the tornado which swept over a
section of this city shortly after 9 O'Clock
last evening. Twentyfour persons We're
injured and property with estimated
value of one million dollars was demolished
or otherwise damaged.
Many sensational reports were sent OUT
from here of an appalling loss of life, due
probably to the chaotic condition of affairs
Immediately following the visitation of the
storm, but tonight, after a careful canvass
Of the situation. the following list of the
dead appears to be complete:
List of the Dead.
Whites:
Patrick McGinnis, conductor on Mobile
and Ohio, killed at Elnires restaurant.
Cliff Edwards. fagman, Mobile and Ohio,
killed at Elmire's restaurant.
j. p larry policeman, Killed in Thorn
tons transfer stables.
w B. Nelson killed in Thorntons stables.
Mrs. Ella Singleton and little granddaugh-
ter, killed in east end.
John P. Smith, engineer killed at Elmire
re staurant.
Mr. Stewart and little son of Cottondale.
Mrs. Smith of Cottondale
Claude Williams, bookkeeper of Meyers
Neville Hardware Company, found in de-
brts.
B. F. EImire, proprietor of restaurant.
Negroes:
Unknown negro man and little child.
charred remains found in "Bucktown.
Tom Barney and child killed at fertilizer
factory.
Unknown negro woman, killed near fer
tilizer factory.
Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Dunn OF Georgetown
The List of Injured.
The injured William Marlborough, Bris-
|
back hurt; Mrs Stewart and daughter of
Georgetown; Ben Sharkman, negro eX-
press driver: T n. Brown, chief clerk at
Queen and Crescent depot, leg broken, sew
eral ribs broken; L. Wildean, telegraph
operator Queen and Crescent railroad,
shoulder crushed NJ. Goodwin, express
driver, leg broken; unknown negro woman
| and child William Donovan, left cheek
cut; Mrs. William Donovan. slightly hutt
| ]. H. Adams, brakeman for the Frisco ran.
road, collar bone broken and bruised about
| body; negro waiter at Grand Avenue Hotel
| badly injured; Collier Carr, bruised on
| head and body.
Relief Committee at Work.
A mass meeting of citizens of Meridian
| was called today and $500 was imme-
! diatelv subscribed to aid the destitute ana
| injured The Mississippi legislature, in SEES
| sion at Jackson today, appropriated S3No
| tn the relief fund Gov. Vardaman at noon
| secured a special train, and loading IL Win
| conyicfs from the Rankin county farm, DIS
| patched it at once to Meflolah; ne 80 =
| now enjoys the unique spectacle Oh slale
| couyicts aiding in the rescue WORN
Hunter George, president OF tne ooa 'a,, 81 !
| trade. was made chairman OF the sehel le a.
| raIief committee and j. w. Donovan was
| elected secretary. Business is practleaiiy
| susnended and every citizen is giving ms
| hest effort toward alleviating the suHeflhs
| of many poor peopie. e;ul+ f,,l
| I,i1l1 MS
| havoc appeared in the southwest at o..
! o'clock last evening. low. iuhHei- s,I
| cloud was seen to form near the CITY; a
! heavy downpour of rain had been lalilils
| I~ban suddenlv the humidity became IN
| tense With a roar that could be nearo d
| great distance the storm approached from
Southwest and descended upon the city
The Greatest Loss Of Life.
! The greatest loss of life is reported from
| the east end in what Is known as the
! cotton Mll' settlement. The large cotton
mill there was partially wrecked, ana
| nrobably 400 small houses were demolished
| or badly damaged. The tornado swept
Front street and wrought great damage
| there. Many houses were deinoisheu anu
| ut hers were badly damaged. The electric
| light. nlant was partially wrecked, and TO
| add to the terror of the situation the city
| was thrown into total darkness. Lanterns,
candles and even coai OIL lamps " wsae pSeu
| The tornado also did severe damage on
| 22d avenue, between Front ana haliroao
| streets Several houses on TINS avenue
| were partially wrecked. The work OF the
| storm lasted for only brief period, many
J people claiming that the entire destruction
| was wrought lin the brief space OF hVe
| minutes
| Among the buildings destroyed or prac-
| tically ruined were those of the Thomas
| Lyle Grocery Company, Elmra's restau-
| rant, Meyer Neville Hardware Company,
| Grand Avenue Hotel, Thornton,s transfer
| Company, Culpepper Hotel, New Orleans
| and Northeastern freight depot, Young
| Mems Christian Association building. Me
| r;dian Chair Company, the city electfic
! light plant w. j. Woodsde & Co., Pearce
| Compress Company. Gulf Compress Com
| pany and innumerable smaller buildings
| used for residences by Workingmen and
| negroes.
Very Little Tornado Insurance.
| 1t is generally understood that there was
but little if any tornado insurance carried
| and the loss will therefore fall heavily upon
the owners of the damaged property.
The city of Meridian was about the most
| pitiful looking sight any member OF the
Mississippi legislature ever looked upon
when special train arrived from jackson
| late this afternoon bearing forty senator's
! and representatives, Coy. Vardaman, Tue
| aftorney general railroad commissioner
and a correspondent of the Associated
| Press.
Word had reached Gov. Vardaman dur
| ing the morning that help of muscular
| kind was needed in this place, and he I'M m
| medIately requested and received from the
| legislature an appropriation of 5000 to pc
| used in case OF an emergency. Al the han /
| kin county farm thirty-seven convlcts,
| sergeant and guards were placed on board,
| and they are now, including the members
of the legislature. at work among the
debris. 49,
The funnel-shaped cloud appeared on the me
| horizon east of the city yesterday afternoon
i nj 6,7 o'clock, and with lightning-like ra-
| pidity descended upon the town: The e, hrs1
1 building of any consequence In It's path was
| the Meridian fertilizer factory, an immense
plant. which was totally Wrecked a., Inc
| strongest timbers being split to siiVefs.
| From there an almost easterly direction
was taken by the storm. and Fewefs sur
i yey, In which more than thousand white
4 neople reside. was next struck. Here
| houses were unroofed and many were
j blown completely down. The Meridian
/ Light and Railway Company was next
| wrecked, the facilities for lighting the town
| were destroyed and darkness reigned
i thro,lgho,it the streets and buildings which