The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-03
DESCRIPTION or STORM.
An Eye Witness Tells of the Devasta-
ton at Meridian.

AAOAA ct AACAA-AAeaAA
Mobile, O., March 3.=F. NJ. Strutz,
of Washington, Mo. who arrived to-
day from Meridian, gave a vivid de-
scription Of last nights tornado. He
said.
ct was in the dining room Of the
Southern hotel when the death dealing
wind struck the city. Late in the
afternoon I noticed that dark clouds
lowered around the city and the hui
Nudity was very trying Shortly after
6:15 ?. m. an ugly looking cloud could
be observed bounding toward the city
This was followed by dOwnpOur of
rain, and then with a rush and noise
that struck terror to the stoutest
heart, the cyclone descended upon
that portion of the city near the pas
senger depot.
1T 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 lighting 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 it
is accounted for probably by the fact
that many employees of the wrecked
houses. depot, offices and other places
maintaining large clerical forces had
finished their days work and gone to
their homes in other portions Of the
city.
sFront street presents devasted
appearance and but few houses are
left standing. The storms path was
about two blocks in width. extending
from the passenger depot northward
to beyond Second street. Buildings on
( TWenty-se avenue from First to
Second street are wrecked. A large
portion of the Grand Avenue hotel
was torn away; the Y. N. c. A. build
ing, 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 esti-
mated their loss at S250,OO0. A large
cotton warehouse where thousands of
bales of cotton were stored. was de-
mOlished and cotton strewn in every
direction. The warehouse employees,
/ by the use Of hose, prevented greater
losses by fire which broke out in vari-
GUS parts Of the ruined area.
"It is almost impossible to tell the
amount of damage but I think it VIII
be over a million dollars The loss of
life is estimated at about IS, many of
whom are negroes.
+ Fire Broke Out.
I ITO add to the terror of the night
land to the fears of the panic stricken
4 people who thronged the streets, fire
broke out in the stricken district. It
was known that many were under the
ruins Of the wrecked buildings. To
reach these unfortunates was upper
most in the minds of those who re
NAMED selfpossessed- Vandalism was
/ also soon apparent and the local mill
tia was called out by the mayor. A
/ Gordon of armed men was thrown
jarOund that portion Of the business
district in ruins and IN this manner
! the rescuersz were able to work. Lamps,
! candles and other means of securing a
light by which work could be prose
( cIted were resOrted to- but progress
persons taken from the ruins. but some
were dead and others so badly injured
that they can not live
soon after the ruins caught fire an
I alarm was sent in to the fire depart
ment. They worked heroically to con
fine the flames to the ruined area, and
at O'Clock this morning had sue
ceeded.
"Wreckage. ruin and death appear
B to the eye along the path of the cyclone
as it leads into the country. TELEGRAPH
wires for miles in either direction are
Frustrated and although telegraph
companies sent out a large number of
men toe repair the damage. it win be
many hours before this IS accom-
plished.
IN the area struck by the cyclone
the wreck is complete But few build
ings are left standing and they are
damaged Among the mercantile
houses destroyed are some Of the
largest concerns in Meridian. 1t viii
take months to repair the damage and
IT viii be days before the actual num-
Der Of Injured is known. As to the
/ death list only the clearing away Of
the debris and wreckage can reveal
the magnitude"
A. dispatch received this mornine
from Meridian reports the death Of B
f. Elmire. proprietor Of a restaurant
Governor Hogg Is Dead.
Dallas. Tex March 3=Formel
Governor James II. Hogg died al
Houston this afternoon.