The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-06


Meridian, Miss, March 3-Nineteen
people are known to have been killed
as a result of the tornado which swept
over a section of this city shortly after
+ O'Clock last evening Twenty four
persons We're injured and property
with an estimated value Of one million
dollars demolished or otherwise dam
aged. Many sensational reports were
sent out from here of an appalling loss
OF life, due possibly to the chaotic con-
ditiOn of affairs Immediately following
the visitation of the storm, but to-
night after a careful canvass of the
situation the following list of dead
appears to be complete: Whites-B. Z.
Elmira, restaurant proprietor; Patrick
McGinnis, conductor on Mobile and
Ohio, killed at Elmira's restaurant:
Cliff Edwards, fagman, Mobile and
Ohio, killed at Elmiras restaurant;
j. 3. Tarry, policeman, killed in
Thornston's transfer stables: w. +.
Nelson, killed in Thornton's stables;
Mrs. Ella Singleton and little grand
daughter, killed in east end; Jihn L.
Smith, engineer, killed at Elmira's res
taurant; Mr.. Stewart and little son, or
Cottondale; Mrs. Smith of Cotton
dale; Claud Williams, bookkeeper
of Meyers-Neville Hardware Com
pany, found in debris.
A mass meeting of citizens of Merid-
ian was called today and $4,000 was
Immediately subscribed to aid the des-
itute and injured. The Mississippi leg
lslature, in session at Jackson, today
appropriated $1,000 to the relief fund.
Governor Eardman at noon secured
a special train and, loading it with
convlcts from the Rankin county farm
dispatched it at once to Meridian The
city now enjoys the unique spectacle
OF state convicts aiding in the rescue
work. Hunter George, president of
the board of trade was made chairman
or the general relief committee and J.
w. Donovan was elected secretary.
business is practically suspended
and every citizen is giving his best
efforts toward alIeviating the suffering
OF many poor people.
The tornado which played such
frightful havoc appeared in the south
west at 6:27 o'clock last evening. A
low, funnel shaped cloud was seen to
| form near the city. A heavy down
pour of rain was falling when sud-
denly the humidity became intense
With roar that could be heard a great
distance the storm approached from
| the southwest and descended upon the
. city. The greatest loss of life is re-
| ported from the eas.end in what is
known as the Cotton Mill" settlement,
, The large cotton mill there was par
, tally wrecked and prcba bly, four hun
dred small houses were demol shed or
badly damaged. The to-naro swepy
Front street and wcorcht erect dam
, age there. Many houses We're t'emof-
ished and others wee narly damaged
: The electric light plant was partially
, wrecked and to add t. the terror OF
the situation the city was th-cn-n I0r.
total darkness. Lanterns, 90 dies aid
oven coal oil LAMPS were used ty he
people in seeking places OF safey.
The +orna,'~ also 4, severe damage
on Twerty-Se"ond avenue between
Front and Rai1road streets. Several
houses on this avenue We're part .ly
wrecked. The work of the Stor-.
lasted for only brief period, many
people claiming that the entire 6e
structions was wrought IN i,.e bret
space of five minutes
Among the hutl3in~s destroyed o1
practically ruined were those of IL
Thomas Lyle Grocery Company, Elmi
ra's restaurant, Meyer-Nevil'e Hard
ware Company, Grand Avenue Hote
Thornton's Transfer Company. Cnlpfp
per Hotel. New Orleans ard North
western freight depot, Young Men.
Christian Association building, Merid
ian Chair Company, the City Electr1
Light Plant, W. J. Woodside q Co.
Pearce Compress Company. Gulf Gem