Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-05-05
Swept Over ST. Louis and Vioin-
ity, Doing Much Damage and
Causing Loss of Life.
RAILWAY BRIDGE WASHED GUT
Freight Train Wrecked In Conse-
qucncc, Engineer Ward and Fire
man Chasm Killed.

st. Louis Msy "a thunder storm
of unusual severity accompanied BY
a high wind OF almost tornado velo-
city. swept over this vicinity early to-
day. doing much damage to property
and indirectly causing loss of life.
A bridge on the Louisville s. Nash
vile road, near Bellewlle, H., was
washed out and wrecked freight
train. Engineer Carl Ward and Fire
man Frank Chasm of Howell. Ind,
were caught under the engine and
drowned The train was piled ny in
a mass in Shoenlaub creek, which
was swollen into torrent.
The village of Edgemont, ILL.,. was
flooded and many persons we're forced
to take refuge on improvised RATS
The whole area OF lowlands. known
as the American bottoms. east of East
st. Louis, NJ, and comprising S5
square miles of territory, is under wa
ter.
French Village, town Of 1000 in
habitants. one of the oldest settle
ments In Illinois. was struck by
miniature tornado and many houses
We're unroofed. Telephone and tele-
graph wires are down, and there Is
no communication with French VIII
lage,
Traffic is impeded on electric lines
running to various points east and
north of East st. Louis, ILL.,. because
of high water The first floors of
houses in the American bottoms are
flooded and farmers are utilizing RATS
and boats in rescue work. 1t ls be-
lieved the loss of livestock viii ag-
gregate large amount
In ST. Louis the wind blew down
trees, sign boards, broke in many store
show windows and crippled telephone
and telegraph wires TO a large eX-
tent. Several residences We're struck
by lightning and the fire department
was kept busy responding to alarms
in the driving rain. No casualties
are reported.
The bodies of Engineer Carl Ward
of Evansville, Ind, and Fireman Frank
Chasm of Howell Ind, mot Conductor
Smith, who escaped). We're recovered
from the freight wreck during the
morning, The third tTainman believed
to have been drowned has not yet been
found. Two men composing the crew
OF dredge boat at Edgemont, Ms
are missing and are believed to have
been lost. Five dwellings and a saloon
We're swept from their foundations by
the food that inundated French village
The long trestle of an electric line
near French Village was haven OF
refuge for refugees. The trestls was
covered by persons who had been flood
ed from their homes and many were
engulfed by the rapid flood tide and
were forced to swim TO the bridge,
Later they were taken off in boats and
RATS and taken to places of safety.
Many thrilling rescues of persons
from flooded homes have been reported.
Arthur Baxter was swept away with
his house, which brought up against
saved by a rope thrown to him from
the bridge. Bellevile was left with
out electric light.
STORM IN ARKANSAS.
Little Rock, May 5.--Arkansas was
visited last night by storm which
covered practically the entire state.
doing much damage TO property.
Wires are down in every direction and
information is meager,
At Marche, n hamlet of 100 people,
10 miles from this city, a large plant
of the Hammond. Lucas & Devore
Lumber company. was completely de-
stroyed.
There was no loss of life. A great
cloud composed of limbs Of trees pass
cd high over the town of Morrilltun
late yesterday afternoon.
Conway, Ark, IN reported to have
been damaged and Watson in Desha
courty, near the Louisiana line. Is re-
ported to have been wiped out.