Year: 1871

The Track Of the Hurricane TINT Swept over
st. Louis-Narrew Escape of the Clty-Aimest
Incredible Freaks of the Storm


ST. LOUIS March 9.-Our tradesmen are Civ
ing thanks that the aw full tornado which visited
East st. Louis yesterday afternoon confined its
ravages to the eastern bank of the river, for the
western bank is not only lined for miles with
steamers, but includes all of st. Louis proper
o city mum bering nearly three hundred and
twenty-five thousand Inhabitants. Had the hur-
ricane struck here the killed and wounded must
have been numbered by thousands. But by the
mercy of Providence the feai full blast was hurled
upon the eastern bank place where there is
comparatively little life and few buildings. The
river contracts suddenly about half mile above
cleft a small channel for itself through the
Illinois bank making q large island, known
popularly as Bloody Island, from the fatal duels
that once were fought here. The town lies
considerably to the rear of the bank, and was
not injured in any way by the furious blast.
But where the shore rises shelving from the
muddy waters of the Mississippi all along the
front of the island for mile extend the depots
of the numerous railways that converge upon
st. Louis. The tornado, which seems to have
been one of those circular storms which sea-
faring call


cork-screwed itself down-sthe river, leaving
light tokens of its passage in the shape of up
rooted trees. But when it came within one
hundred yerds of the huge st. Louis elevator
which stands on the western bank, raising it's
eleven stories to q height of ninety feet it
veered suddenly, and hurled its accumulated
strength upon the opposite side of the
river, where stretched the long line of
depots for five or six railways. This huge
elevator so fortunately spared is the very
largest in the country, and for some years
was so much greater than the grain business
of st. Louis required that it was q constant
source of jestiDg for the wits of Chicago. But
OF late years the immense progress of the city
not only gave this huge elevator all 1t could do,
but necessitated tie erection of another one on
the opposite shore. This second elevator
which was erected some three years ago. was
very broad and somewhat low, pecularity of
construction which saved it from downfall, for
it was the first object


STRUCK BY THE TORNADO


when it made its panther-like leap across the
river. The force of the wind was sufficient TO
tear off the greater part of the roof, which was
carried beyond the steep bank many hundred
1eet and hurled In one mass upon some coal
wagons which were coming down to the ferry
boats of the Wiggans Company. Then il
whirled to the left in northeasterly direction,
moving up the bank and utterly demolishing
the freight depot of the st. Louis and Van
dalia Railroad-a strong and durable wooden
edifice 800 feet long by 100 feet high. This
building was laid PROSTATE in fragments the
splinters of wood flying in showers, and Sc
riously injuriDg several workmen. Still to
the left is the Chicago and Alton Railroad,
the depot of which was spared, capriciously,
but the round house, scale Office, the freight
Office, and planking of the wooden pathway
along the depot were all utterly demolished