The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 28, 1896, Page 1

VOLUME LXXIX.—NO. 180. SAN FRANCISCO, THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 28, 1896. This Paper not | to be taken from | Ltfihfie‘Libra?‘_f ‘e * PRICE FIVE CENT; DEATH IN A GYCLONE'S AWFUL PATH Hundreds of People Perish, and Many Buildings Are Destroyed in St. Louis. TRAINS WRECKED AND STEAMERS FOUNDERED BY THE TERRIFIC STORM. Houses Are Un’roofed and Electric Wires Snap, While the Rain Pours Down in a Drowning Deluge. ST. LOUIS, May 27.—The most disastrous cyclone in the history of the city visited this section to-day. Hundreds of people perished and property valued at millions of dollars was destroyed. From reports received by The United Press up to 1 o’clock this morning from Missouri, Illinois and Indiana cities the direction and extent of the appalling cyclone are shown. The storm began its work of devastation and death near Moberly, in Randolph County, in the northeastern part of Missouri. It then passed southeast into Audrey County, where the schoolhouse at Rush Hill and its occupants were victims. The cyclone moved slightly north into Pike County, Mo., and then jumped the Mississippi River into Southern Illinois. The Ladies’ Seminary at Drake, in Greene County, Ill., was stricken by the tornado, which then passed south and east, following the Illinois River until it joined the Mississippi, the greatest point of destruction being reached at St. Louis, East St. Louis and East Carondelet. f The direction of the wind storm from that cluster of stricken cities appears to have been in a southeasterly line, but no news of destruction has been received from other Illinois towns. Tne cyclone reached the Ohio River and struck Evansville, in the southwestern corner of Indiana. Later news indicates that the great storm is tearing a path through the heart of Indiana in a south- easterly direction. The latest reports compiled from the scenes of destruction in the three States point to the loss of over 1000 human lives, and the prqbabilities are that later reports will swell the total death list to enor- mous proportions. According to places the death roll is divided as follows: St. Louis, 300; East St. Louis, 450; Drake, Iil., 80; Rush Hill, Mo., 10; Renick, Mo., 5; La Baddie, Mo., 10; Randolph, Mo., 7; Mount Vernon, 10. Other towns will add scores to these figures. The number of injured is estimated to be in the thousands. ST. LOUIS, Mo., May 27.—Death and destruction mark the pathway of a tor- nado which passed over this city shortly after 5 o’clock this afternoon. The list of the dead in St. Louis cannot be estimated until the alarming reports of life in collapsed buildings can be confirmed. At least forty lifeless bodies have been found up to 10 o’clock. 1f the reports are true that 200 girls are in tle ruins of a cigarette factory and that many were killed in South St. Louis the list will reach nearly 300. The eity is in a state of panic. Nearly all electric wires are down and the city is in darkness. To add to the confusion the loss tornado was followed by a deluge of rain | and vivid flashes of lightning, which still continue. Telephone wires are uselessand liverymen refuse requests for conveyances on account of prostrate electric wires. The situation in East St. Louis is appall- ing. The tornado struck that city with terrible effect, and it is now estimated that 800 persons are dead as a result of the wind, flood and flames. The tornado was followed by an out- break of fire, caused by lightning, and before the flames were under control prop- erty to the value of $3,000,000 was de- stroyed. The tornado passed in an easterly direc- tion, and it is reported that Vandalia and Caseyville, Ill., suffered severely. One re- port states that the railroad depot in Van- dalia was biown away and thirty people were killed. At 5:20 o’clock P. M. the clouds that had covered the city since noon broke into a furious storm. Within ten minutes the wind reached a velocity of eighty miles an hour, sweeping with it the waves of rain. The highest speed of wind previously re- corded here was seventy-two miles an hour, in August, 1878. The screeching of the wind through the electric wires, the crash of the debris that -swept in every direction, the electric flashes from the tan- gled wires, and the crashing thunder, made a scene indescribable. The metal roof of the Merchants’ Ex- into the street. Ottend’s furniture-store at Broadway and South Third street was wrecked, and six men are reported killed. A saloon at 607 Bouth Seventh street fell, with nine men 1n the ruins. 8t Patrick’s Church, at Sixth and Bid- dle streets, fell, and the debris fills the | streets. The electric railway line is burned out, as well as all electric light plants, Fourteen fire alarms were within an hour, and three alarms were sent in from the Poorhouse, which build- ing has 1200 inmates. The roof of the Poorhouse was blown off, and the fatali- ties are great. During the last race at the fair grounds’ racetrack the roof of the grand stand was blown off. The crowd had gone to the open field for safety and but four men were killed. The wind swept away the roof of the Exposition building and that structure is badly damaged by the flood of water. The Annunciation Church, at Sixth and Lasalle streets, was totally destroyed. Father Head, the pastor, was fatally in- jured. Michael Dawes, a driver, was blown SRS = sounded | from his wagon in the vicinity and in- stantly killed. The middle span of the roadway above the railroad tracks on the Eads bridge was | blown completely away. The Armory, at Seventeenth and Pine streets, 1s being used as a temporary, hos- pital. At 7:30 p. M. the rain, which bad ceased fora time, began afresh and fell in tor- change was rolled up like a scroll and fell ; T At8o'clock the eastern sky was aglow with the light of fires in East 8t. Louis. East 8t. Louis suffered probably the greatest. Messengers came at 7 p. M. from there asking for physicians sna nurses. The steamer D. E. Pike, with thirty pas- sengers on board bound for Peoria, was blown bottom side up in the middle of the river and a number of persons killed. The steamer Dauphin, with a crew of six and twenty lady passengers on board, was blown against a bridge pier and broken in two. The ladies and two of the erew clung to the bridge stonework and were res- cued. The steamer Libbie Conger, with only Captain Seaman, his wife and three of a crew aboard, went adrift and is sup- posed to be wrecked opposite Carondelet. The Louisville and Nashville eastbound passenger train had just reached East St. Lounis when the storm struck that city. The train was overturned, but, miracu- Jously, only a few passengers were in- jured. They were taken from the cars by railroad yardmen. The Chicago and Alton eastbound local passenger train, which left St. Louis at 5 o’clock, was on the east side of the bridge when the wind picked the cars up and turned them over on their sides. The iron spansand trusses held the THE GREAT EADS BRIDGE, ACROSS THE MfSSISSIPPI, AS SEEN FROM THE ST. LOUIS SIDE OF - THE RIVER. This magnificent structure of steel took nearly ten years to build and cost about $12,000,000, It was finished in 1874. It is beyond any doubt the most graceful and beautiful large brridge in the world. Until the opeaing of the Forth bridge a few years ago it was the largest structure of the kind in existence. With the three spans and approaches it is about a mile and a quarter long. The portion injured by the cyclone is the span on the far side of the river. l cars from toppling into the river, 100 feet below. The passengers were thrown into a confused mass. The network of wires made rescue difficult and dangerous, but it is thought all will be got out uninjured. The east span of the Eads bridge is so badly wrecked that it will take three days to allow trains to pass. The reports of fatalities in East St. Louis is hourly increasing, and at9 o’clock it is e stimared that the loss of life will ex- ceed 150. It is impossible to cross the bridge to get particulars. * Lightning struck the Standard Oil ‘Works and flames were s00on vouring from a dozen buildings. The fire department was utterly powerless 10 cope with the conflagration, and it is feared nearly the entire business and a great portion of the residence section will be destroyed by flames if not.already razed by the wind. The plants of the flourmills and the works of the St. Louis Iron and Steel Com- pany were destroyed, and the big Cupple block of buildings was partially demol- ished. Among the principal buildings already in ruins are the National Bank, Tremont House, Martell House, the Stanaard Oil ‘Works, East St. Louis Wire Nail Works, the Crescent Elevator, Hazel Elevator, all freight depots and stores and residences in 8t. Clair. ) The dead and injured are being taken from the ruins of the various buildings and manufactories. Waters & Pierce’s oil works are in a blaze, and buildings in several parts of the city are burning, with little hope of saving them. H. C. Rice, the manager of the Western Union at the relay depot on the East Side, climbed across the demclished bridge and reported a wreck of terrible proportions. Itis reported that the Grand Republic and several other excursion steamers, with 2ll the passengers and crews, have gone down, with all’ the steamers on the levee sharing a like fate. The greatest anxiety is felt for the safety of passengers on the different excursion boats which were on the river when the storm broke. The steamer City of Florence, with an excursion party, is re- ported lost below Carondelet. The steamer St. Paul with thirty passengers left for Alton at 4 o’clock, and is believed to be wrecked. The levee is packed with people, groping through the darkness and eagerly imploring information for loved oneson the river. The city is in total darkness. At 9 o’clock to-night no wires can be obtained from the surrounding territory in the western and northern portion of Missouri, but it is feared that the loss of life in these sections will be very large. The estimated loss of life from the storm here and in East St. Louis is 300. East St. Louis is burning np. Loss already $2,000,000. There were really two cyclones. One came from the northwest and the other from the direct east. Both met on the Illi- nois shore of the Mississippi River ind joined in a swirling cloud. The list of the dead in Bt. Louis is beyond present com- putation. There are now fifteen dead bodies at the Morgue, % A startling report has just reached police headquarters that 200 girls are in the ruins of Liggett & Myers cigarette factory at Tower Grove. There are alarming reports of great loss of life in the southern por- tion of 8t. Louis from the railroad tracks to Carondelet. The following identified bodies are at the Morgue: ST. LOUIS, Mo., May 27.—The following are among the dead on both sides of the river: CAPTAIN SEAMAN and wife and three of the crew of the steamer Libbie Conger. WALLACE BRADSHAW (colored) aged 11 . KATIE CLAYPOOL, aged 7. JOSEPHINE MARTINI, aged 25. HENRY BESICHIS, aged 20, JOHN NOLTA, aged 40. M1CHAEL DAWES, driver. PETER DIEDRICH. WILLIAM OTTENDALE, factory pro- prietor. BENJAMIN BURGESS. JOSEPH CARPENTER, foreman of St. Louis Railing Works, wife and child. ALEXANDER SCHILINGER, dairy- man. FRED WEETS, aged 17. THERESA WEETS, his sister, aged 13. JULIUS MARANO. FREDERICK ZIMMERMAN, electrician Sculler-line power-hous: 8t. Louis. - JUDGE FALK of Vandalia, killed in wreck of Martell House, East St. Louis, DAVID SAGE wnd wife, killed in wreck of residence, East St. Louis. PHILIP STRICKLER, wife and several chiidren, buried in wreck of residence, East St. Louis. MIS8 KATIE CLAYPOGL, aged 21, and her mother, at 314 South Jefferson avenue. MARTIN McDONALD, at 2745 Clark avenue. Unknown baby at 2745 Clark avenue. MRS. CHENEY, 1415 Mississippi ave- nue. JOHN P. HENDY. JENNIE HAHN. CHARLES NEE, 406 South Seventh street. WILLIAM WINKLE, Eighth streetand Park avenue. : JAMES DUNN, City Hospital. Unknown child, 944 Chapin street, Two unknown men, Twenty-seventh street and S8t. Vincent avenue. Unknown woman, Thirteenth and Sou- lard streets. Unknown man, Dalman and Park ave- nue. Janitor St. Paul’s Church. Unknown man, Eighteenth street and Geyer avenue. Two unknown Ninth street. On account of the lack of identification marks, of the persons found in East St. Louis only the following are known: DAVID LANG and wife. PHILIP STRICKLER. GEORGE ROOS. MILES MITCHELL. MARTIN MARTELL, proprietor Mar- tell House. Three servant girls in the Martell House. JAMES KENT, sixteen unknown dead in the Vandalia freight-house. Twelve dead in the Louisville and Nash- ville freighthouse. > Seventeen dead in Big Four freight- house. Twenty dead at the east switchhouse )f the Eads bridge. Four dead at relay devot. Six members of a wharfboat crew. The difficulty in obtaining information from outlying districts is increased by an order from Mayor Walbridge ordering all electric-light circuits to' be turned off. chief East children, 1728 South This is to prevent death to persons com- ing in contact with broken wires. Later reports from the City Hospital state that only two were killed and six injured as a result of the roof of that institution being blown off. From Soulard street south as far as Carondelet the wind played havoc with the residence and business houses in that territory. The streets are filled with the wreckage of demolished houses over an area of fifteen blocks. The number of bodies already found indicates that the loss of life in that section will reach at least thirty. The body of a well-dressed man was found at Marion street and Park avenue. Peter Diedrich was killed in the collapse of a big mill at Ninth and Marion streets. William Ottendale, proprietor of a fac- tory at Marion and Eighth streets, and Benjamin Burgess, an employe, were killed in the wreckage of the building. An unknown dead man was found under the bricks of a fallen chimney at Second street and Choteau avenue. Foreman Joseph Carpenter of the St. Louis Railing Works on Menard street, together with his wife and child, was crushed to death in the collapse of the fac- tory. > The body of an unknown man was found badly wmangled in a quarry on De- soto street. Alexander Bchulinger, a dairyman, was struck by a falling tree and killea on Third and Marion streets. Fred Watts, aged 17, and his sister, Theresa, aged 13 years, were found dead in ruins of their home at 1728 Bouth Ninth street. St. Paul’'s German Evangelical Church on Nmth street and Lafayette avenue, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church on Eighth street and Lafayette avenue, and St. Hugo's Catbolic Church on Kansas avenue were totally demolished. Epstein & Bernstein’s wholésale liquor- store at 229 South Broadway collapsed from the force of the wind. Julius Marano was killed and three others seriously in- jured. The power- house of the Sculler line, at Jefferson street and Geyer avenue, was totally destroyed and a dozen employes received serious injuries. The Gem Theater building, on Walrut street, was badly wrecked by the wind. In the suburbs dozens of frame houses were blown down, but up to 11 o’clock to-night no fatalities are reported. In addition to the river disasters re- SLAIN WITH AX AND PISTOL, Colonel McGlincy, His Wife, Son and Daugh- ter and Two Servants Murdered at Campbell. HORRID DEED OF BUTCHERY In Gory Revel, James C. Dunham Gluts His Savage Passion—Death-Struggles With a Demon. BAN JOSE, CaL., May 27.—Santa Clara County has hitherto stood aloof and fead with shuddering wonder the stories of murder and blood and crime that came to her from distances that robbed them of much of their realism. The slaughter of the family and servants of Colonel R. P. McGlincy—six people—at Campbell, six miles south of this place, at an early hour this morning, places a bloody page in her own history as horrible asany she has read. The murders committed by James Dun- ham, 30 years of age, a son-in-law of Colonel McGliney, wipes most out of ex- istence one of the prominent families of the county. All that is left of the line is a baby, son of the murderer. T No discernible motive explains the awful crime. The man was not in high esteem with Colonel McGlincy, and there bhad been quarrels bétween husband and wife, but the young man was being well taken care of, being allowea to attend school, to lead an easy life, with a cer- tainty of being well-cared for to the end. Madness alone explains it, but all who know him have hitherto rated him asvery sane. The characteristic that had been noted in him chiefly was meanness, penu- riousness. The woman who stood by the bedside of his wife during the time that the child was born and afterward, said he James C. Dunham, the Murderer of Six Persons: Coloncl McGliney, His Wife, Daughter and Stepsoun and Two Servants, Near Campbells, Cal. |From a recené photograph. | was one of the very meanest—too mean ta be crazy, she says. The little two-months-old baby boy whom the murderer left lying asleep by the side of the mother he had strangled, and who has survived in the sea of blood, will now fall heir to the McGlincy estate, one of the handsomest tracts in the county. There are some who make the guess that it was all done to that end. But unless he grows to be a man of his father’s own ghastly kind he will never consider himself rich with this legacy. The story of the crime 1s one that the reader might turn away from with horror and disbelief, save that he has been edu- cated to credit such thimgs through the | series of crimes that have marked the late ter months and years.. The victims were the murderer’s wife, who was Colonel Mc- Glincy’s stepdaughter; Mrs. McGliney; James K. Wells, a son of Mrs. McGlincy; Robert Brisco, a hired man; Minnie Shes- ler, a domestic, and Colonel MeGlincy. Colonel McGlincy, young Wells and George Schaible, a hired man, leit home early in the evening to attend a meeting of the American Protective Association at Campbell. What transpired after’ they left the house can only be conjectured by the scene that was presented at the house upon the arrival of the officers. ‘It is sup- posed that ‘Dunham waited till those of the family who remained at home were about to retire and bad gone to their respec- tive apartments. Then he went to his wife’s room on the upper floor and strangled her while she lay upon a cot, still ill from her confinement, and with her baby beside her. No, she was not strangied ; but the mark of his fingers are upon her neck, her mouth was filled with clothes forced into it and her neck was dislocated. He had used her with such maniac force as to break her neck by twisting her head to one side. “The murderer began with the purpose that he carried out, of killing all, for he bad armed himself. Minnie Shesler, the domestic, was pre« paring for bed in the adjoining room. She heard the confused noise, and slip« ping on her dress, taking only time to fasten the single button at the neck, she | ran into the room and was feiled as she crossed the threshold by the blow of an' | ax. She made no ery, for she scarcely | knew what was happening. The fiend | struck her again and again with the edge of the ax, then turned it and crushed her skull with several blows of the blunt end. In his frenzy he also jammed some clothes into her throat and threw her body alonge side the cot where lay his wife. Then the fiend went downstairs to the room of old Mrs. McGlincy. She was evi- dently up and was about to inquire into the strange noises overhead. He used the ax here also. The old woman was struck one blow with the edge of the ax and then the weapon was turned and her skull completely crushed with a half dozen blows from the blunt end. Save for the baby that slept upstairs the havoc was complete. The murderer now ransacked the house for his own effects, gathering together his letters and photographs of himself, by which, in tak- ing them with him in his intended flight, he hoped perhaps to make identification difficult. But his work was not done. He had yet to kill Colonel McGiincy and his stepson, Jimmy Wells, who, unconscious of. the tragedy going forward in their own home, were taking part in the American Protece ported later reports add to the losses. All the wharf boats on both sides were swept away and sunk. The steamers Medill, City of Pittsburg, Belle of Calhoun and City of Providence were all driven to the Illinois shore and wrecked. Eleven men of the vessels’ crews tried to swim ashore, but were caught in the eddy of the Pitts- burg dyke and drowned. The river front is a mass of wreckage. From the Eads bridge south for two miles every building is damaged that is not in ruins. The loss 10 shipping is estimated at $400,000. Over in East St. Louis the loss of life is now placed at 250, and the damage to prop- erty exceeds $2,000,000. The fire in East 8t. Louis was not under control at mid- night. The old building formerly occu- pied by St. Vincent's Asylum, at Soulard street, was entirely demolished. In the collapse of th# Sculler Line power-house Frederick Zimmerman, chief electrician, was killed. The Liggett & Myers cigarette-factory at Tower Grove was destroyed, and seven men engaged in placing in new machinery were killed. The story that 200 girls are in the ruins is untrue. Among the worst disasters in East St. Louis was the wreck of the Martell House, of which nothing was left but a heap of ruins. Up to 8 o’clock seven people were known to have been buried in the ruins, among them Judge Falk of Vandalia killed, and Judge Hope seriously injured. Both are Circuit Judges. Judge Falk has been holding court in Belleville, trying what are known as the Viaduct cases, Among others killed are David Sage, a well-known real estate man, and his wife. Their residence on Collinsville avenue was wrecked and both were crushed. Anothor builaing demolished was that of Philip 8trickler, on the corner of St. Louis and Collinsville avenues, Mr. Strick- ler, his wife and several children perish- ing in ‘the falling walls. Among other structures demolished were the National Hotel at stockyards, the Clipper restaurant, the old relay depot and the Continued on Third Page. VA 1 /;,\‘ 5t | (’\ Il | i\ Mrs. Dunham, Whose Neck Was Broken by Her Maniacal Husband. [From a recent phetograph i)