The San Francisco call. [volume], May 29, 1896, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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VOLUME LXXIX.-NO. 181.
DELVING FOR DEAD
AND THE INJURED.
Horrors of the St. Louis
Storm Increased by
the Darkness.
HUNDREDS OF THE BODIES OF VICTIMS IDENTtFIED
AT THE PUBLIC MORGUES.
Nearly Two Thousand Persons
Wounded During the Prog
ress of the Cyclone.
STATE TROOPS ARE CALLED OUT TO PROTECT
PROPERTY FROM THIEVES.
Latest Reports Indicate That the Death-Roll Is
Appalling, While Thousands Are Homeless
and in Dire Need of Aid.
CHICAGO, 111., May 29.— Reports received up till 2 A. M. by the'
United Press indicate a loss of 500 lives at East St. Louis, with the
death roll greater in the Missouri city by 50 to 75. The number of in
jured in the two cities will be found to be near 1500, judging by the!
names already reported. Nearly 100 injured persons were reported]
by their physicians as fatally or internally injured in St. Louis. These !
victims went or were taken to their homes and were not in the police
records. The number of identified dead in St. Louis within the police
observation is 123, in East St. Louis 168, and 20 persons reported j
missing in the city on this side are put in the death column. Many of
the injured in both cities will die. Hundreds have already been re< j
corded. From 500 to 800 East St. Louis people are homeless and in
dire need.
The loss of property in St. Louis is reliably estimated at $4,000,
-000, and in the Illinois city at $'2,000,000, with much higher estimates
from other sources. The work of distributing relief money has already
begun.
In other Illinois and Missouri cities the extent of the storm's work
is still in doubt because of the broken telegraphic communications. It I
is known that the storm touched Breckenridge, Pickneyville, Irving
ton, Richview, Drake, New Baden, New Minden, 111., and Rush Hill,
Mo. Many lives are reported to have been lost in those places, but
confirmatory news is lacking as to the fatalities. -
Additional dispatches from Indiana show the fury of the ele
ments was not dissipated until Albany, Benton and Pi inceton
had been attacked, doing great damage to property by wind and
water. Crops were destroyed in the surrounding country.
The Governor of Illinois is on the woeful scene at East St. Louis,
and two con? canies of the National Guard are on duty to prevent
pillage and keep order among the lawlessly inclined. A call for
help has gone forth from the stricken Illinois city. Both cities are
practically in darkness to-night, except in the business center, while
the work of recovering the dead from the wreck of buildings is prose
cuted under difficulties.
ST. LOUIS, Mo., May 28. — A pall of
gloom and death hangs over the Mound
City to-night Twenty-four hours have !
scarce been sufficient to Bring its people to j
a realization of the horror with which it
has been visited, and they are yet dased
and stupefied. Save for the fitful glare of ;
the gasjets in the windows of the saloons
and restaurants and the electric lights of
the few hotels and other concerns that '
SCtNE OF THE FEARFUL CRIIVUS C EMITTED BY JAMES B. DUNHAM, THE SEXTUPLE MURDERER, NEAR SAN JOSE, CAL.
The McGlincy Orchard in * Shaib^s'tood'a^d^a^chJd nr/>w v, n , L .♦ n ™ : Sta Marking Place Where ; Cabin Where Colonel
Residence; 7 : Background. .'. the billing of ' CoioSel McGlincy /' ' : Background. .' Frnit Dryer. % n^ cc d Gllnc Bod y McGJincy ; Sought
The San Francisco Call.
operate their plants, tbe entire city is still
in darkness.
In the devastated district the search for
the dead buried in the ruins is being car
ried on with the aid of torches and loco
motive headlights. Details of police keep
tee crowds at a distance, while the air
is filled with the shrieks and sobs
and hysterical lamentations of the be
reaved. Ever and anon the clanging of a
SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 29, 1896.
MAP OF THE SECTION OF COUNTRY WHICH HAS BEEN VISITED BY CYCLONES
. DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
The first disaster was reported at eherman, Texas, on May 15, and the storm was central in the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma.
Two days later there was a tornado in Northeastern Kansas. On the 24th of May the region near Dcs Moines, lowa, was devastated,
and the storm was reported central in the Dakotas. The following day a tornado burst more than 600 miles to the westward at Orten
ville, Mich., and the Weather Bureau reported the storm center near the shores of Lake Superior. Two days afterward the great, green
cloud which brought death and destruction to St. Louis and vicinity rushed down from the northward. The storm moved in a trough
like depression, extending from Minnesota to Kansas. The map was prepared and the location oi the tornadoes noted for "The Call" by
Mr. W. H. Hararaon, local forecast official in charge of 'he Weather Bureau in San Francisco.
gong is heard in the distance, and vehicles
and streetcars come to a stop while an
ambulance dashes by to add one more
victim to the record of the dead. The
streets in the center of the city, usually
alive with pedestrians until midnight, are
deserted, save for those whoae avocations
keep them from their families or friends,
while the summer gardens and other
points of entertainment are bare of pa
trons. Grief, mourning and stupefaction
have taken possession of the city.
Careful tabulations of the information
gathered by the United Press from all
official sources show that at 8 o'clock to
nignt there were 114 victims that had been
identified, while fifteen still await identifi
cation. Most of the bodies claimed have
been removed to their late homes. The
number of missing, the majority sup
posedly being in the ruins of industrial
establishments and residences that were
totally demolished, is variously estimated
at from fifty to 600. Only a complete
search of the acres of ruins can tell the
true story, for the people in the stricken
region seem utterly unable to talk co
herently.
Men and women reported as among the
missing are continually putting in an ap
pearance, while on the other band many
believed to be safe turn out to be among
the missing. In the matter of age the
dead range irom a male baby of S months
to a great-greav-grandinotherof 92 years.
The number of injured reported to
police headquarters to the same hour foots
up 189. Of these five are unconscious and
unknown, having nothing upon them by
which they can be identified. The in
juries range from slight cuts and con
tusions to one unfortunate who is reported
as having sustained the loss of both eyes
and the fracture of skull, both arms and
legs and ribs. Of the list of injured, which
is about one-fourth of the probable total,
the overwhelming majority of those
caught in the tornado having found their
way to their homes and thus escaped the
| official reports, nearly 100 are reported by
the physicians in attendance as "fatally
injured" or "injured Internally,' 1 which
is practically the same thing. These
figures relate to the city proper.
On the other side of the river, in East
St. Louis, 111., where the elements gath
ered themselves together for a supreme ef
fort toward destruction of life and proper
ty, the latest report* to the United Press
place the total of deaths and missing at
205 and the injured at seventy-one.
Another tabulation, made this evening
by the St. Louis Chronicle, gives these fig
ures: Identified dead in St. Louis, 121;
unidentified, 60; injured, 447.
East St. Louis: Identified dead, 129;
unidentified dead, 125; injured, 158.
The total number of families who were
without homes and whose every article of
household effects was swept away by the
storm, is variously estimated at from 500
to 800. It will be several days before a
complete and reliable roster can be made.
Estimates on local losses are so wild that
it is impossible to give any authentic fig
ures. One good authority places them, at
$15,000,000; another equally good at $4,000,
-000. The latter is probably more correct.
At East St. Louis $2,000,000 is regarded by
Mayor Bader as a conservative estimate.
STATE TROOPS CALLED OUT.
Thieves Take Advantage of East St.
Louis' Disaster.
ST. LOUIS, Mo., May 28.— Almost a reign
of terror prevails in East St. Louis to
nieht. Save for a tug and a few rowboats
placed at the service of officials, physi
cians, newspapermen and others whose
duties called them to the scene, the place
has been cut off from communication with
this city since last night, a section of the
upper, or railroad portion, of the Eads
bridge having been carried away, while
guards were stationed at either end to pre
vent pedestrians from using the footbridge.
The thieves and toughs of the city, how
ever, re-enforced by scores from the sur
rounding country, started in this after
noon to pillage the overturned trucks in
the streets and the freight cars on the
sidings, which were filled with valuable
merchandise, groceries and provisions.
The small police force had been de
detailed to aid the injured and assist in
the task of searching the ruins, and r&aliz
ing that they were powerless to preserve
•order or prevent the pillaging, Mayor
Bader called upon Governor Altgeld for
aid. He quickly responded by ordering
two companies of malitia to the scene.
The first company arrived from Belleville
at 9 o'clock, and the second is en route
from Greenville on a special train and will
be on the ground at 1 a. m.
The Governor himself arrived late to
night and directed the detailing of the
troops about the various properties to be
protected.
Prior to bis arrival a meeting of leadlne
citizens was held in the First National
Bank building in response to a call hur
riedly issued by ex-Congressman W. 8.
Forman and others, and after a full dis
cussion of the situation it was decided to
issue the following appeal, and the -United
Press was requested to give it circulation :
To the People of the United States: The city of
East St. Louis has been visited by one of the
most terrible and destructive tornadoes in the
history of tbe country. As a result of Its fear
ful work at least 200 lives have been lost,
while the number of maimed and wounded
we are unable as yet to estimate, but it will
probably run into the thousands.
The amount of damage to property is very
great and it it impossible at this time to ascer
tain, but it is safe to say that at least 600 fami
lies are rendered homeless. A great number
of these must depend upon charity for shelter.
While tbe loss appears to fall upon the poorer
classes of people, almost every citizen has di
rectly or indirectly suflered damage.
While we regret exceedingly to call upon
the country at large in this extremity, we feel
utterly unable to supply tbe absolute necessi
ties of these afflicted people, although our own
citizens are putting forth every effort and are
contributing as liberally and indeed more lib
erally than their means allow.
We therefore appeal to the generosity of our
sister cities and other communities for help in
this our hour of trouble. We will be pleased
to receive subscriptions and assistance in any
form which may be deemed advisable.
The executive committee has appointed
Paul W. Abt, president of the First National
woras written on a Card by Mrs. Dunham When Told by the Murderer to Pre
pare for Death.
Bank of this city, treasurer, to whom all con
tributions can be sent.
H. F. Bader, Mayor.
W. 8. Forman.
H. D. Sknton.
B. H. Canby.
Joseph Nestor.
J. J. Rkadkr.
Paul W. Abt.
Leo Scherrkr.
Louis Moser,
Executive Committee.
The roadway of the Eads bridge was
cleared of wreckage at 11 o'clock to-night
and a test engine and car passed over in
safety.
In addition to the injured in the two
schoolhouses there are ninety-four maimed
women, children and men in St. Mary's
Hospital. Women and girls from the
farms of tbe surrounding country poured
into the city in droves this evening and
afternoon, with bundles of old linen, cloth
ing and other necessaries, and proffered
their services as nurses. The good samari
tans were badly needed by the hospital
people and city authorities, and nearly
every victim in the public or extemporized
hospitals has an individual attendant to
night.
• m -
LIST OF THE VICTIMS.
Identified Dead at St. Louis and
East St. Louis Morgues.
ST. LOUIB, Mo., May 28.— Appended is
the list of the identified dead at the Morgue
in St. Louis:
FRANK FIBCHER, 1742 Papin street.
D. HASSIN. 1040 Armstrong avenue.
L. T. SIMS, Eighteenth street and Park
avenue.
CHARLES RIBBECH, 1236 High street.
FRED BENWELL, ERNEST ZIM
MER, GUSTAVE VILLMER, 915 Rutger
street.
JOHN HEBSEL, JOHN RAFFERTY,
Liggett & Myers' tobacco factory.
WALLACE BRADSHAW, Ewing and
Scott avenues.
FRED MAUCHENHEIMER, THOMAS
Continued on Second Page.
PRICE FIVE CENTS
ON THE TRAIL OF
MURDERER DUNHAM
Officers in Pursuit of the
Slayer of Six Human
Beings.
CAN'T MAKE AN ESCAPE.
Bloodhounds Turned Loose and
the Assassin Will Soon
Be Cornered.
NOT THE CRIME OF A LTJNATia
Deliberate Plans Made by the Brutal
Husband to Annihilate the
Family.
SAN JOSE, Cal., May 28.— James Dun
ham, the author of Tuesday's remarkable
crime at Campbells, whose six victims
will be buried to-morrow, has been seen
on the road to Mount Hamilton and a
Sheriff's posse is close on his trail at mid
night to-night.
He was seen shortly after 6 o'clock by
two men climbing the mountain trail
about half a mile above Smiths Greet
Hotel.
He was at the time some distance of! the
main road from San Jose to Mount Ham
ilton by Oscar S. Parker and Everett Snell,
two men who were descending the moun
tain. Dunham was going up. Snell knows
the murderer very well, as he (Dunham)
worked for him at one time. Tney stopped
and chatted for some minutes. Snell ad
dressed Dunham as he came up, say
ing, "Hello, what are you doing up
here?" to which Dunham made answer:
"Oh, I'm just traveling." The mur
derer bore the appearance of having seen
a hard experience. His horse had no sad
dle and looked very tired. Dunham's face
was badly scratched and his feet were
bound up in gunnysacks, for all of which
he gave no explanation.
He became quite chatty. Throwing his
leg over the side of Mb tired animal, he said
that he had been without food for two days,
as he had been off the roads and could eet
nothing, that he had the night before
broken into a cabin some distance back
and taken a piece of bacon. He had also
searched the cabin for ammunition, he
said. Parker said the cabin referred to
waa his own. and asked Dunaam to return
and stay over night*.
Dunham declined, saying he wanted to
get through on the trail that night. He
said he was going over the summit of
Mount Hamilton. He carried a sack
which it was supposed contained some
provisions and a hatchet which he uses to
cut through barbed-wire fences or other
obstructions.
Snell and Parker knew the story of tha
crime that has made Dunham a fleeing
outcast. Had he accepted their invitation
it was their intention to attempt his cap
ture. As it was they were unarmed and
did not attempt to delay him. They went
at once to the Smith Creek hotel and tele*
phoned to Sheriff Lyndon in this city.
Two other men, Louis Bosques and
Frank Vincant, saw Dunham half a mile
further along the trail than Snell and Par
ker had been. They merely spoke and
passed on. They immediately set about
arousing the neighborhood and starting in
pursuit.
They followed the trail, but did not
again encounter the murderer so far as
heard from. They are not seeking a per
sonal meetine over diligently, however,
as they are not armed. They simply want
to keep track of him.
The telephone message from Smith's
was received at the Sheriff's offic about 7
o'clock this evening, and it created a lively
time for the next hour or so. Sheriff Lyn
don, with Sheriff Ballou of San Luis
Obispo, had already stared with Ballou's
blood hounds for the McGlincy ranch,
there to start the hounds on the trail.
Word was sent to them and they imme
diately returned and reorganized their ex
pedition to take to the mountains. They
left here about 8 o'clock in a wagon with a
small train of private rigs with as many
parties of adventurers. A great crowd
gathered about the Courthouse while the
preparations were going on, and as the
train of vehicles drove out at a smart trot
it was followed by the cheers of the
people.
Tbe Sheriff's party consisted, besides
Lyndon and Ballou, of Deputies Kennedy,
Reynolds and Hayden, Constables Haley
and Harny. and McClintock, Matt Cos
china, Al hanks. Charles Simmons and
a party of newspaper correspondents.
Deputy Sheriff Hayden and Constable
Haley are soing up the trajl to Kincaids,
beyond Smiths Creek.
It is not now thought that they can ef
fect a capture to-night, but they are cer
tain now that he cannot eiude them,
especially with the hounds after him.
Parker, who has charge of Bob Morrow's
place in the mountains, says he believes
that Dunham will not make much resist
ance when overtaken, as he seemed tired