May 27 1896 – The F4-strength Tornado strikes St. Louis-East St. Louis
The 1896 St. Louis – East St. Louis tornado is a historic tornado event that occurred on Wednesday, May 27, 1896, as part of a major tornado outbreak across the Central United States on the 27th, continuing across the Eastern United States on the 28th.[1] One of the deadliest and most destructive tornadoes in U.S. history, this very large, long-track, and violent tornado was the most notable of an outbreak which produced other large, long-track, violent, killer tornadoes. It caused over $10,000,000 in damage (1896).
The tornado spawned from the other supercell became the third deadliest and the most costly tornado in United States history. It touched down in St. Louis, Missouri, then one of the largest and most influential cities in the country. 137 people died as the tornado traversed the core of the city leaving a mile wide (1.6 km) continuous swath of destroyed homes, schools, saloons, factories, mills, churches, parks, and railroad yards. A few of the destroyed homes were swept away. Numerous trees were downed at the 36-acre Lafayette Park, and a barometer recorded a drop to 26.74 at this location. More people probably died on boats on the Mississippi River as the bodies may have gone downriver.
When the tornado crossed the river and struck the Eads Bridge, a 2x10 wooden plant was found driven through a 5/16 wrought iron plate. The tornado continued into East Saint Louis, Illinois, where it was smaller but more intense. Homes and buildings along the river were completely swept away, and a quarter of the buildings in East St. Louis were damaged or destroyed. An additional 118 people were killed, and 35 of those deaths alone occurred at the Vandalia railroad freight yards. The confirmed death toll is 255, with some estimates above 400. More than 1,000 were injured. The tornado was later rated F4 on the Fujita scale.[2] Enough damage was done to the city that there was some question that St. Louis might not be able to host the 1896 Republican National Convention in June.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis-East_St._Louis_Tornado
Photos at this link:
http://www.usgennet.org/usa/mo/county/stlouis/cyclone/1896.htm