1927 — Sep 29, Tornadoes, St. Louis City/County, MO (78); Madison Co. IL (7), AR/1– 86

–70-90 St. Louis. Cornell. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). 1982, p. 222.
— 88 AP. “Tornado Relief Work Begins; Toll Now 88.” Chillicothe Tribune, MO. 10-1-1927, 1.
— 86 Blanchard estimate.*
— 85 St. Louis. AP. “Sunshine Today…for St. Louisans.” Chillicothe Tribune, 10-3-1927, p.1.
— 81 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 814.
— 81 Ludlum. The American Weather Book, 1982, p. 192.
— 79 Brooks and Doswell. “Normalized Damage from Major Tornadoes in the US…,” 2000.
— 79 NOAA. The 25 Deadliest Tornadoes.

Arkansas ( 1)
— 1 French, Fulton County. Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 814.

Illinois ( 7)
— 7 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 272.
–1 In a home.
–6 Crucible of molten metal was overturned.
— 6 Brooks and Doswell. “Normalized Damage from Major Tornadoes…[US].” 2000.
— 6 Ludlum. The American Weather Book, 1982, p. 192.

Missouri, St. Louis (78)
–88 AP. “Tornado Relief Work Begins; Toll Now 88.” Chillicothe Tribune, MO. 10-1-1927, 1.
–85 AP. “Sunshine Today Brightens Outlook for St. Louisans.” Chillicothe Tribune, 10-3-1927, 1.
–84 Sep 30 Sikeston Standard, MO. “Cyclone Hit St. Louis Thursday Afternoon.” 10-4-1927, 1.
–83 AP. “Rain Drives Tornado Refugees to Shelter.” Decatur Sunday Review, IL. 10-2-1927, 1.
–78 AP. “Greater Relief Fund Needed to Aid Sufferers.” Sedalia Democrat, MO. 10-4-1927, 1.**
–78 O’Neil. “Look Back: Sept. 29, 1927: The 2nd deadliest storm to ever hit St. Louis.” 9-26-2016.
–73 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 814.
–72 Ludlum. The American Weather Book, 1982, p. 192.

* We use the St. Louis coroner’s report of 78 deaths for greater St. Louis, MO, for St. Louis, recognizing that this represented direct deaths, as opposed to the 83-85 deaths reported in the press which included deaths indirectly attributable to the storm. We use the seven deaths reported by Grazulis for Illinois and the one he reports for French, Fulton County, Arkansas.

** “The coroner’s list of dead from Tornado injuries totaled 78 for greater St. Louis, or seven less than the number shown in unofficial newspaper tabulations which included several deaths indirectly attributed to the storm.”

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “MO-IL Sep 29, 1927 1250 [pm] 79k [killed] 350inj [injured] 600y [yards wide] 13m [distance in miles] F3. St. Louis [county], MO / Madison [county] IL – Moved ENE from the south edge of Webster Groves, passing across the corner of Forest Park. In downtown St. Loui, the path widened from 100 yards to 600 yards, with microburst damage extending out to over a mile wide. Within this damage area there were few single-story homes with which an F4 estimate of tornado intensity is usually made. A few multi-story dwellings were destroyed and partly swept away, and some non-residential buildings were completely blown away. Over 200 city blocks were torn apart in St. Louis, and 72 people were killed. In Illinois, seven deaths occurred before the funnel dissipated over Granite City. One death was in a home, and six occurred as a crucible of molten metal was overturned. Losses were about $50,000,000 in Missouri and $3,000,000 in Illinois. Debris was carried for 50 miles. The tornado followed a path similar to those in 1871 and 1896. This one crossed the Mississippi River about a mile north of those other tornadoes. Probably F4.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 814.)

Ludlum: “Tornado outbreak from Oklahoma to Indiana; major disaster at St. Louis, where 72 were killed; total deaths from outbreak 81; damage $25 million.” (Ludlum 1982, 192.)

Newspaper

Sep 29: “St. Louis, Sept. 29. – Sixty-nine persons were known to have been killed and 602 injured and property damages ‘conservatively estimated’ by the Globe Democrat at $75,000,000 was caused by a tornado which devastated an area of six square miles here today.

“The death list was expected to increase with the death of persons critically injured and the discovery of other bodies. The total number of injured was estimated at 1,000 as hundreds received treatment by private physicians and made no report to hospitals or police.

Twister’s Velocity 90 Miles an Hour.

The twister reached a velocity of 90 miles an hour in a few seconds and subsided as many minutes later to be followed shortly by a brilliant sun shining through wind-torn clouds.

“The city’s west side, a section of boulevards, trees and houses of wealthy St. Louisans lay covered with a blanket of uprooted trees, torn timber and bricks out of which crept injured men, women and children, black and grimy as though emerging from a coal mine.

“An estimated 5,000 homes were either wrecked or damaged while the streets were clogged with fallen telephone poles and hundreds of the city’s most beautiful trees. Trolley wires torn from their support spat blue flames as they met the car tracks and the shouts of policemen kept terrified people from injury or death from the life wires.

Phone Service Demoralized.

“With telephone service demoralized it took the city several minutes to learn what had happened. The news of the tornado was flashed over the town by radio, and mothers in parts of the city unvisited by the storm were in terror as they awaited word from the schools in the tornado district.

“The twister was accompanied by a terrific rain which added to the desolation. Houses and factories were crumpled in many places like toys.

“The first flashes that reached fire and police headquarters set up a general mobilization of every available policeman and fireman. The storm area was quickly blocked to the curious by a hastily formed cordon but behind the cordon were hastily organized units of relief and men began digging into heaps of stone and brick to look for persons they believed buried….

“The pupils fled from the lately remodeled Central High School when parts of the exterior structure fell and there was fear the roof would cave in. A theatre received the frantic pupils as they sought refuge in the rain. Sixteen children were injured in the school but none were known to have died.

“Detective Sergeant Edward Schaaf and an unidentified patrolman, hastily rushing into the storm district, were killed by a falling wall. At the Mullanphy hospital there were pathetic scenes as 63 patients were carried out. None were injured seriously although wind sideswiped the building, ripped the entire west wind to shreds and sent the roof and upper floor to thee ground.

‘Shoot All Looters.’

“Every available policeman was brought to the area and Police Chief Gerk immediately issued an order to ‘shoot all looters.’

“As the agencies of rescue and succor were getting into motion, the city was enveloped by a weird greenish light which sent terror to the hearts of the storm sufferers. This shortly turned to a pinkish hue and torrents of rain ushered in the darkness which was unrelieved by the thousands of broken and useless street lamps….

Governor Sam Baker, anticipating the possibility of disorders in the stricken zone tonight, directed Col. Stephen Lowe, command4er of the 138th Infantry of the Missouri National Guard to order out as many companies of guardsmen in St. Louis as was necessary to assist in tornado relief and patrol work….” (Associated Press. “69 Die in St. Louis Tornado.” The Sedalia Capital, MO. 9-30-1927, pp. 1 and 4.)

Oct 1: “(By The Associated Press.) St. Louis, Oct. 1. – Nearly 2,000 relief workers enlisted under the Red Cross today started a systematic program for aiding 2,303 families in 195 blocks shown by a survey to have been affected by Thursday’s tornado, which killed 88 persons and injured more than 1,000 in St. Louis and vicinity. Revision of the death list showed several duplications. Jeff Roberts, one of those reported killed, was found to be alive.

“….The Red Cross survey revealed approximately 1,000 persons were in need of immediate shelter, which was provided. The section most in need of relief was shown to be the district between Eastern avenue as far north as Fair Grounds Park, the district between Whittier street on the west and Grand boulevard on the east and another section north and east of Fair Grounds Park extending through the Hyde Park area.

“More than 300 injured were still in hospitals today and more than 800 others have received medical treatment….

“….More than a million dollars worth of automobiles were destroyed.

“Twelve churches of various denominations suffered to total loss estimated at between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000. Damage was done to nine schools. Greatest damage was occasioned by the toppling of an ornamental tower of the Central high school Five girls were crushed to death. The prosecuting attorney indicated he might ask a grand jury investigation to place responsibility for such defective construction.

“Relief was in charge of the Red Cross. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Globe-Democrat headed the relief fund with contributions of $5,000 each.

“Substantial buildings in the path of the tornado withstood its force in most cases with little or no damage. Frame houses were splintered into kindling wood. The better stone and brick structures suffered only the loss of roofs or collapse of inner walls….” (Associated Press. “Tornado Relief Work Begins; Toll Now 88.” Chillicothe Daily Tribune, MO. 10-1-1927, p. 1.)

Oct 3: “(By The Associated Press.) St. Louis, Oct. 3. – Sunshine, the first in four days and the promise of speedy insurance payments, today brightened the outlook for St. Louisans whose homes were crippled or destroyed by Thursday’s tornado.

“The death list was increased to 85 with the death of William Francis Rocke, 64. The police list of persons reported missing was reduced to three today. Those unaccounted for were William McCassley, 21, August Kahn, 50, and Errol Theilecke, 26.

“Approximately 200 injured remained in hospitals. Several were reported in critical conditions….

“The number of families affected by the storm is now estimated by the Red Cross at 3,300. Somewhat less than one-third will require new homes….” (Associated Press. “Sunshine Today Brightens Outlook for St. Louisans.” Chillicothe Tribune, 10-3-1927, 1.)
Sources

Associated Press. “69 Die in St. Louis Tornado.” The Sedalia Capital, MO. 9-30-1927, pp. 1 and 4. Accessed 5-3-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sedalia-capital-sep-30-1927-p-1/

Associated Press. “Greater Relief Fund Needed to Aid Sufferers.” Sedalia Democrat, MO. 10-4-1927, p. 1. Accessed 5-3-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sedalia-democrat-oct-04-1927-p-1/

Associated Press. “Rain Drives Tornado Refugees to Shelter.” Decatur Sunday Review, IL. 10-2-1927, p. 1. Accessed 5-3-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/decatur-review-oct-02-1927-p-1/

Associated Press. “Sunshine Today Brightens Outlook for St. Louisans.” Chillicothe Tribune, 10-3-1927, 1. Accessed 5-3-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/chillicothe-constitution-tribune-oct-03-1927-p-1/

Associated Press. “Tornado Relief Work Begins; Toll Now 88.” Chillicothe Daily Tribune, MO. 10-1-1927, p. 1. Accessed 5-3-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/chillicothe-constitution-tribune-oct-01-1927-p-1/

Brooks, Harold E. and Charles A Doswell III (NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory). “Normalized Damage from Major Tornadoes in the United States: 1890-1999.” Revised manuscript submitted as Note to Weather and Forecasting, Vol. 16, 9 p., Sep 2000. Accessed 11-25-2017 at: http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/users/brooks/public_html/damage/tdam1.html

Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1982.

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The 25 Deadliest U.S. Tornadoes. Storm Prediction Center, NOAA. Accessed 10-12-2008 at: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/killers.html

O’Neil, Tim. “Look Back: Sept. 29, 1927: The 2nd deadliest storm to ever hit St. Louis.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, MO. 9-26-2016. Accessed 5-3-2020 at: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/sept-29-1927-the-2nd-deadliest-storm-to-ever-hit-st-louis/article_7d13acbe-58bf-525b-b50d-560506df7324.html

Sikeston Standard, MO. “Cyclone Hit St. Louis Thursday Afternoon.” 10-4-1927, 1.