MISSOURI: Five Minutes of Havoc

Hard rains slashed in horizontal sheets across St. Louis one night last week, and radio stations dutifully carried the Weather Bureau's heavy-thunderstorm warnings. The weather was still foul when the city went to bed. Two hours-past midnight, it worsened destructively. Without warning, a tornado, bad weather's traveling explosion, roared down upon the town.

Striking about four miles from the city limits, it damaged eight homes, toppled KXLW's 385-ft. radio transmitting antenna. With the heavy, rushing sound of a thundering locomotive, it rolled into the city, tossed KTVI's 575-ft. TV tower across the roofs of two apartment buildings, crushed the second...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!