Where the tornado crossed the Mississippi and struck the Eads Bridge , a wooden plank was found driven through a wrought iron plate . The tornado continued into East St. 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 there were damaged or destroyed . An additional 118 people were killed , 35 of which occurred at the Vandalia railroad freight yards . The confirmed death toll was 255 , with some estimates above 400 . More than 1,000 were injured . The tornado was later rated F4 on the Fujita scale . 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
1896 Republican National Convention
1896 Republican National Convention
1896 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado