Omaha daily bee., 1908-05-14

One KILLED, Two Fatally Injured ana
Great Property Loss.


One KILLED, Two Fatally Injured ana
Great Property Loss.
SPRINGFIELD, Neb., May 13.-(special
Telegram.)-A tornado forming near the
German Lutheran church, five miles South
west Of here struck Louisville about
o'clock Tuesday afternoon and damsged
residence and business property to the ex-
tent of about $4,000 The first effect OF
the storms fury was felt at a clay pit,
two miles southwest of Louisville, operated
by the Avery Brick company, where the
6-year-old son of the foreman, Ed Hester,
was instantly killed. The residence was de-
nolished and Mrs. Hester and another OF
her children wer 80 seriously injured by
flying timbers that their recovery is in
doubt.
The storm cloud moved slowly toward
Louisville and its approach was noted sew
eral minutes before II struck the north part
OF the business section, which was directly
in the path of the tornado and this saved
a great many OF the business houses. The
west side of Main street sustained the
greater damage. Alloway's livery barn was
wrecked and six horses were buried under
the debris, but none were badly hurt. A
small dwelling adjoining the barn was over
building. The fronts Of John Burns tenn
perance hall, brakes restaurant and the
Farmers meat markets were blown out.
The Bank OF Commerce building was badly
shaken and may have to come down. The
Burlington depot is a complete wreck, only
a small portion of the building being left
The semaphore was blown down, but the
operator had crawled undera small culvert
nearby and escaped uninjured A string
Of box cars were blown off the track, the
Free Methodist church was overturned and
rests on its roof within six inches of the
beck door OF a nearby dwelling. The two
barns belonging to Charles Phelps were
destroyed. but his house was untouched.
George Woods cashier OF the local bank,
had just completed a fine barn on his
premises which was totally destroyed. The
only person injured in the village, beside
the Hester family, was Mrs. Masters, an
aged woman residing near the Burlington
depot her arm being broken by falling
timbers when the storm struck her house.
Main street was lined on either side by
large trees, these were hurled into the
street, adding greatly to the wrecked ap-
pearance of the town.
A relief train was run down from Platts-
mouth and people came from all the nearby
| towns under the impression that help was
needed, but owing to the fortunate escape
of the townspeople their assistance was
not required.
| At the Lyman & Woodruff sand pits,
| which are operated by Louisville laborers,
| considerable damage was done. Seven
loaded sand cars were lifted from the track
and thrown into an adjoining pond. A
horse was carried nearly 200 yards and
dropped to the ground uninjured. por-
tion Of an elevator was blown away but
no one was injured there.
Many interesting experiences we're told
and numerous peculiarities OF the tcrnado' S
work is coming to light. Most OF the mer-
chants and others stayed in their places
of business, holding the doors against the
wind and hoping for the best, which was
all they could do. Many lives undoubtedly
would have been lost II the storm had been
as severe in that part of town as 1t was
near the depot
A man driving into town just as the wind
came was blown from his buggy into a
large tree and just then the tree blew down
and he was deposited on the ground with
out a scratch.
| 1t is a hard blow for Louisville and some
time will be required for its citizens to
recover from the shock, but the towns
progressiveness will soon assert itself and
new buildings replace the ones destroyed.
A large force is already at work clearing
the streets and private individuals who
lost their homes and other property are
receiving assistance, both financial and
otherwise. so all the sufferers will be taken
care of. All telephone and telegraph lines
were blown down. but all the companies
have forces of men at repair work and
communication will soon be re-established