New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-04-27
DEATH LIST REDUCED
TORNADO VICTIMS AIDED.
Three Hundred and Fifty Killed
Tempests Queer Antics.

New Orleans April 26.-The totals Of death.
misery and ruin caused in Louisiana. Mississippi.
Georgia and Alabama by Fridays tornadoes
came to hand to-day in approximately correct
form Briefly stated they are: Killed. about
800; injured, painfully seriously loo;
homeless. several thousand; towns reporting
serious wreckage. 46; habitations and business
houses practically complete ruins in these towns.
about 300
The above figures do not include the wreCkage
on plantations and farms scores of which were
struck and damaged The number of dead will
never be known accurately. for the reason that
hundreds Of them were negroes. who were
buried in many communities without careful
records being made of their numbers.
By following the wreckage Of towns the gen
eral direction OF the tornadoes be traced
closely. Apparently the struck in three
separate currents. each describing the arc OF
circle and travelling toward the northeast. The
first Of these struck through Northern Louis
lana, Mississippi and into Tennessee before day
light Friday morning. The second appeared fur
Their south about o'clock in Central Louisiana
and Mississippi. This apparently was the por-
ton OF the storm which swept through Alabama
and Georgia Friday night and Saturday
morning The third portion OF the storm ap-
peared Friday afternoon. further south than
either of its predecessors. This the storm
the towns in which the vreckage was worst.
Why the fatalities were so large is apparent
to-day from glance at the photographs which
have arrived here from many portions Of the
tornado belt They all tell the Same story.
Whole blocks Of what were formerly little resi-
dences and cabins. lie spread over the ground in
separate boards, if huge lumber pile had
been scattered over these areas Under this
mass of wreckase many hundreds Of persons
were buried, not in a hundred escaping
without some injury. The houses which
thus scattered about were chiefly negro habita-
tions. The homes Of the whites held together
better. and the photographs Of these show many
Of them with half the top or the upper half Of
the structure ripped off but leaving below pro-
tections which save hundreds from death
Along with the accounts of suffering have
come many recitals Of remarkable experiences.
Of which the following is typical:
At An1ite, La, when the tornado appeared
there were seven persons at the dinner table in
Hamilton Warmers home. including three chill
dren- One Of the diners, Claude Bennett saw
the whirling cloud in time to shout warning
and rush out OF doors, but the others remained
in the dining room. The wind in a second tore
off two doors on opposite sides of the room. AMI
an astonishing procession of live and inanirnate
objects began to pass into the room through
these doorways First came calf. running be
fore the wind The animal jumped over the
dining table and went out the opposite door
Afterward came horse. which followed through
the exit taken by the calf The three children
sought refuge under the table and no one was
injured
To-day has been one Of relief measures
throughout the wrecked district The ruined
towns have been visited by thousands Of spec
tators. many Of whom went with a few dollars
in their pockets distribute among the needy
Sheds made from the vreCkage have become the
homes Of hundreds. Small parties Of men on
horseback have gone through country districts.
taking inventories Of assistance needed and rem
dering aid where it was most necessary. At
least a dozen relief funds have been started in
many cities and towns