Omaha daily bee., 1908-05-14

Wires suffer Badly.
Telegraph and telephone wires were badly
nit Communication was cut off between
Omaha and all the nearby towns so seri-
pusly stricken and it was impossible to get
connection until late Wednesday. The street
Railway, whose line between Bellevue and
Fort Crook, was out out of service for
few hours did heroic work in re-establish-
ing service. having cars running by early
Wednesday morning. Trains had their diff
siculties though none entering Omaha met
with serious results.
Omaha and Douglas county were spared
much of the grief that fell to the adjoin-
ing counties and surrounding towns. In the
|eity the official loss was placed at about
3d. 500 to paving and the lizard street sewer.
1.-The latter had pipe burst which may yet
prove a good thing in the way of solving
The acrimonious controversy that has wased
tDver II. Some private losses were reported
mostly by paving or public works con-
tractors. But the wind in Omaha did prac-
'Eically no damage, not reaching any great
Velocity.
Scores of Narrow Escapes.
The story of casualties is succInctly told
In the accompanying table. But this
story is deficient in one OF the thrilling fea-
lures of its subject. It could not depict
The scores of narrow escapes from death
br serious injury. 1t does not, either, sug-
gest the devastating sweep OF the storm.
A party of five Italian laborers employed
On railroad work about six miles below
Council Bluffs at Island Park saw the
btorm approaching from Bellevue and ran
For shelter. The storm overlook them, but
fortunately none of the men was seriously
injured. though all received more or less
Slight injuries.
A. Wright and his daughter and a Miss
Nicholl had a narrow escape. AS the storm
struck they ran to the cellar OF their store
in the old town of Bellevue. They had
ust reached the cellar when the building
was blown away from their heads. The
Floor OF the structure caved in and they
ESCAPED injury because they happened to
pc kneeling close 10 a barrel in the cellar
which held up the debris. Mr.. Wright lost
his house and store and all he had in the
World He was reported quite i'll wednes-
fiay morning. He is about 70 years old.
Story of Bellevue College.
Bellevue college. though seriously injured
Found cause for congratulation and thanks.
giving in the fact that its property losse.
we're covered by insurance and not stu
lent or member Of the faculty was injured
balls, the presidents residence and othel
iormitories. not ono OF which escaped som,
1amage was placed at about $1,000 and 1
Is offset by 10000, so distributed over tn,
Various buildings as TO cover each one
This is regarded a sremarkable in the ex
IRENE. The insurance was held by Creigh
Baldrige & Co. Joseph Baldrige said n
khought the insurance would entirely cove
the losses.
Scarcely had the storm done it's work a
lhe college until an army OF faithful per
sons was at work clearing away the debrl
and preparing for reconstruction and re
habilitation. The students. under the lead
srship OF President Wadsworth. jumped int
ahe task early Wednesday morning Of over
coming the effects of the tornado and mad
such great headway by night that Il wa
announced class room work would be re
sumed this morning.
President WRdswOrth Talks.
at IS a rem arkable thing that no student
were injured in all this wreckage." said d
lwadsworth with all our students an
most OF them in these buildings which yo