Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-22
Great Storm Which Caused So Much
Damage in South is Central
in Illinois.
SPREADS OVER WIDE AREA
Territory East of Rockies and South
of Chicago Affected.
FIVE DEAD IN NEW ORLEANS
Two Men Killed at Jackson and Two
Boats Sunk at vicksburg.
GREAT DAMAGE TO FORESTS
Thousands of Acres of virgin Pine
in Mississippi Leveled-Many
Points Along Gulf stiII
Isolated.
DAMAGE TO FORESTS

CHICAGO, Sept. n.-A severe storm
reached this city at nightfall and has
steadily increased in violence. Accordlne
to the local weather bureau It is the fore.
runner Of the storm which wrought such
havoc In the south last night and today II
is expected to reach its height here early
tomorrow morning, and a steady preclpl-
tation is promised until tomorrow after
noon. The center of the storm at O'Clock
was in southern Illinois and Missouri, and
it is advancing steadily northward
The local forecaster said that the pres
ent storm spreads over a tremendous ter
ritory and is almost a record-breaker for
the area covered. It extends practically
from the Atlantic ocean to the Rocky
mountains and from Chicago to New Or
leans tonight. Storm signals we're dis
played all over the Great Lakes today.
Enormous Losses in south.
MEMPHIS. Sept. n.-Central last night
in Mississippi and sweeping north at the
rate Of 200 miles a day, the hurricane which
devastated the gulf coast and left a trail
of wreck and ruin through four states.
continues on its course with unabated fury.
OF the ruin II has wrought no one can
give an estimate. In New Orleans alone
five are known to be dead, and 81 OOO 900
will not repair the damage to the beautiful
Crescent City. 1t is said that plate glass
alone will cost $4,000 to replace
From the little summer colonies on the
Louisiana and Mississippi gulf coast come
tales Of frightful devastation and fears
that many lives have been lost. The
wealthy summer tourists who own pleas
ure craft are wont to spend much time
on them. and II is possible that many have
been lost. Biloxi, the Mecca of the wealthy.
is still without communication, and its
fate is unknown. Jackson is still cut off
from the coast points. The dome of the
capitol at Jackson was wrecked and the
old capitol unroofed The streets were
tangle of live wires and the fall OF
the trees and debris made the highways
impossible.
At vieksburs two vessels we're sunk and
a third was driven ashore. Their passen-
gers were rescued One vessel lies across
the channel and has blocked navigation.
In the pretty harbors Of Pascagoula and
Bayou st. Louis many slips are empty
and the torn moorings tell of the fury Of
the wind and waves. Bath houses, pa
vilions, yacht slips and pleasure resorts
that were nightly brilliantly illuminated
and the rendezvous for those who sought
relaxation and amusement on the famous
gulf coast are washed away and not a
timber remains to mark their locations
And the story has not yet been completed
Five Dead at New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS, La, Sept 21 Cvia Hat
tiesburg, Mss) - The tropical hurricane
which yesterday swept the gulf coast Of
Louisiana and Mississippi caused the death
of at least five persons and a property
loss Of perhaps more than S1,OoOOOO. New
Orleans was practically shut out from
communication with the outside world for
twenty-four hours. The arrangement of
railroad schedules has not yet been rlghted
and 1t is problematic when trains will
arrive on anything like regular time. The
actual property damage to New Orleans
will exceed S25O,OOO.
Details Of the reported inundated sections
Of Placquemine and st. Bernard parishes
are still lacking. Fifteen young men who
were among passengers on the Louisville
and Nashville train which has been tied
up at Chef Mentur, La, since yesterday
morning, left that place at daybreak this
morning and started for New Orleans along
the track of the railroad. For seven miles
they fought their way against heavy odds
and were forced to wade ana swim across
several washouts. They were finally
picked up in an exhausted condition by
relief train that was unable to get any
farther out than a point about one mile
this side OF Mechaud station. The party
upon their arrival here reported that over
400 passengers. including many women and
children. are still tied up alta Chef Men
teur. without anything to eat relief
train and a small steamboat have been
sent to the scene.
Two Dead at jackson.
JACKSON, Miss, Sept IL An equinoci-
tial hurricane Of great intensity swept up
ward from the Mississippi coast last night
carrying death and destruction in its wake
Several lives have been lost and prop
erty damage to the extent OF several mu-
lion dollars, incurred
Charles Clayton and Karl Wooster, black
smiths, were caught beneath falling walls
and killed. Hundreds OF buildings were
unroofed. The east dome Of the capitol
building was crushed In and damage
caused amounting TO several thousand
dollars.
Several sections OF the old capitol build
ing roof we're carried hundreds OF yards.
The stables at the faair grounds were
demolished and several exhibit buildings
badly damaged.
Virgin forests Of yellow pine, represent
ing one-third Of the wealth Of the state.
we're laid low and 1t is believed thaat the
timber destruction will equal II It does not
exceed, that Of four years ago when more
than 60O0,O 900 worth OF timber was felled.
Up TO O'Clock tonight It had been i'm
possible to form an idea OF the extent OF
the storm.
MOBILE, La, Sept a.-Some loss Of life
is reported In the vicinity Of Chef Menteur.
La. The hurricane was severe alta Gulf
port Miss, waves coming over the NAM
moth pier and water going into the city.
doing considerable damage
Al Biloxi, Miss, the big bridge over
the bay, used BY the Louisville & Nash
Vile, is out OF commission and some shin
ping has been damaged.
Nothing south OF Gulfport has bsen
heard from and in this locality the hurrt-
cane Is HupDOsed to have eenfaraa