The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-25

Fire broke out in the debris of many
wrecked buildings in the Nebraska
metropolis and these were menaces
for some time as the fire companies
were hindered by fallen walls and
blockaded streets. A heavy rain fol-
lowed the wind, however, and drenched
the hundreds of homeless persons,
but also put out the flames.
Of the 202 known dead within the
area covered by the storm, 152 were
residents of Omaha. The remaining
dead are scattered over considerable
range of territory with Council Bluffs
reporting IL, Yutan, Neb., 16; Berlin,
'Neb., Z; Glenwood, Ia, 5; Nicola, Ia,
2, and Bartlett, Ia, 3. The same cities
and towns report an aggregate of 400
injured and $50 homes demolished.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED
PEOPLE HOMELESS
Perhaps 1900 persons are homeless.
Aside from this 5000 buildings were
more or less damaged. some of these
being churches and school buildings.
Eight of Omaha's public schools we're
wrecked.
All IofinS OF communications were an
initiated by the wind and only two or
three wires were in working condition
when daylight relieved a night of high
tension. which at times almost became
panic Soldiers. state and national
troops poured into the city during the
day to aid in bringing order of what for
20 hours had been chaos.
Tonight these guardians of the peace
are patrolling the residence districts,
a 10 n OF int taf
relieve such cases of suffering as come
to their notice.
The greatest loss of life occurred sec
tionally. Three points in the path of
the storm offered the greatest sacrifices
THESE were at Forsyth and Farnam
streets, where a crowd had sought ref
uge in a garage. at Twenty-fourth and
Lake streets, where a moving picture
theatre was demolished. and at Twenty
fourth and Willis avenue, where a pool
room had attracted a crowd. In each
of these places the fatalities were large.
CITIZENS RISE
TO SITUATION
This city never has suffered such
ca catastrophe. The citizens quickly rose
to the situation, however, and measures
of relief were organized promptly. Trim
ity cathedral, parish of the Omaha Epis-
copaL church, was temporarily turned
INTO a cOHee mouse, tatnOHc priests WIS.,
tied homes that had been destroyed in
many cases administering the last rites
of the church and public bodies began
the organization of relief committees.
Tonight 100000 had been subscribed for
relief work.
Telegraph and telephone communica-
tion which had been at standstil for
"a hours, improved during the night. In
tra-state as we'll as Interstate communi-
cation was far from normal and 1t is
believed that the full effects of the
storm may not be known for several
days. Reconstruction was begun tonight
when at meeting of the real estate
exchange a committee was appointed to
take up this work.
Insurance companies experienced heavy
losses, most of their fire policies carry
ing tornado clauses. Us
The storm appeared to have started at
Fifty-fourth and Center street, 1t trav-
cling north, veering slightly to the east,
to Leavenworth street. Then it took q
northeasterly course to Fprtieth and Far
nam streets, sweeping its way through
everything. Still travelling a little east
of north, It covered course from For
tieth street east to Thirty-fourth street,
. distance of six blocks.
Striking Bemis park, where the homes
of the well-to-do Omahans are located,
the storm turned sharply to the east
and passed along Parker and Blonde
streets to Twenty-fourth street. where
its path was six blocks WIDE In the
latter section the damage IS complete
Finally at Fourteenth street and Spen-
Ger street, the storm swept over the
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