Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-03-27

400 injured in a windstorm that de-
molished $50 homes. damaged hun
dreds of other buildings and caused
a monetary loss OF $5,OOO,OOO, ac-
cording to reports available up to a
late hour tonight from the main path
of the tornado in and about Omaha.
Most of the casualties were in
Omaha.
Nearby towns in Nebraska and
across the river in Iowa also suf-
fered severely. The wires were
snapped off in all directions and it
took many hours to gather and cir
culate the news OF the disaster The
fire broke out in the debris of many
wrecked buildings in Omaha and
these were a menace for some time
as the fire companies were hindered
by fallen walls and blockaded
streets.
A heavy rain followed the wind
and dyenched hundreds of homeless
persons, but it also put out the
flames.
The storm assumed at first the
velocity and destructive effects of a
cyclone and ended its existence in a
series of tornadoes which dropped
fiercely on many parts of the city
and country without regard to hu-
man life or property and visited a
greater portion of the residential
portion of Omaha.
Tonight the number of known dead
within the area covered by the storm
is estimated at 202, of whom 1852
were residents of Omaha. The re-
naming dead are scattered over a
considerable range of territory.
Council Bluffs reports IL, Yutan
16, Berlin, 7. Glenwood, Iowa, 5, Ne
ola, Iowa, 2, and Bartlett, Iowa, 8.
The same cities and towns aggregate
440 injured and $50 homes demol-
ished.
The monetary loss it is estimated
exceeds $5,000.00O Perhaps 1,5OO
persons are homeless. Aside from
this, 5000 buildings were more or
less damaged. many being church ed
ifices and school buildings. Eight
of omaha's public schools were
wrecked.
All forms of communication are
almost annihilated by the wind and
only two or three wires were in
working conoition when daylight re-
lieved the night of high tension
which At times almost became a
panic.
Soldiers. state and national
poured into the city during the day
to aid in bringing about order out
of what for % hours had been chaos.
Tonight these guardians of the peace
are guarding the residence districts.
aiding the police to maintain order
and relieve such cases of suffering
as come to their notice.
The greatest loss of life occurred
sectionally. Three points in the path
of the storm offered the greatest
sacrifices. These were at Fortieth
and Farnum, where the crowd sought
refuge in garage; at Twenty-fourth
and Lake, where moving picture
show was demolished, and at Twen-
ty-fourth and Willis, where a large
poolroom attracted the crowd.
Although the catastrophe is over
wheming, the people rose quickly to
the occasion ana measures of relief
were organized promptly. Trinity
cathedral was temporarily turned
into coffee house. Catholic
priests visited the homes that had
been destroyed. in many cases ad
minisfering the last rites of the
church.
Public bodies began the work of
relief and by tonight 100000 had
been subscribed for the relief of the
destitute. Governor Morehead ar
e' = ih NhO way anu LOOK per-
fonal charge of policing the city.
Ihree companies os state militia and
federal troops from Fort Crook pa
trolled the wrecked portion of the
CITY which is under martial law.
During the day state officials and
a majority of the. members of the
legislature in session at Lincoln
came to this city TO secure such in
formation as might be necessary in
taking up the work of state relief.
Storm Travels East OF North.
Omaha, March 24.-The storm
first stuck the city at Fifty-fourth
and Center streets and from there
Travelled north. veoring slightly east
to Leavenworth street, then north
eacter'y to Fortieth and Farnum
streets, still travelling a little east of
north, and covered a course from
Fortieth east to Thirty-fourth street
striking Bemis Park. where the
homes of the well-to-do Omahans are
located. The storm turned sharply
to the east. passing along Parker