Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-25
Over 200 Killed in Former city, Is Die in Terre
Haute==Gigantic Swirling Windstorm Rustes
Across Cities Leaving Death and Destruction
Damage Will Reach Millions Of Do|arsChcago Visited by Storm
Monday~Terbe Sights as Told by EyeWinesses Houses
Hurled in Air, Crushing People as They FALL
STORMSWEPT OMAHA.

Omaha, Neb., March 24.-Wnh the
| death list huctuating around 200 and
| injured apparently 400, Omaha and the
surrounding territory in Nebraska and
iowa. tonight, faced the problem of
housing the thousands rendered home
| less by last night tornado The num-
Der of buildings destroyed was said to
| he in the neighborhood of 1909 and the
property damage loss is expected To
| reach several million dollars.
Belated reports coming TO Omaha
tended 10 increase the enormity of the
tornados destruction and indicated
that a much wider territory had been
in the path of the storm than was first
shown Next to Omaha where the dead
will probably remain around 100 Yutan
and Ralston, Neb., reported l6 and Ii
deaths respectively and Council Blutts,
II.
TIE hospitals in Omaha. tonight, are
full Of injured. many of whom have
mot vet been identified, apparently be-
cause their friends are either dead or
among the injured.
Tonight, the stricken sections of
Omaha are patroled by government
troops from Fort omaha and the state
militia. GOV Nororhead has taken per
sonal charge of the state troops. There
has been little or no looting. The bus
mess men are cooperating in every
way.
The storm appeared to have started
at saith and Center streets. From there
it Travelled north, Veering slightly 10
the east of Leavenworth street. Then
II took a northeasterly course to 4oth
and Farnam streets, sweeping it's way
through everything. Still travelling
little east of north, it covered course
from 10th street east to S4th street,
a 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 ana
blonde streets To oath street, where
it's path was six blocks wide. In the
latter section, the damage IS complete
Finally at 18th and Spencer streets
the storm swept over the butts, hlSh
above the Missouri river demolished
the Missouri Pacific roundhouse, lev
| elled the big trestle of the Illinois Cen
trail Railroad over Carter lake, wreck
ed number of buildings near the
Rod and Gun club, fashionable out
| ing place, and disappeared to the north
| east
1t was late today. before all the de-
| tails of the storm with accompanying
| wreckage were known, even within this
city itself.
| The pathway Of the storm from three
| to seven blocks in width cut swath
| "a blocks long.
| The total number of deaths in this
| part of the city reached almost 50.
| Within the space of this storm center
| which, if made rectangular, would
| cover a quarter section of land, 1200
| houses are wrecked, 100 bodies have
been recovered and search Of the ruins
is being made for others. Several are
known to be still in the ruins at the
end of the storms path.
| Estimates of the value of property
demolished by the storm vary between
IS. GOO, 900 and $12,000000 Some of the
more substantial houses can be re-
built, but this number is small and
where the buildings have not been
torn asunder they have been so twist
ed that even the material is useless
. for rebuilding.
Today, five public schools We're ou
of commission in Omaha. Sever
churches are partly or wholly wreck
ed. one private school for girls il
a total wreck, although the student.
escaped. The rest of the loss is Il
.. homes
! The destruction began with the mil
, lionaire homes in the exclusive Yves
Fanham and Bemis Park district, blu
, farther northwest the building col
lapsed more easily and a large mum
Der of deaths resulted.
Rescue work started as soon as tn
people We're able to hurry to tn
stricken district, but the nights worl
!. was by the light of lanterns and lit
: tie was accomplished. The storm too
down all the wires in its path and tn
electric power was shut off immedi
/. ately to prevent further loss of life
With the arrival of daylight, a train
=. Continued on Page Twelve.)