Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-03-29
TERRIBLE STORM
CRIPPLES WEST
Hundreds Of Lives Lost and MIL
lions Of Dollars Worth Of
Property Destroyed

| Hundreds of lives were lost and mil
lions of dollars worth of property de-
stroyed by a terrific storm which visited
Illinois. Indiana and Nebraska last Sun
day night. About DPS persons were
killed and 720 injured in the city Of
Omaha alone.
The tornado swept in from the south
west and zigzagged to the northeast
over the residence portion of the city,
leaving in its wake destruction and car
mage. Fire sprang up all over this area
and added to the horror of the twister
The iiremen were unable to respond to
the numerous alarms. and many houses
were allowed to burn to the ground. The
police was unable to properly protect
the stricken district, and the soldiers
from Fort Omaha were called out.
0maha's suburbs suffered heavily
from the storm. Ralston, southwest of
Omaha, was razed. and half score or
more are dead East Omaho. which
felt the tail of the twister. reported
houses demolished. but no lives lost.
Council Bluffs. Iowa. suffered nine dead.
score or more injured and great dam
age to property. The worst damage
was done and the largest toll of lives
was exacted in the western part Of
Omaha and in the vicinity of Twenty
fourth and Lake streets and from there
northeast to Sixteenth and Binney
streets. This is the residence portion,
and the destruction wrought was appall-
ing. Whole blocks of homes were pick
ed up and dashed into shapeless mass.
Street cars were hurled from the tracks
and demolished. A moving picture show
at Twenty-fourth and Lake streets was
destroyed. Ten dead and eight injured
have been removed from the ruins.
Fifty persons were IN the theatre at
the time OF the disaster, and it is fear
ed that most of them are buried in the
debris. Bemis Park. .one of the prettiest
residence districts in Omaha. was razed,
and fires dotted the park, completing the
destructive work of the tornado. Among
the show places of the city which felt
the baneful effects of the storm was
the Soslyn Castle. The roof was torn
Off, and the trees and shrubbery were
uprooted. From the Field Club. which
is in the western part of the city, to
the Carter Lake Club. situated at the
northeast extremity, was one mass Of
debris from two to six blocks wide Fed
eral soldiers from Fort Omaha assisted
the police in keeping looters and NOR
bid curiosity seekers at bay.
The fact that heavy rain fell for
half an hour after the tornado saved the
mass of wreckagc and many of the
bodies Of the dead from being burned
The Webster street telephone station.
containing many girls, was one of the
buildings bit by the storm, and in min
ute it was twisted and torn. Several
of the girls were killed outright, and
many others were injured.
The Illinois Central bridge over the
Missouri River was destroyed. Semi
hysterical passengers said the hospitals
and hotels of Omaha were full of injured
and the dead were very numerous. A
Burlington train, which left Lincoln at
4.30 O'Clock. picked up many dead and
injured along the way to Omaha and
carried them into the city.
A tornado appeared to have formed
near Greenwood and to have swept over
the eastern part of the State. Yutan,
l6 miles north of Ashland. suffered Sc
verely. and 10 persons are missing at
that place, while 80 are injured. With
the water works out of commission, a
fire broke out. and the entire town was
threatened with destruction. Valley
Still, town north Of Yutan. was report
ed hard hit. with l0persons missing and
many injured. The heaviest loss Of
property occurred near Greenwood and
north of Ashland. Two tornadoes were
reported as forming near Greenwood.
one going north and the other heading
east. The one which went north did the
most damage. according to early reports
AT Ralston much property was destroy
ed and the railroad lines were blocked.
necessitating the holding of several
trains. Wire service in the eastern
portion of the State was demoralized.
and only comparatively meagre reports
of the storm were received over the
telephone wires.
Ten persons are known 10 be dead.
We will pay 81. 90 per ton for toma.
s.., ths. aaoa.. t,isNar.l 80. H.....,