The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-24
DISASTER FOLLOWS IN
WAKE OF BIG STORM

lice was thrown around the path of
| the storm soon after it had passed
much looting has been reported.
Long Distance to Denver.
Omaha, March "a (Via Long Dis
tance to Denver) The first and main
storm struck Ralston, three miles
west of South Omaha, shortly before
s o'clock yesterday evening and moved
in a northeasterly direction through
the city of Omaha, leaving a wake
of dead and destruction eight miles
long, its width varying from four to
six blocks. The path of the storm
lay just north of the business dis
trict and included two of the fash
ionable residence sections known as
West Farnam and Bemis Park.
Practically all the buildings in this
district were demolished. The only
point at which the force of the storm
struck the business section was at
Twenty-fourth and Lake streets. Here
the Diamond theater, a moving pic
ture concern, well filled, was wrecked.
According to the best available fig
ures, at least thirty of its patrons
were killed. Between forty and fifty
more were killed in the wreck of a
pool hall nearby, which was patron
lied by negroes.
The we'll defined path of the storm
ended at Carter lake, near the Mis-
souri, river, north of the city. To add
broke out in many of the wrecked
buildings. The streets, Uttered with
debris, were impassa BILE for the fire
apparatus and the fires burned them
selves out except in instances where
the flames were brought under con-
troll by volunteer bucket brigades.
The second storm swept across the
Missouri river about 6:20 p. M, doing
considerable damage in Council Bluffs.
Figures compiled early today place
of I'm in
ell Bluffs at nine, with a score in
Jured. The first storm prostrated
telephone and telegraph wires in all
directions, completely isolating
Omaha.
Mayor Issues Proclamation.
Mayor Dahlman today issued this
proclamation:
ITO the people of Omaha: A great
calamity has struck our city. Many
lives and homes have been destroyed.
The authorities, with the assistance of
Major c. F. Hartman of Fort Omaha,
with 200 troops, are doing all that can
be done in guarding property and
rescuing the dead and injured.
1T will be necessary to patrol this
district which extends over several
miles of territory, until matters can
be adjusted so the property may be
protected and men have an opportu-
nifty to clear the wreckage. No one
will be allowed inside the line unless
the public generally to be patient.
Thousands of volunteers are doing
all they can. appeal to the people in
this hour of distress to house and
feed all that need help until other ar
rangements can be made.
JAMES c. DAHLMAN, Mayor"
Just as soon as the enormity of the
disaster was understood by the citi-
zens here a relief fund was started,
Within an hour hundreds of dollars
had been contributed, with many of
the city's wealthiest men back of the
movement. Public buildings were
thrown open as place of refuge for
the storm sufferers
The commodiouS rooms of the Com
merciaI club were soon filled with
cyclone victims. Never was the hos
pitality of the city given such an op-
portunity for effective work. Nearly
every home within a dozen miles of
the stricken district is filled with un-
fortunates. All the hospitals in the
three cities, Omaha, South Omaha
and Council Bluffs are filled to ca
pacity, and in many of them the
halls and corridors are filled with
cots.
Ten Known Dead.
Lincoln. March 24.-Ten persons
are known to be dead and it is be-
lived that the list will reach fifteen
of here, where the tornado, which
later did such havoc at Omaha, first
began its destructive work.
The known dead are:
LITTLE SON OF FRED HEYN.
HENRY SCHEELE.
BABY OF MR.. AND MRS. FRED
OHM.
A. r. HAMMOND.
MRS. A. R. HAMMOND AND LIT
TIE SON.
HERMAN sTARMAN, postmaster.
MRS. GILSTER.
MRS WILL. RABCOCK AND LIT
TIE DAUGHTER.
MRS. w. H. STEINBAUGH AND
BABY.
other deaths are reported but not
confirmed, making the total of Is.
Partial list of the injured:
Mrs. Herman Starman, recovery
doubtful.
John HeIdt hurt about shoulders and
legs.
w. H. Steinbaugh, badly hurt
Walter Haden, head cut. bruised.
Mrs. Fred Heyn, seriously hurt
Child of Herman Starman, leg bro
ken.
Son of Mr.. and Mrs. A. r. Ham |
mond, leg broken
Will Swigart, bruised.
Henry Jensen, head cut.
The storm broke with a suddenness
that found the residents of the vicinity /
unprepared to seek safety in the cell |
lars.
The furniture store of the village !
was turEcd into a morgue and at one !
time there were ten bodies there.
relief train with a number of |
physicians was rushed to Yutan from !
Lincoln and this morning several of |
the injured were brought here and |
placed in hospitals.
A rumor current here this morning |
was that the village of B-rlin, about /
so miles south of Omaha, was wiped |
out by tornado. The report is being |
investigated but has not yet been con- |
hrmed.
The Storm Area.
The stretch of the city covered by |
the tornado reaches from the southern /
limits to the suburbs of Florence, six