Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-28

ravaged the middle west. and in Omaha
and vicinity tornado killed $50 persons
and DESTROYED thousands Of homes.
The month OF March. 1913. win b
memorable In American annals for the
most widespread and destructive storms
that have been recorded since the settle
ment Of this country. The Omaha tornado
and others of less destructiveness were
the forerunners of an outpour OF rain
in the states of the eastern mississippi
valley which was unprecedented. The
states Of Ohio and Indiana We're central
in the precipitation, although the flood
conditions extended across Pennsylvania
and New York. During the four days
from March % to March Is the precipi-
tatton in Indiana and Ohio, according to
the weather bureau, varied from three
to twelve inches and averaged over SIX
inches. There fell in those four con-
secutive days as much rain as would
have fallen normally through the entire
months of March and April.
The chief danger center was at Dayton.
Ohio. Fortunately the early reports of
the appalling loss of life IN that region
We're not verified. although there were
hundreds who fell victims to the terrible
cnrush Of water. Dayton. Hamilton and
other towns in the Miami valley were
completely at the mercy OF the floods.
while Columbus. GAINESVILLE, Indianapolis
and many other cities suffered serious
damage. The loss Of property was enor-
nous. This fell very heavily upon the
raill Dads in the destruction Of numerous
tCStIJ UTluBtS ana nGlfuIeuS CI IIlIlcS u
washed-out tracks. Many thousands of
mills. factories, stores and private dwell
ings were either totally destroyed or dam
aged materially.
In point OF material loss this great
| Hood probably surpasses any previous
disaster due to natural causes In the
history OF the country. That the attend
ant mortality was comparatively small
the total loss Of life in Ohio is estimated
to have been 454-relieves the catastrophe
of much OF it's horror and makes the
property loss in Ohio-est!mated at $780,
UO.OO-a matter Of secondary impor-
lance.
Prompt relief was given by the Ma
tional Red Cross, the War Department
and the local authorities President
Wilson made aspuhlic appeal for relief
funds. and in ke course of a fortnight
$1.oO0.NU was raised. Secretary Of War
staff. fastened to the scene at once. The
government rushed food and tents to the
sufferers and set on foot active sanitary
| measures to prevent the outbreak OF dis
ease. By the end Of March the danger
IN Ohio had passed and the popular in
terest was focused on Cairo, ut the mouth
Of the Ohio river. always critical point
in an Ohio river flood. April Il the
levee at Columbus, KY, went out, driving
LOO homeless persons to the hills. On
the same day the levee at ShaWneetOwn,
ILL.,. gave way and that place was practi-
cally wiped out by the waters. 1t was
lIOL uitll hiTil . tbdI the OdHScI dt cairo
was practically over. being transferred to
the lower Mississippi.
Scarcely less remarkable from q me
neurological viewpoint vas the great au-
| tumnal blizzard which visited the region
of the great lakes the second week in
November. This fierce storm was also
central In Ohio. although the theater OF
| maritime disaster was Lake Huron. Fol-
several days the city OF Cleveland was
brought to practical StandStill by the
force of this unexpected visitation, traffis
being interrupted by the snowfall and
most business suspended. There was also
considerable loss Of life due to this storm,
$50 persons and ten ships being the Lake
Huron record.
October 5 a tidal storm swept in from
Bering sea and caused great suffering and
damage to property at Nome, Alaska.
Three days earlier southern Texas expert.
enced the worst flood In it's history. In
early December another rainfall and flood
cost Texas upward of $5.O0O.OOO. October
more than GOO lives were lost In flooded
sections along the Bosphorus.