The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-03-28

iIa'erSe SlIy, mlcn -
Berth, Ind. -- 1
Sterling, Ill - 1
Totals -------- 225 694
BY far the greatest damage was
done in and near Omaha, through
part of which the tornado swept Sum
day evening, throwing many substan-
tial buildings, ripping off roofs and
sidings of hundreds of houses and
killing men and children by the
scores.-The State.
Messages by Train.
The storm kept its work a secret
from the rest of the world for hours
by breaking down all wire commune
cation. Messengers with news stories
had to go by train to Lincoln, the
state capital, to send out the first
definite news of the disaster.
During the early hours of the MORN
ing injured persons worked desper-
rately to remove persons caught be-
meath razed buildings. The debris
caught fire in many places and many
persons were painfully burned before
they could be extricated.
No great number was killed in any
one place. The wind swept along,
taking it's toll here and there. The
tornado even jumped over portions of
the city in it's path, swooped down
again and dashed distractions to the
earth.
The gale left Omaha only to sweep
ont to towns in Iowa in the same de-
structive manner that it had attacked
villages in Nebraska. The rage of the
elements even extended in a some
what abated form to points far in the
east to Illinois. No sooner had the
twister passed than a gale swept over
much the same territory, but with
lessened fury.
What seems to have been a separ-
ate storm swept portions of Indiana,
being greatest in and near Terre
Haute. There nearly score of per-
sons were slain and hundreds were
hurt. Other places in Indiana report
lesser damage.
Sleet and Wind.
The sleet and wind storm of the
last few days had reduced telegraph
and telephone companies to dire
straits, as hundreds of poles and
thousands of miles of wire were car
ried down in a tangle. The Easter
tornado added to the havoc west of
Chicago, although wires were repair
ed to the east. In many cases large
regions were unable to use CONNER
cial telegraphic facilities and news as.
sociations were compelled to send re-
ports in the most unusual ways to
reach the newspapers.
Floods swept through several Wis
consin cities, damaging many thou
sands of dollars worth of goods.
Dams were washed out in many
places and the released waters swept
over the fields below.
In Chicago all the elements seemed
to meet shortly after Easter Sunday
had closed. Wind blew violent gale,
snow flew before it in some places,
hail crashed windows in other parts
of the city. After the storms had
passed the wind died to gentle
breeze the sun shone brightly and the
warmth of spring pervaded the air.
Stories of Pathos.
Stories replete with thrills and pa
thos were related in Chicago today by
eyewitnesses of the tornado.
Terror-stricken, the narrators of
these stories had sat fascinated in the
coaches of a Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy railroad train watching a
great dark cloud skipping wierdly on
its work of destruction. In several
villages they helped pick up the dead
and dying.
The wounded and dead were placed
on seats and in the aisles of the
cars, until the train, which had pass
ed through the beginning of the track
of the whirlwind that struck Omaha,
reached the latter city.
The hospitals in Omaha tonight are
full of injured, many of whom have
not yet been identified, apparently be-
cause their friends are either dead or
among the injured.
Troops on Patrol.
Tonight the stricken section of
Omaha is patrolled by government
troops from Fort Omaha, and the
state militia. Governor Morehead has
taken personal charge of the state
troops. There has been little or no
looting. Business men are cooper
ating in every way: The Omaha ho-