The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-03-25


Omaha, March 25.-Shlvering from
the cold and the awe inspired by the
nature of the work, scores of men,
women and children today struggled
in the snow TO rescue the dead and
injured friends and relatives, who lay
beneath the wreCkage of the buildings
that were crushed like egg shells by
the tornado which swept over
Nebraska and Iowa, Sunday, killing
over $50 persons in Omaha alone. The
latest reports this morning give tho
number of injured at 800, but the
death list was not increased over the
night report of 202.
The storm, which seriously hamper
ed the work of rescue began shortly
after midnight and continued with
gathering force. Over three inches Of
snow covered the debris in that sec
tion of the city struck by the cyclone.
The privatiOns of the storm sufferers
were greatly increased by the snow
following so closely the wake of the
tornado.
Women, tugging at heavy beams,
hoping against hope to find living dear
ones beneath tons of wreckage; men
gruffy cheering sOrrowful mates:
weeping children, wrapped with shawls
and blankets, all these figured in the
scene which the federal soldiers
watched while patrolling the afflicted
district and keeping the, wrecked
buildings from constituencies maraud-
ers.
City officials gathered within tho
lines drawn around the tornado dis
trict and helped the. soldiers, also
distributing clothing and other neces-
stiles.
Over $4,000 has already been sub
scribed for relief, half by the city
commissioners and half by citizens.
The injured at the hospitals are re-
ceiving the best possible attention.
Physicians of Omaha and Council
Bluffs, volunteered services and train
ed nurses willingly followed the lead
Of the physicians. Those patients
showing Improvement today will be
removed from the temporary hospitals
to places provided for them by city
officials. Most of them are homeless.
The snow which according to re-
ports as falling from Colorado TO
central Iowa, seriously interferred
with the slender threads of tele-
graphic communication which has
outside world.
Governor Morehead, said he would
hasten action before the legislature
to obtain sufficient funds for the i'm
mediate care of the storm victims.
After a tour of inspection of the
tornado district today he said this
is my conception of hell"
Few of the houses destroyed were
protected by tornado Insurance so the
loss is practically entire.
The loss to the homes of Omaha
will run into the millions.
The destruction began with the mil
fionaire homes in the exclusive West
Farnam and Dennis park district Few
lives were lost in this district, but
farther northwest the building col
lapsed more easily and a large number
of deaths resulted.
Rescue work started as soon as the
residents of the town were able to
hurry to the stricken district, but the
nights work was by the light of Ian
terms and little was accomplished.
A coincidence among the injured
at the Child institute was that all
were badly cut about the face, while
the bodies were comparatively free
from wounds. Ugly looking scalp
wounds marked every injury.
The home of George j. Duncan, ad-
vertising manager of The Omaha Bee,
at 4101 Farnam street was completely
destroyed. Mr.. Duncan died at hos
pital this afternoon. Mrs. Duncan is
in critical condition.
At the home of Patrick Hynes, 2704
North Twentieth street, a. party cele-
brating his S1st birthday was in
progress. The guests had just begun
dinner and were drinking toast to
health of their host when the storm
swept the house away. All the party
tr,skI
injuries, except grandchild, Miss
Cecilia Bigelow, who was internally
injured.
1.-THE party had just begun dinner
said Mr.. Hynes. Suddenly there was
a roaring sound. The next minute
the house was in ruins. wiggled
around and out and aided the others
in escaping"
And then suddenly brought back to
the fact that his grandchild was near
death. he said: "Oh. IL 1t had only
been me instead of Cecilia"
When the storm had passed Mr.. and
Mrs. C. M. Wilhelm found themselves
buried under a mass of broken and
twisted furniture and tin cans which
had been blown into the house. They
extricated themselves with difficulty.
John Wright. railroad watchman,
probably owes his life to the fact that
he went to work half hour ahead of
usual time. Incidentally this Is the
third time that Wright's home has
been threatened bY a tornado.
Little GLADYS Crook was revived
after a house had been blown over
her and she had been imprisoned for
more than half an hour. 1t was nec-
essary TO chop large hole In the side
of the house before tha little girl.
whose cries for help had brought res-
euers. was taken out, uninjured.
cliff Daniels. his wife and their two
children. met death together. When
soldiers. digging about the ruins OF
their. home. found the four bodies. the