The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-26

day. Funerals were held in all parts
of the city. Many of the bodies re-
covered from wrecks of Sundays tor
nado We're cared for at undertaking
esta ablishments and a greater number
of the funerals were held from those
places. Whenever possible friends of
stricken families took care of bodies
and had them prepared for burial.
In many instances churches were
demolished in the districts covered by
the storm; others were so badly
wrecked as to prevent them being
used for funeral purposes. Nearly
hundred funerals were held today.
Many bodies have been shipped to
Out-of-town relatives.
During the night the work of res
cue continued Only one body was re-
ported recovered, that of another ne
gro buried in the Idlewild poolhall de-
briS. The authorities are taking steps
to uncover all of the wreck at once.
in order to remove anybody that may
be buried beneath the mass of brick
and broken timbers of demolished
buildings. The real estate exchanges
has taken steps to prevent the raising
of rents. Already cases of attempted
eXtortion have been reported, some by
members of the exchange itself.
Executives of that body decided to
deal harshly with any owners found
taking advantage of those forced to
secure new homes on account of the
tornado.
People Pour Into City.
Hundreds of persons from all parts
of the country, unable to hear from
relatives, have come to the city seek
ing news of their safety. Many per-
sons known to have been in the vicin-
ity of that portion of the city ridden
by the storm have been reported
missing and everything possible is be-
ing done to locate them.
Plans for the immediate rebuilding
of the tornado-stricken district are
being worked out by company of
Omaha business men. A corporation
is being formed to handle the matter
in a systematic manner and assist the
unfortunate who lost their homes and
personal effects. This institution will
begin at once the task of at least par
TALLY reconstructing many of thse
homes.
A public appeal sent out by the
Commercial club says that 642 homes
were totally wrecked, 1868 were dam
aged and 2,179 persons made homeless.
This census was taken by representa-
tives of the club and the statement
is given officially.
An unusual incident in connection
with the storm was the receipt by
telegram from the mayor of Dayton,
Ohio. Today Mayor Dahlman tele-
graphed the Daton executive a SINH
lar message in connection with the
flood in the Ohio town.
The task of giving permanent relief
to the sufferers in Omaha became al
most herculean. Another quarter of a
million dollars has already been pro-
vided for this work, the matter of
Systematically distributing this money
having become serious problem.
Plan System of Relief.
City officials have taken up the
work temporarily. but they are pre-
pairing to turn 1t over to some perma-
nently organized relief body, in order
that relief may be extended in a bus
inesslike manner.
Yesterday, for the fist time since the
disastrous tornado of Easter, the people
of Omaha began to count the cost both
in lives and dollars. When a resume
was made it was apparently more ap-
paIIing than those who had studied the
result were willing to admit.
The greatest work was that of or
ganizing a systematic relief bureau
with seven branch stations in the ter
ritory covered by the tornado. These
stretched over state seven miles
long and those in charge of the relief
stations handed out material assistance
to all comers who were able to Show
they We're in need of aid.
The city and state have either made
or prepared to make appropriations to
meet all emergency cases and rel's #
committees are being organized to care
for every case resulting in destitution.
In addition to this, newspapers and
numerous other institutions have start
ed subscription lists which already
bring the total Immediately available
for relief to nearly 100000.
City Commissioner Ryder today
stated that offers aggregating nearly
81 900 900 had been received, but de-
cIared Omaha and Nebraska would be
able to care for their own. He. how
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