Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1917-06-01
CYCLONE KILLS 100
IN ILLINOIS TOWNS;
INDIANA ALSO HIT
Heavy Loss of Life at Nation
and Charleston.
MANY HOMES ARE WRECKED
Three Thousand Persons Made Home
less When Tornado Sweeps
Through Large Section of Mat
toon and Destroys Resi-
dences-State Troops
on Guard.

st. Louis, May 28.-It is reported
here that tornado swept through the
southern tip of Illinois, causing heavy
property loss and some loss of life.
Springfield, H., May 2S.-Every en-
ergy of the state government was
thrown into the work of rescue and
relief at Mattoon, Charleston and 9th
er Illinois towns where a vagrant tor
nado took a toll of more than 100
lives and RACED block after block of
business and residence buildings.
Governor Lowden and Adjutant Cen
eral Dickson conferred on measures
of relief, after which General Dickson
sent to Nation every cot and blanket
available. This action was taken
when reports were received from mil
itary officers at Mattoon stating that
100 persons were dead between 800
and 400 were injured and 453 families
were homeless.
Many Dead at Nation.
Mattoon, ILL.,, May 2S.-After a
sleepless night of uncertainty and an
guish Nation sorrowfully face the
light of day and reckoned her dead,
the toll of the worst storm in the
history of the state.
Accordingto the best obtainable fig
ures, in the absence of any official sta
tistical agency, 48 bodies have been
recovered, 46 Of which have been iden-
unaccounted for. ~Three hundred per
sons are badly, though not fatally,
hurt. Two hundred more are suffer
ing from slight injuries and approx
mately 20 are expected to die.
Relatives Seek Dead
The work of identifying the dead
and listing the wounded and injured
has been sadly handicapped through
the lack of any central clearing house
of information. The bodies Of the
dead, as rapidly as they were recov-
cred from the wreckage, were taken
to the four undertaking establish
ments of the city, which were then
thrown open to the public.
Continuous streams of sightseers
and those seeking relatives passed in
and out of the doors. Clerks and as
sistants attempted to keep a tally of
those identified, with confusing re-
suits.
5000 Persons Are Homeless.
All of the churches of Nation, the
public library, Memorial hospital and
the American hotel are filled with the
wounded and homeless, who are esti-
mated at between $500 and 5000.
The horde Of visitors and those seek
ling relatives became so large that
famine threatened and w. G. Sawin
was empowered to act as food die
tator.
No Looting Reported.
When sightseers, however, attempt
ed to parade through the storm-swept
district they were doomed to disap-
pointment. They were stopped by pick
cts with fixed bayonets. Those seeking
relatives were supplied with passes.
AS result not single case of loot
ing was reported. Major Klauser is
sued orders to shoot vandals on sight
and the word quickly was passed
along. 1t was not a dangerous crowd;
merely idle and curious.
Troops on Guard.
The policing of the wrecked dis
trict by four companies of militia. I'M
der command of Maj William Klauser
of Champaign, is admirable. Thou,
sands of curiosity seekers from sur,
rounding towns commenced to invade
the city early in the day and Broad
way, the principal business street.
presented curious holiday appear
ance.
Relief Plans Started.
Every possible measure has been
adopted by the townspeople to allevi-
ate suffering. At mass meeting held
at a permanent citizens relief COM
mittee was organized and its activi-
ties placed in the hands of special sub
committees. Fifteen thousand dollars
toward a 100000 local fund was
raised before adjournment.
Attorney E. c.. Craig of the bar as
ISOLATION was chosen head of a COM
mittee of lawyers who will petition
the legislature for 100000 to be used
in caring for the homeless.
Sidney M. Katz heads the commit
tee which will care for the homeless
A. L. Davidson of the Chicago chan
ter of the American Red Cross was
placed in charge of temporary relief
measures, such as supplying food and
clothing.
AGO Homes Demolished.
According to a survey made by the
committee on losses 496 homes were
totally. demolished, LAC partially de-
stroyed and 800 homes slightly dam
aged. The property loss on homes was
estimated at 100000. not including
manufacturing plants, adding another
$4,000 to the total figure.
Storm Cuts Path Through Town.
The scene of devastation defies ade-
uuate description. The storm struck