The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1917-05-31
figures by states are:


Totals ...........,....2 45 1,207
Thousands of houses were wrecked,
hundreds of head of live stock killed
and many thousands of acres of grow
ing crops devastated.
The latest in the series of toSnadoes
started last Sunday, apparently in the
vicinity of Willisvllle, in southwestern
Illinois, swept southwark across the
Ohio river into Kentucky, down the Mis-
sissippi into Arkansas and Tennessee
and finally veering eastward toward
Alabama, where the storm apparently
spent itself. The dead in the foupsouth-
ern states was roughly estimated at
100, and the injured at several hun
dred.
Tornado Series Began Friday.
The destruction began last Friday in
Andale, Kan, where 26 people were
killed and 90 injured. . .
Late Saturday twister, probably
the most severe of the SERIES struck
the rich corn belt of central Illinois,
killing "a persons and injuring per-
haps 500 in Nation. At Charleston,
ten miles east of Mattoon, 81 were
killed and more than 100 injured. The
property damage in the two cities is
estimated at 100000.
Another destructive storm late Sat
urday crossed territory approximate
ly 100 miles north of the center of Illi-
nois, reached into northern Indiana
and caused the loss of a dozen lives,
the injury of more than 200 and q
heavy property damage.
Heaviest Loss of Life in Illinois.
NATION, ILL.,, May 29.--American
sympathy manifested itself in sub
stantial" fashion for the plight of
Charleston and Nation, twin victims
of the tornado which swept central
Illinois on Saturday leaving behind 1t
death and ruin.
Scores of communities throughout
Illinois, Indiana and neighboring states
responded to the appeals of the Strick-
en- cities with cars of foodstuffs,
blankets and cots, and assurances were
received that more was available if
necessary.
Organized relief for the destitute, of
whom, there are about 5000 in the two
towns, was begun under the super
vision of J. c. O'Connor of the Chi
cago chapter of the American Red
Cross who arrived with contingent
of Is nurses.
Cooperating was the state board Of
health under DIR. st. Clair Drake, which
Immediately began sanitary survey
In each town, that possible disease
epidemics might be prevented.
Unload Food Cars All Night.
In both Mattoon and. Charleston
forces of volunteers worked through
the night unloading cars of food pre-
paratory to its distribution to the
needy.
During the day food stations were
established and owners of motor cars
were pressed into service delivering to
public buildings, institutions and pri-
vate homes serving as temporary shell
tiers for the stricken.
So far as was known the wind cost
80 lives and resulted in injuries to
about $50 persons in Coles county. Re
ports from the farming districts indi-
eating that the casualties were heav-
lest in the two cities.
The farmers, however, reported
heavy property losses in the destruc-
ton of buildings, the death of stock
and damage to growing crops. Avail
able estimates placed the damage in
the county at between $2,500,000 and
$3,O00,000, of which $1,250O00 was in
Nation, and about $750,000 in
Charleston.
OF the injured only about score
were in a serious condition, according
to the corps of volunteer physicians.
Plans for the burial of the dead are
under, way. InrlIattoon pablic Mem
orial day funeral is contemplated, bur-
ial of large proportion of the victims
being In the Dodge Grove cemetery,
itself storm swept.
While immediate food needs In
Charleston and Mattoon were provided
for, relief officials made 1t plain that
the necessity for aid still was vital.
In both communities the storm Gen.
tered itself largely on the homes of
workingmen and among the 5000
homeless were hundreds who lost their
all In the ruins. An imperative need,
1t was stated, Is for money and for
clothing. particularly for women and
children.
Mr.. O'Connor asserted that 1t will be
at least ten days or two weeks before
many OF the destitute can be put on