The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-05-31
Several States
Tornado SWept
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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 Il tally of
those identified, with confusing re-
sultS.>
5000 Persons Are Homeless.
All of the churches of MattOon, the
public library, Memorial hospital and
the American hotel are filed with the
wounded and homeless, who are eSti-
mated at between $500 and 5000.
The horde of visitors and those seek
ing 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 a 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 dangerous crowd !;
merely idle and curious.
Troops on Guard.
The policing of the wrecked dis
trict by four companies of militia, un-
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
| ut a permanent citizens relief com
mittee was organized and it's activi-
| ties placed in the hands of special sub
committees. Fifteen thousand dollars
toward 100000 local fund was
raised before adjournment.
Attorney e. c. Craig of the bar as,
| ISOLATION was chosen head of com.
| mittee of lawyers who will petition
the legislature for 100000 to be used
In caring for the homeless.
Sidney NJ. Katz heads the commit
| tee which will care for the homeless.
A. L. Davidson of the Chicago chap
| ter of the American Red Cross was
placed in charge of temporary relief
measures, such as supplying food and
clothing.
| 4e6 Homes Demolished.
According to a survey made by the
committee on losses 496 homes were
totally demolished, 146 partially de-
! stroyed and 800 homes slightly dam
/ aged. The property loss on homes was
estimated at 100000, not including
manufacturing plants, adding another
| 100000 to the total figure.
Storm Cuts Path Through Town.
| The scene of devastation defies ade-
quate description. The storm struck
The northwest part of the city ana
| followed a direct path east to the city
| limits. The district is made up OF
prosperous working people, most Of
whom owned their own homes. If Il
gigantic steam roller capable of crush
| ing anything erected by human LANDS
had crunched across the city the dam
age could not have been more complete.
Storm Freaks Numerous.
| The fury of the wind preached no
obstacles. A clear roadway four blocks
wide and two miles long was demOl-
lshed to such n degree that one stick
did not remain on another. Bricks were
crunched to powder, huge trees were
torn and Splintered. The scene reSem-
bled nothing so much as a war-tOrn
French village subjected to innumer-
able bombardments.
The freaks of the storm stagger
credulity, and yet hundreds of amaz-
iIsg sights are to be seen in Nation.
Some of the houses look as if they
| had been blown from the inside, the
four walls lying a hundred feet in all
directions.
Gale Crushes Business Center.
A gale of so miles an hour blew
| through the business district, demOl-
ishing store windows and Overturning
wagons and automobiles. People were
hurled before it like leaves and were
pinned helplessly against any obstruc-
ton which stood in their path.
The Dodge Grove municipal GENE
terry at the extreme north city limits
suffered heavily. Not tree escaped
being uproOted.
Wind Causes Devastation.
1t was 3:15 o'clock Saturday after
noon, according to the stories of eye
witnesses, when great black funnel
shaped cloud was noticed in the north
| west. For five minutes it appeared to
be approaching the city at tremen-
dous rate of speed and then suddenly
veered to the north, and it was thought
] that the city had escaped.
SDeptotOrS went indoors and n mo-