Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-28

and feeding the homeless. S,Rttoon and
Charleston. swept on Saturday evening
by tornado that took toll OF more
than leo lives in Central Illinois and
Northwestern Indiana. tonight had cs-
tablished systematic methods Of relief.
Sundays sunrise showed that Mat
toon had lost forty-seycn known dead.
with a score OF persons missing and
500 injured, some OF whom may die. in
the devastation OF 40 blocks Of homes
occupied by workiugmeu In the north
erna part OF the city. The wind RACED
49s houses and partially destroyed l46
more. rendering 1000 persons homeless
These are sheltered with friends. In
public buildings and in tented refuge
in Peterson Park.
CHARLESTON SUFFERS
VERY HEAVY LOSS
- Charleston, lying ten miles east Of
Mattoon. with 5000 population, suf-
fered larger loss in proportion 10 it's
size than Mattoon. the known dead
totaling thirty seven, with twenty or
more missing. Scores were injured in
Charleston also, and some business
huil5inss were wrecked, including the
three grain elevators and lumber
yard
The twisting wind chose it's victims
in spots and reports from the rural
regions indicate that small loss of life
occurred outside Mattoon and Charles
ton. and only at widely separated
places.
sweeping through Modesto. south of
was
done. the storm rushed northeast
dropping down on the northern part
of this city. Leaving unscathed the
business section and barely touching
the industrial plants. the whirlwind
lifted its tentacles until il reached
Charleston.
There the tornado again Erirpcd the
earth and tore away substantial build
irss, crushing out the lives of two.
score moro human beings amidst fall
ing houses, the HURTING of timbers
and the swapping OF trees.
The storm fitfuIly wore itself out in
the northwestern corner OF Indiana.
causing more havoc here and there as
it hoped along an giraffe course to
its disappearing point.
FIRE BREAKS OUT. BUT
DOES VERY LITTLE DAMAGE
Fire broke out in Mattoon but was
soon put out without any serious dam
age But the darkness Of the cloudy
whirlwind was succeeded after a brief
in,ermission Of bright sunshine. by the
blackness of night, unrelieved in the
stricken quarter of Nation by arti-
ticial light, because the lighting sys-
tenn was damaged.
For hours there was a confused rush
ing about OF the survivors in the
stricken area, seeking relatives and
friends. Efforts to send for help were
thwar,ed by the collapse OF wires, but
finally messenger was dispatched TO
Champaign by automobile. SO that the
relief train arrived before midnight
Later an uncertain wire TO Springfield
was made workable, and militia was
sent 10 aid in guarding property and
helping the homeless
Before dawn order had been estah-
lished = temporary operating room
was set up in hotel. Beds for the
injured were placed in the public Ii
hrary, the ODD Fellows Home and in
various churches and schooIhouses
HUNDREDS OF TOMBSToNES
TURNED OVER By WIND
The storm swept path four blocks
wide and thirty-hve blocks long in
North Mattoon, causing an estimated
loss OF $1,000. 300. Lereling nearly all
the modest homes OF those living in
the wind-swcpt zone. the tornado rush
ed through Dodge Grove Cemetery,
turned over hundreds of tombstones
and demolished the public stone mauso-
leun.
Vast damage was also done in an
area proAimate TO the swept zone and
twice large as the 40 blocks laid
waste. In this area. however. houses
were merely shipped OF chimncys de-
nuded OF porches, or twisted nwry on
foundations. and few persons suffered
death or injury.
y few small factories standing in
the storms path were also damaged or
demolished, hut the better residential
quarter and all the main business part
of Mattoon escSped damage. except
from flying planks and broken furni-
ture. hurled by the wind. in some in
stances for miles. II was this VERT
able shower OF t!mbers and household
effects that aroused the unscathed por-
ton OF the city 10 the distress of it's
less fortunate fclicw-townsmen.