Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-28
CITIES STRICKEN BY
T0RNADOES: DIG IN
RUINS FOR DEAD

The storm travelling from east to
west destroyed practically the entire
northern half of Mattoon, leaving no
building standing in a swath several
blocks in width.
A lumber yard directly in the path
of the storm contributed largely to
the damage. Flying pIanks struck a
number of pedestrians unable to find
shelter and other planks were hurled
for miles around the countryside. one
being discovered sticking through the
side of a farmers home.
Bits OF broken and twisted steel also
flew through the air, damaging build
ings entirely out of the path of the
storm. A canning factory contributed
to the loss in a similar way.
Rescue work was begun almost I'M
mediately. Within an hour every
church and public building standing
was filed with injured, many OF
whom were unable to obtain adequate
medical service.
Efforts to estimate the casualties
with any degree of accuracy were fu-
tile. Hundreds of persons reported
that members of the families were
missing but ii is believed that many
Of these will be found tomorrow.
A heavy hail storm, which followed
the wind, hampered the work of res
cue, and late into the night persons
were being dug from the ruins OF
wrecked buildings. City officials as
serted that there is a possibility that
the death list may be materially III
creased.
Carrying Out Dead.
Tonight every available vehicle in
the city was i'll service carrying the
dead and injured to hospitals,
churches and other public places
thrown open to them. Mattoon was
in complete darkness except for the
light of hundreds of lanterns carried
by volunteer rescue workers, and not
until daylight can the full extent OF
the damage be known.
The funnel-shaped cloud came
swirling its way toward the city and
before persons on the streets could
seek safety district on the northern
side OF the city two miles long and
about four blocks wide had been
devastated, almost every building in
the path of the storm being in ruins.
The property damage, it was estimat-
ed tonight, will exceed one half mil
lion dollars. Hundreds of families
are homeless.
Factory Hard Hit.
The T. w. Clark Manufacturing
company, in whose plant 100 men
were at work at the time OF the tor
nado, suffered the heaviest property
damage, the loss being estimated at
100000. That none of the workmen
were killed was one OF the freaks OF
the storm.
Pending the arrival Of National
Guardsmen from Effngham for pa
troll duty, 100 citizens were sworn in
as special policemen.
Reports from the surrounding sec
;ion indicated that the storm, passing
over the city from west to east, did
heavy property damage and caused
loss of life for distance of thirty
miles in each direction from here.
Business Houses Escape.
Most OF the business quarters Of
Mattoon escaped the fury OF the tor
nado. The path OF the wind was
through the residential part of the
city. Houses were wracked out of
shape, toppled over or smashed fiat in
most cases. In few instances smaller
buildings were carried some distances
from their foundations.
National Guardsmen from Efing-
ham arrived tonight and took charge
Of guarding the wrecked property
and caring for the homeless not other
wise provided for.
Thirty-Three Dead at Charleston.
Decatur, ILL.,. May 27.-Charleston,
ILL.,, ten miles eat of Mattoon, suffered
a loss OF thirty-three known dead and
many injured in yesterdays tornado,
which swept eastward after destroy
ing large part OF Mattoon.
This report was sent from Mattoon
tonight by reporter for the Decatur
Herald, who said that the loss in
Charleston might prove to be greater
than that in Mattoon.
The storm damaged bom the busi<
ness and the residential quarters of
Charleston. This information was
carried TO Mattoon by resident of
Charleston, who was seeking aid for