Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-06-05
Dead.Iniured

Totals .Z40 1,zU1
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 tornadoes,
started last Sunday, apparently in the
vicinity of Willisyille, in southwestern
Illinois, swept southwark across the
OHIO river into Kentucky, down the
Mississippi into Arkansas and Tennes-
sec and finally veering eastward to-
ward Alabama, where the storm ap-
parently spent itself. The dead in
the four southern states was roughly
estimated at 100, and the injured at
several hundred.
Tornado Series Began Friday.
The destruction began last Friday in
Andale, Kan, where 26 people were
killed and go injured
Late Saturday a twister, probably
the most severe of the series, struck
the rich corn belt of central Illinois,
killing So persons and injuring per-
haps 500 In Nation. At Charleston,
ten miles east of Nation, 81 were
killed and more than $50 injured. The
property damage in the two cities is
estimated at 100000.
Another destructive storm late Sat
urday crossed a territory approximate
ly 100 miles north of the center of Hill
nois, reached into northern Indiana
and caused the loss of a dozen lives,
the injury OF more than 200 and
heavy property damage.
Heaviest Loss of Life in Illinois.
Mattoon, ILL.,, May 30.-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 it
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. G. O'Connor of the Chi
cago chapter of the American Red
Cross, who arrived with a contingent
Of Is nurses.
Cooperating was the state board of
health under DR.. ST. Clair Drake, which
Immediately began a sanitary survey
In each town, that possible disease
epidemics might be prevented.
Unload Food Cars All Night.
In both NATION 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
90 lives and resulted in injuries to
about $50 persons in Coles county. Re-
ports from the farming districts indi-
cate that the casualties were heaviest
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
100000, of which $1,25OO0O was in
Nation, and about $75O,OOO in
Charleston.
Memorial Day Funeral.
OF the injured only about score
were in serious condition, according
to the corps of volunteer physicians.
Plans for the burial of the dead are
under way. In Nation public Me-
mortal day funeral Is contemplated,
burial Of large proportion of the VIC
tins being in the Dodge Grove GENE
terry, itself stormswept.
While immediate food needs In
Charleston and Mat>oon were provided
for, relief officials made it plain that
the necessity for aid still was vital.
In both communities the storm CEN
tered itself largely on the homes of
workingmen and among the 5000
homeless were hundrodc xyho Loot tholr