Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-01-15
WHEELER SOLDIERS
"REBUILD" THEIR
WIND-SWEPT CITY
No Suffering Expected to Come
Us Result of Tornado'S Wis
it-GuardSmen Commended
for Behavior During Storm
BY WARD MoREHoUsE.

MACON, Ga, Jan. 12.--Camp Wheeler
Saturday night again settled down to
the routine of army camp life, after
fully recovering during the day from
the effects OF the unofficial and unex-
pected tornado of Friday afternoon that
plowed through the entire reservation.
moving down tents, telegraph poles and
stable sheds at will
Relatives and friends over the entire
state of the young national guardsmen
now encamped at the Macon cantonment
may rest assured that no suffering will
come as a result of the severe storm,
and that when taps rang out over the
camp Saturday night all men in camp
were comfortably in their cots, with
tents again erect, bedding dry and all
necessary precautions taken to safe
guard the health of the soldiers.
After cleaning up the debris left in
the wake of the twisting tornado, the
soldiers of the command were given the
usual Saturday afternoon leave, and all
during the afternoon automobiles, with
uniformed men hanging to their sides
ike seaweed to a beach, came into the
city from the military reservation.
In discussing the storm, officers at di-
vision headquarters stated Saturday aft
ernoon that the Georgia national guards
men, as well as the other national guard
units and selectmen at the camp, were
TO be complimented for the manner in
which they performed their duty during
the time a young food wss sweeping
over the cantonment and the terrific
gale was tearing tents up by the roots.
Soldiers Rebui1d City.
Early Saturday morning the soldiers
began rebuilding" their city, and in a
sic <1F zzH~- Il
Z were few indeed
Every precaution was taken to see
that the patients in the base hospital
were well cared for, and the only dam
age that the hospital suffered was the
loss Of shingles from its roof.
During the afternoon the Southern
Bell Telephone and Telegraph company
again got it's toll lines in working or
red and roads between the camp and the
city of Macon were speedily repaired.
The worst damage, in fact, that re-
suited from the storm was done in the
city of Macon, 1t being estimated that
The loss of property at the Central City
park would reach nearly $4,000.
One unforgettable feature of the
storm at Camp Wheeler was the be-
navior Of the sentries during the time
the tornado was playing pranks on Ill
sides and threatening to blow the camp
and all its soldiers off the map. De-
spite the rain, the wind, lightning flash
ss and severe cold, sentries on duty
walked their posts during the entire
time the storm was raging, and at times
some of them found it was impossible
70 stand on their feet. One officer in
the One Hundred and Twenty-second
infantry stated Saturday afternoon that
he came out of his shack, was picked
up by the gale like a toy soldier, and
hurled twenty feet against the side OF
another tent.
The hardest blow, according to the Of
ucers occurred about o'clock and
lasted for some time.
The board appointed to investigate
the death of Marvis s. Harris, the young
soldier from Newman who was killed
when struck by the flying timber of a
stable shed, came to the decision that
The guardsman met his death through
an accident, which was unavoidable.
Burt Clarke, well-known young At
( lantian, in the supply company Of the
! one Hundred and Twenty-second infan-
( try. and one of Harris best friends, de-
clared that the Newman boy was a
/ splendid soldier and one of the most
/ popular young men in the entire regi-
/ ment. His comrades greatly deplored
/ his death.
| Arrangements we're made Saturday
! for the funeral of Mr.. Harris and John
Tooley. the Macon taSicab operator
Who was killed at the camp when ne