Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-03-29
Suburbs in Path.

Suburbs in Path.
At Melrose Park, just west OF the
Chicago city line, seven were killed
and four were reported missing.
Two Chicagoans were killed and a
score were injured while at Dun
ming, a northwestern suburb, four
deaths were reported, more than 100
were injured and 1000 were made
homeless.
While northeastern Illinois sus-
tanned the principal damage, the tor
nado, in its freakish career, swept
several Indiana towns, killing three
persons at Zulu, Ind, causing the
death of one man and the injury
OF several persons in ST: itouiy, and
killing Mrs. Louis<Brown at East
Troy, Wis. =
Reports from Bsome of the coun-
try districts in Illinois and Indiana
were meager and it was feared that
the death toll would be considerably
augmented when isolated rural
communities were heard from. Tele-
phone, telegraph and power wires
to nearly all towns in the storm
path were down and many places
were in darkness.
Communication Cut Of.
Outside OF Chicago, Tauconda,
McHenry. Woodstock, Algonquin
and Marengo felt the full effects OF
the storm, but communication with
them was cut off.
Fort Wayne, was reported virtually
destroyed.
Several persons were said to have
been injured as Ossian, Ind. Heavy,
property loss was caused in Evans
ton, Wilmette and other north shore
suburbs, while Bellwood, Maywood.
Edgebrook, Norwood Park and
other villages west OF Chicago were
damaged No fatalities were re-
ported from the latter places. but
many were injured by the flying
glass and timbers.
The tornado which struck Eleirl
at noon swept northeast. In the
Chicago territory. through the sub
urbs, 1t left a path of destruction
ZOO yards wide and mile and a
halt long. In 10 minutes Us houses
III the Chicago district were levelled
and 400 were damaged.
Church Bell Carried 100 Feet.
The wind tore into the business
quarter OF Melrose Park, ripping
roofs from buildings, shattering win
dows and piling the streets with
debris.
The church OF the Sacred Heart
was severely damaged. The churcl,
bell, weighing nearly ton, was
thrown 100 feet away.
! he roof of the parish house ad-
Joining was carried away and three
nuns were injured by flying debris. !,
FIRE Tor time threatened to add TO
the havoc. but the flames were con-
hned to the wreckage.
The state hospital for the insane
at Dunning, on the edge OF Chicago,
was converted into an emerpencv
hospital and place of refuge for
the homeless. More than 200 houses
were destroyed at Dunning.
Establish Red Cross Stations.
Calls for medical assistance from
the suburbs poured into Chicago.
Emergency Red Cross stations were
established in several Of the villages
and physicians and nurses from the
municipal sanitarium were hurried
to the stricken towns.
A swath 200 yards wide was torn
through the main part OF Wilmette
and property DANA &c was estimated
at near $5O0000. Among the build
'ngs damaged were the town hall
and Episcopal church. A score OF
houses III Evanston were, demol
lShed. but no fatalities were re-
ported.
The tornado was the first to strike
Chicago since 1896, according to
Henry J. Cox. weather forccaster
tor Chicago. The disturbance was
tornado and not a cyclone, he said.
asserting that the peculiar path was 4
characteristic OF a tornado. ThtA
path was just south Of Chicago. Ell.
ing IN Evanston and Wilmette,
Joining Chicago on the shore
Lake Michigan.
The Eleventh infantry II