The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1920-04-09

NOTLneFn InQidnds
Chicago.-Heavy loss of life and
great property damage was left in the
wake of tornado that swept over
Chicagos suburbs. Reports that fill
tered in over crippled telephone and
telegraph wires from outlying districts
placed the number of dead at more
than 80, and the injured at more than
500. Property damage was estimated
at from 100000 to $3,O00,O00.
While communication had been en-
tablished with outlying districts only
partly, fragmentary details indicated
that the storm had swept a belt
around Chicago approximately forty
miles wide. Towns and villages were
left with buildings RACED and scores
injured. AT least nine persons were
killed in Melrose Park and Bellwood,
where 300 homes were demolished
The village of Dunning, where the
State Hospital for the Insane is To-
Gated. reported seven to be dead and
thirty-five injured. Many buildings
were wrecked. Wilmette, suburb Of
$4,000 in the Northeast part at Cook
county, reported almost every build
ing to have been RACED or damaged.
No loss of life was reported. Two
companies of militia were sent there
to guard property and assist the home
less.
Addison Heights, q suburb of Chi
cago, reported five to be killed and so
injured. Numerous buildings were de-
molished, including church.
Elgin, Ill.,, 40 miles from Chicago,
was cut off from communication. 1t
was reported eight lives had been lost
there and number injured. Doctors
and nurses from Chicago were being
rushed into stricken areas early. 1t
was expected many injured would be
brought to Chicago hospitals.
The tornado came from the south
west. The sky was overcast and a
death-like stiffness prevailed for few
seconds, when a blast of wind rent
buildings asunder and left mass of
strewn in its wake. The air
was filled with flying debris. Rail-,
road trains speeding through the coun-
try were stalled by the force Of the
wind and strings of freight cars were
blown from the rails.
+. H. Toast, of Oak Park, said:
IA series of two-story stone build
ings, one of them bank, was fiattened
as if made of paper. l saw the multi
ated body of woman being carried
from the debris of her lone. l don't
know how many were killed."
Fire followed in the wake of storm
In number of villages. The body
Of a church was lifted and hurled a
few yards away. The floor remained
Oh the foundation, leaving the congre-
cation seated without a roof Three
were injured, but no one was killed.
In the exclusive suburb of Evanston
more than 20 houses were wrecked. |
Fifteen persons suffered minor in
juries, but no deaths were reported |
The hurricane came so quickly there |
was no time to prepare. Persons were |
buried in the wreckage of their homes. |
The number of killed and injured is |
not known.
An electric car on the Aurora, |
Plainfield and Joliet Railroad was |
hurled from the tracks and landed in |
/ field. A number of passengers were |
injured. Fairly reports said num-
Der had been killed at Joliet, al |
-hough property damage was small. !
Reports from Southern Michigan said |
he storm had swept over the coun-
ny, doing a vast amount of damage. |
md it was believed there had been
Oss of life. In Battle Creek frame
were wrecked.
In East Troy, Wis, a woman was
titled when barn in which she had
AIKEN refuge was blown away.
According to the Chicago Weather
Bureau the storm will continue it's
movement eastward and northeast
ward with diminishing force. The
bureau announced it was the first time
ince 1896 that a tornado had occurred
n Cook county, Illinois. "The storm
as reached Lake Superior" said OBJ
erver Cox. 1T is accompanied by
evere squalls and tornadoes are re-
orted in numerous localities" Sew
raj houses in Melrose Park damaged
v the tornado were destroyed by fire,
hen gas from broken mains ignited
he towns water supply had been cut
# and water had to be pumped from
ellis. All nearby villages swept by
lie storm were without fire protection
nd there was apprehension that fires
ould add to the destruction. No