The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-29
CASUALTY REPORT
SHOWS HUNDREDS
ARE MADE VICTIMS
Property Loss Will Mount Up to
Many Millions.
Relief Parties Search Ruins for
Bodies of Dead.
SOME TOWNS ARE WIPED OUT
Many Places Are Without
Lights, Water and Wires.
Troops Are Called Out to Pre-
vent Raids by LOOters.
Relief Parties Search Ruins for
Bodies of Dead.
SOME TOWNS ARE WIPED OUT
Many Places Are Without
Lights, Water and Wires.

Tornadoes which swept eight states
on sunday claimed A toll of approx
raately Io5 lives. destroyed millions Of
dollars worth of property and left
hundreds OF families homeless.
Reports today showed there we're
two distinct storm areas-one in Geor-
cia and Alabama. and the other in the
middle west. starting at St. Louis ana
extending northeast to Lake Michigan.
Fire followed in the wake of the storm
in some cities. adding TO the suffering.
Wood hospital supplies. physicians,
nurses and clothing were rushed 10
the stricken areas today. Injured were
cared for in temporary buildings Ihe
debris was combed in the hunt for
missing.
Ia Grange. Ga. Hardest Hit.
La Grange. Ga. appeared to be the
hardest hit by the storms Between
forty and sixty were reported llleo
there and 800 were homeless. Wess
Point. Ca. reported five dead. ana
Arrlcola, Ala. five dead.
4 telephone message received at At
lauta from La Grange stated the deatn
list due 20 the tornado there was lar
greater than indicated in earlier re-
ports First reports stated sixty were
The number of injured in the eight
states were estimated at more tnan
five hundred. A..
near St Louis. where one was killed
IL swept northward. branching out
over Indiana, Ohio. Illinois and Mich
ican and extending into Wisconsin: II
finally spent itself over Lake MICH
Towns Are Wiped Out.
Reports reaching the outside world
over badly crippled wires showed the
following Indiana cities hit. with the
west Liberty. dead; Union city.
s.. Nfonroeviue -: Edgerton, l, and
Zulu. 3 In addition, Geneva reported
The towns OF West Liberty and
Edgcrton were reported practicaiy
wiped out.
The storm Travelled northward down
the Indiana-Ohio line Van Vert, o.,
was hit. Two persons were killed by
the fire which followed the wind-
storm Greenvile. o., reported two
dead and twelve hurt. Nashville re-
ported five dead. Practically al
buildings in Nashville were ieveIed'
dispatches said.
Iycachcd Chicago at Noon
The storm reached the Chicago dis
t-ict near noon, just as the crowds
were leaving churches. Seven were
I-i,led in Elsin. seven in Chicago. ana
fourteen in the Chicago suburbs OF
Nelrose Park, haywood, Plaintleld
and Evanston.
ne branch Of the storm swept
no-thward along the line between
Ohio and Indiana, spreading death and
destruction in its wake. Many towns
were reported destroyed. and COM
munication cut off
Early reports indicate two dead and
at least a score seriously injured at
Van Vert.
swept Wide Path.
The storm passed about four miles
n
northwest direction. It swept clean
path about one and one-half miles
wide. demolishing everything In its
way
At Mouroeville. Ind, unofficial re-
ports were that thirteen persons had
been killed and a large number in
jured. In one family of seven, five
were killed instantly. it was reported.
The storm passed just northwest OF
Monroeville. A steel bridge was torn
and twis-ed from its ahutments and
crumpled like piece of paper
Fire Aids windstrom.
Fire about noon Sunday threatened
the town Of Rolla. Burning brands
from a residence showered surround
ing buildings but volunteer fighters
curbed the blaze after damage of $16,-
coo had been done.
The Masonic hall. P. B. Defighq's
grocery. the Cleeton drug store and
the Shields building were razed by
fire a. Clark Mo. The damage was
estimated at $4,000.
number Of residences and small
buildings at Washington. No. were
burned at loss Of between S25,0Of
and $4,000.
Troops Prevent Looting.
In Michigan. eight were reported
dead. and Wisconsin. one.
The Storm cut a swath 200 feet wide
in Elgin. III. destroying a theater, two
department stores. two churches ant
many residences.
National guard troops former serv
ice men and armed citizens patrolleC
the streets in tie stricken cities al
night guarding property from looters
Three persCn MS were killed in Elgil
when the steeple Of a church collapsed
another was killed when the storm