New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-30
Special Dispatch to TIA Tribune

Special Dispatch to The Tribune
CHICAGO, March pa track of de-
bris stretches from Elgin on the south
west of Chicago to Wilmette on the
north shore, track of shaved and
splintered trees, pulverized houses and
crafty piled brick and scantling. 1t
marks the path of the freak "twster'
which skirted Chicago Sunday, leaving
death and desolation.
Strange and unbelievable are some
OF the weird results Of the tornado. A
frame was snatched from a picture on
the wall, yet the glass was unbrokcn.
Two blocks west of one Of the suburbs
struck by the tornado there is house
standing on It's chimney and six naked
trees with their roots in the air. On
the west road of this same suburb there
is barn lying in a cornfeld and a
flivver astride of rail fence.
One man who was dug from beneath
hummock Of splinters and bricks
said when he regained consciousness
that he thought he had awakened some
place, way below. 1t WAS very hot
The rescuers found a stove on each
side of him which had been carried
away from some neighboring houses.
Both stoves were burning briskly.
Lasts Only One Minute
The tornado actually lasted one min
ute in Wilmette. But the citizens
there insist that it lasted more than
an hour.
A trunk travelled from the garrett
Of one house and landed in the front
window Of another. Lingerie from one
town is draped on trees in another.
One man held to a lamp post for ten
minutes, while the wind Strengthened
him out parallel with the ground.
A minister in one church was say
ing: "Be prepared, for you know not
caved in, the steeple collapsed and two
women and a child were killed. A barn
was lifted from three horses, but the
animals were unframed.
Eight bodies had been found in FL
gin, surely there must be mora
great many MORE" persons said. Res
cue parties peercd beneath fallen tim
bers, heaps of plaster and piles of
brick. Among the searchcrs was a
photographer. In the business center
&c found a mountain al debris.
He observed it critically to learn
from what side it might be photo
graphed to the best advantage. He
saw something that caused him to drop
his camera. 1t was the body of a
woman. He ran to the place and be-
Gan throwing the splinters and bricks
aside with his hands.
''Nine Dead In Elgin''
"Call my paper and tell them that
there are nine dead in Elgin," he called
to a reporter. The reporter hurried
away.
"Nne dead in Elg.n,v was passed
around in awed whispers.
The word was flashed to Chicago.
When the body was uncovered it was
found to be badly damaged and the
wax features were disfigurcd. 1t was a
clothing model.
There is one building in Melrosc
Park which stands majestically and de-
faint Wills all around is PROSTATE. 1t
was directly in the path of the gale
No freak # the storm saved this build
ing. Through its sheer soliditY it with
stood the tornado.
it was packed solid from cellar to
j
was too heavy load for the big wind
10 lift-$500,000 worth of fodder. A
few bags of flour whisked out on the
street and the rain kneaded them to
dough-that was all.
The track of the twister winds in
and out, little wooden cottages are left
standing, while great brick and stone
structures near by are RACED.
Like Keen Edged Sword
Some times the wind cut like keen
edged sword, sometimes it smote like q
mailed fist In Haywood there's a house
with its top shaven off clean. Next
door IS a dwelling which looks as if a
crusher had landed on it's roof and
smashed it to splinters.
Like twisted skeletons stand three
houses in MeIrose Park. possibly the
hardest hit Of all the suburbs. They
iooK as if they had exploded Their
wallis are blown out and their ,oofs