South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-29

Six persons We're killed and al
score injured when the tornado
swept through the center of Elgin.
H.. about 80 miles west OF Chicago.
causing $4,000, 900 damage TO prop
erty From EIgin the storm passed
ON 20 the northeast Half a dozen
business buildings. two churches and
20 residences were demolished i'm
EIEin
Meagre reports brought in by the
farmers indicated great damage i'm
a widespread rural region. Falling
telerdph and telephone poles cut
of communication and many trees,
uprOoted by the twisting wind so
tangled the wires that restoration Of
communication presented a difficult
problem.
Mnita on Guard.
The Elsin company OF the state
militia was placed on duty to guard
property. laid open to the public BY
the unroofing and upsettng of
stores Melrose Park. a suburb OF
chicago. reported six dead and Dun
ming. another suburb and Wilmette.
north shore town each reported
TWO dead.
At Melrose Park on the western
edge of Chicago. 60 houses We're
destroyed. the devastated area COW
cring four blocks. Tie tornado fol-
lowed I'm the wake OF a severe hail
storm.
Sunday night six dead had been
1 identified at Melrose Park, and &C
was predicted the fatality list would
reach L. Scores were injured.
Fires followed the collapse of
buildings and the fire departments
Of several suburbs were summoned.
Elgiu was i'm darkness Sunday
night More than 100 persons were
injured ion this city. Light wires and
trolley wires were down. Street car
service was suspended. Trains were
blocked by uprooted trees and for
- time only one telegraph and tele-
phone wire connected the city with
the outside
ProClasms Military Law.
ON proClaiminE Of military law
Mayor Price called out company u.
+ 9th Illinois national guard 90 pa
troll the wrecked area He also
asked for volunteers and more chan
100 former service men in uniform
and scores Of boy scouts responded.
The known dead are. Mrs W -.
Kimba1i, s.. Miss Elizabeth Nowat.
20. Miss ZiIa Foote. 21 MS Isa-
bel McConnachie, 1o John Van We
rae. engineer az the state insane
asylum. Sam Beverly. actor Mrs.
Ada Beverly. actress.
The first four were killed in tho
collapse OF the Congressional church.
Services in the church had been
completed and most Of the congre-
cation had gone home a few re-
maincd waiting for the rain TO AGATE.
when suddenly the storm struck. The
brick cdihco collapsed. burying tho
victims in IT'S wrCckage
Theatcr Fails.
NIr. and Mrs. Beverly were in the
Grand theater preparing for their
afternoon show when the theater
fell
The G.. W. Peck department store.
20 three story brick structure and
several other Of the principal husi-
ness structures were completely de-
stroyyd Fire broke out Iu three
pl4c,s following the tornado
The storm struck Elcin from the
southwest during A torrcntial down
pour OF rain and swept northeast
across the heart of the city. leav-
.uE trail ot destruction zoo yards
wide
Communication with surrounding
towns was interrupted but reports
brought iu indicated heavy damage
and probable Joss or life in nearby
rural districts.
sherman and ST. Joseph hospitals
here were llled with injured while
scores who were bruised and cut
received treatment az doctors Offices
and then went 60 the home OF
friends
Path of storm.
Eight blocks of the business
district and I'VE blocks % the resi-
lence section were in the path OF
the tornado. which Ief, behind a
traU Of wrecked and damaged build
llEs
stout brick business blocks were
demolished. roofs were blown OF and
l1 the residence section house were
lifted from their foundations and
rguE against their ueighbors Hun
Grcds ~ trees torn out oy their roots
blocked the streets and railroad
track
The window display az 5ewclry
store vas blown into the street and
carried away by looters before the
ms:tarE s1ard had been established.
GIls were reported ,c have looted