The Omaha morning bee., 1924-06-30
35 Passengers on Sinking
Boat Leap to Safety-Per-
sons Tossed Off Piers
Into Water.
National Guard on Scene

sandusky, o.. June "a twisting
tornado that wbirled out of the west
Saturday afternoon took six lives In
Sandusky. levelled approximately 200
dwellings, destroyed rs business
places, injured more than 100 persons
and caused property damage various
ly estimated at between $1,000. 900
and 100000.
The tornado struck along the wa
terfront, dipped and ricocheted crazily
to different residential sections of the
city and tore along the pier where
hundreds were waiting TO take the
boat to the summer resort at Cedar
Point, across sandusky bay.
With wires down, enmeshed in
branches of uprooted trees that block
ed many streets, the city was in dark
ness throughout the night. The fire
hazard was emphasized by the cutting
off Of water pressure when the huge
standpipe of the city waterworke
crumbled before the first gargantuan
blast OF the tornado. The building
and machinery were partially wreck.
ed.
One lake craft-the gasoline launch
Columbus, towing an auto ferry
sank when the s5-mile blast jammed
her against a drill dredge that had
torn loose from the dock. The s5 pas
engers and crew aboard escaped
death by leaping. climbing or jump
ing to the dredge or to the auto ferry
which safely rode out the wind and
heavy sea.
Saved From Water.
The black funnel that tore down
upon Sandusky caught hundreds OF
men, women and children waiting on
the docks for the steamer that would
carry them to Cedar Point. SO great
was the force OF the storm that scores
of persons were tossed into the water
from the pier. Despite the panic that
gripped those on shore. the shrill
cries OF women. the cries OF children
and the shouts OF men. ropes and life
preservers were quickly thrown to
those struggling IN the tossing waters
Of the bay and they were pulled TO
safety. Authorities today described
as miraculous the rescue OF these
scores from death So far as IL known
no lives were lost. There have been
no reports of persons missing.
The deaths came from various
causes. all directly linked with the
storm. Minetta Ruth Magard. 81, the
only woman listed among the dead.
was crushed TO death in the collapse
of the Groch Coal company building.
Shanty Blown Away.
Jacob Schaeffer. 81. Baltimore a
Ohio railroad watchman. was seated
in his shanty when the gale lifted II
from the ground. He was so serious
ly injured that he died two hours
later. No trace OF the shanty has
been found
r. Z. Mckee s. freight agent of
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. was
caught between two freight cars. His
head was crushed.
Howard van Blarcum. is. was
caught in the collapse OF the Groeh
structure and died later at the hos
driver. was another victim of the
Groch building disaster.
Howard Wobser. IL. was killed at
Castalia. near here.
City Manager Hurt.
or the injured, 70 were taken 10
hospitals, where II was said late to-
day the condition of 20 Of them is
serious. Among the more seriously
hurt IS c. Webb sadler, city MANA
ger. who was removed from the
wreckage OF the sandusky Yacht club.
The club building was pitched into
the slip by the angry storm.
About 20 automobiles parked along
the waterfront were blown into the
water.
a terrific downpour. lightning
and roaring thunder preceded. accom-.
panied and followed In the wake of
the twister. Tho most severe blow
lasted 20 minutes. The duration of
The entire storm, however, was about
90 minutes.
The east end of sandusky bore the
hrunt OF the storm. Nine blocks of
buildings, factories and residences
were wrecked. There were isolated
parts Of the city that felt the storm,
but II was the east end and along the
waterfront that suffered most.
Thrown Out of Work.
only the fact that the tornado
struck on Saturday afternoon pre-
vented n greater loss OF life, city Of
ficlals said today. Factories. in which
more than 1000 men are regularly
employed, were wrecked. These fac
tories operate ON a half.holday sched
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