The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-03-21
DEATH LIST
OF TORNADO
CUT TO 800
Nearly 5000 Badly Injured
in Twister That Swept
Central West
OFFICER KILLS LOOTER
Business at Standstill as
Rescue Workers Bring
Order to Area
OFFICER KILLS LOOTER

Chicago, March 2l.-z(By the A. P.)
The storm swept territory of the
Ohio Valley today continued the tra-
gic task of burying its dead, while
relief workers completed the work
of bringing order out of chaos and
plans for rehabilitation were ad-
vanced.
Funerals Of some of the victims of
Wednesdays storm were held yester-
day but most of the burials were ar
ranged for today and Sunday with
memorial services to be held later.
In towns where the loss of life was
heaviest, community funerals were
planned, with burial in one long
grave.
Reports from the destroyed dis
trict said that relief work was we'll
organized and today flood of ma
terial aid continued to pour in for
sufferers in the greatest tornado in
Americans history which snuffed out
more than 300 lives, injured 5000,
and left entire communities homeless.
While some cases of pneumonia
were reported in Southern Illinois,
there was little other illness to add
to the storm horrors and no threat
of an epidemic of tetanus.
Seven hundred units of anti-te-
tanus serum, sent by airplane from
Indianapolis, were available for emer-
gency use. A few isolated cases of
looting came to life, but generally
there was no disorder. At West
Frankfort man caught taking a
ring from a woman's finger was
slain by police officer.
Business generally was at n stand
still but with the work of clearing
debris from demolished districts
rapidly advancing, commercial activi-
ties in some communities were ex-
pected to be resumed next week. The
main street of Murphysboro was
cleared yesterday. Rechecks of
casualty lists today indicated that
the death count was slightly moro
than 800. Additions to the list in
some towns and subtraction of du-
plications left the figure at 800 dead.
1916 manned.
The toll at Murphysboro rose to
201 with the finding Of IL addition
al bodies, while belated reports from
rural districts made further addi-
tions. But in other places original
estimates were reduced as final
checks were made. No radical change
was anticipated as checked lists of
identified dead contained 750 names,
The Red Cross at st. Louis issued
an appeal for all sightseers to remain
away from the storm area, stating
that every available building already
was packed to capacity in caring for
the injured and homeless.
At DeSoto, ILL.,, which virtually
was wiped out, plans were made to
bury 80 dead in one grave. In this
village of 500, fewer than 200 per-
sons were left uninjured. Most of the
casualties were among children who
perished when the schoolhouse was
destroyed by wind and fire.
Funerals Of Parrish, Ill. victims
were held in adjacent towns, as near
ly all of the towns $50 inhabitants
were killed or injured and the hand
full of survivors moved to homes of
neighbors outside the tornado dis
trict.
At Gorham, which first felt the
elemental blow in Illinois, 12 funer-
ais were held yesterday. The total
casualties may never be known, as
complete records were not kept.
Many of the victims were moved to
other towns. Twenty-Five dead were
known to be in st. Louis alone. In
the wilderness that is Murphysboro,
where 1000 residences once stood,
search for additional bodies was
continued. OF 700 injured, 800 were
said to be in a serious condition
Medicine, clothing and food was ar
irving by the carload for its 1000
homeless.
Two towns in Illinois, Parrish and
DeSoto, and Griffin in Indiana were
virtually annihilated. The present
outlook is that no effort will be made
to rebuild the illinois towns but
Senator Sneed refuses to give up De-
Soto. my father is buried there"
he said.
Griffin, where 50 persons are
known to have perished and several
have been reported as missing, will
be rebuilt. it was announced today.
It was first indicated the town
would not be rebuilt. One old man,
although not house was left stand
ing, announced he would return and
build. Il don't want to die anywhere
else," he said.