Evening star., 1925-03-19
15e BODIES RECOVERED.
Toll at Murphysboro Expected to
Reach More Than $50.

I
MURPHYSBORO. ILL.,, March 10
One hundred and ffty-two bodies had
been recovered here at 1890 am. and
from 100 to $50 more are believed to
be in the wreckage and 250 persons
are in emergency hospitals suffering
from serious injuries, according to a
provisional compilation made here
this morning.
At Murphysboro the storm gave no
warning and was not more than five
minutes in passing, Sweeping in from
the southwest, the tornado smashed
business buildings and dwellings, in a
twinkling. and in the wake of the
devastating wind came a fire which
completed the work. of destruction.
An hour earlier the sun was shining
and about five minutes before the
twister hit, rain began to fall.
Fourth of City Burned.
Today it is estimated that at least
one-fourth of the residential section
of the city is in ruins, and the busi-
ness district presents a similar scene
of wreckage, the devastated area eX-
tending from Sixteenth street to
Twenty third street and from Spruce
street north to the city limits, cover
ing an area about three-fourths of a
mile in width.
The Mobile and Ohio Railroad shops
were destroyed. Approximately 35
persons were killed and upwards of
200 injured when the building COL
lapsed
The Logan School and the Lon gfel-
low School were blown to bits and
the township school was badly dam
aged. Eighty-five pupils of the Logan
School were reported to have been
killed, six are believed to have lost
their lives in the collapse of the
Longfellow School and the same num-
Der in the destruction of the town
ship school.
Martial law is in effect and travel
to and from the city has been re-
stricted to doctors, nurses and relief
workers.
Buildings in the business district
destroyed by either wind or fire in
clude the Reliance Milling Co.'S build
ing, the Maryland Hotel, Abel Clean
ing and Dyeing Co, Wisely floor
store, Silvey drug store, Mcneil
bakery. Roberts Dodge garage and
the Barger- Miller wholesale house.
TabIcau of Death.
Southern Illinois today presented a
vast tableau of death and destruction
as its horror-strfcken inhabitants
awaited more definite reports on the
tornado which swept clear across the
centraI-southern part of the State.
With the stricken towns almost
completely isolated, definite reports
as to general loss of life were lack
ing. but estimates placed the number
we'll above the 1000 mark, with many
more injured. The amount of the
uroperty damage also lacked definite
figures. but was several million dol
lars.
Sweeping across the Mississippi from
the lower section of Missouri, the
storm invaded Illinois a Gorham, on
the Mississippi, and tore its way in
an almost straight easterly direction
into Indiana, laying waste towns and
farms over several hundred square
miles.
Smoke POurs From Ruins.
Murphysboro, West Frankfort, Par
rish and De Soto, all situated in Illi-
nois' rich coal fields, appeared to have
suffered the heaviest loss of lives
and the biggest property damage.
smoke still poured from the debris
of Murphysboro's smoldering ruins,
while it's citizens searched for dead.
Rescue work was greatly hampered
nv the fire, and it was said that many
of the injured were cremated IN the
blazing debris. National Guard troops
have closed all roads to Murphysboro.
The city at 80 am. today was burn
ing in many places. The main busl-
ness section was virtually wrecked,
and streets were filled with poles and
debris and wrecked automobiles.
Trainloads of doctors and nurses
who arrived from all points were
taken to the basement of the Presby-
terian Church, which was not de-
stroyed.
Corner of City Gone.
Bert Scoby, an undertaken from
Marion, H., who came through West
Frankfort en- route here, said two
undertakers there had so or 70 bodies
each.
The whole northwest corner of
West Frankfort is razed and condi-
tions there are as bad as they are