Evening star., 1925-03-19

blow fell every building was wreck
ed or damaged, with the property loss
in that town of 1900 alone placed at
half million dollars. Small loss of
life, but considerable property dam
age, occurred in three other Missouri
towns-Biehle, Altenburg and Cape
Girardeau. all on or near the Missis-
sippi River
But it was not until the storm
jumped across into Illinois and moved
on into Indiana that its most devas-
tating effects were felt
Five Principal Victims.
The five towns in Illinois hardest
hit were Murphysboro, West Frank
fort, De Soto, Parrish and Gorham.
At least zoo were thought dead in
southern Indiana, with the principal
damage to Princeton, Griffin and
Poseyville. Thousands were hom eless
and arrival of shelter and supplies
was looked forward to eagerly.
The total dead in Missouri stood at
slightly more than a score early to-
day, while 80 deaths were reported in
Tennessee, most OF them In Sumner
County, in the north central portion
of the State. Thirteen were in Ken
lucky.
The storm entered northern Ken
lucky from Indiana and apparently
spent it's force there No loss of life
was reported in Ohio, although some
damage was reported from the high
wind at Portsmouth, in the southern
part of the State. 1t was not known
whether this was any isolated dis
turbance or the last breath from
Kentucky and Tennessee
Damage Piles Up.
Reports of terrific damage in
southern Illinois piled up early to-
day. The tornado first hit Illinois at
Gorham, on the Mississippi River, and
proceeded northeastward through
Bush Hurst, Murphysboro De Soto,
Oakville, Benton and West Frank
fort.
All homes in Gorham, a town of
500 population, were reported de-
stroyed, either by wind or flames.
and only one building was left stand
ing in Hurst. The West End of MUIR
physboro, city of 1000, was de-
molished and still was burning early
today. Citizens and organized fire
squads used dynamite in an effort to
stop the progress of the flames.
Parrish, Ill, reports said, was vir-
tually obliterated, with a loss of life
at first estimated at 80. A score Of
other towns, including Duquoin,
Thompsonville, Logan and Dubois,
suffered severely. Most of the build
ings destroyed were frame, as the
affected area included many small
towns and country districts.
One Of the most pathetic stories
came from De Soto, where the school
house was destroyed, with heavy loss
of life. The twister carried away
the top story of the school and the
lower walls crumbled, burying $50
children and teachers.
Witnesses to the catastrophe said
that the bodies of the child victims
were piled on mattresses and blan-
kets on the Fairgrounds, with few to
claim them, most of the adult pop
ulation having been taken to hos
pitfalls.
May Not BE Identified.
The story was told of the principal
of the school, who, severely injured
himself and with blood streaming
from his wounds. tried to give aid
and comfort to the victims. Fire
completed destruction of the school
house, and 1t was probable that many
of the bodies might not be identified.
A school building also was de-
stroyed at West Frankfort This
mining town of 10000 suffered heavy
loss of life and property, with about
one-third of its residential and busi-
ness districts demolished. 1t also
saw the destruction of the Orient
mine, second largest in the world.
Carbondale, which escaped damage,
was the rallying point of rescue
forces in the southern part of the
State Its armory and hospitals were
filled with dead and injured, trans
ported there from towns in the
storms pathway.
The storm, elemental in its inten-
sity, was meteoric in it's fight. Strik-
ing Annapolis at 1880 o'clock in the
afternoon, it had completed it's course
in a little over three hours.
RED Cross relief is being handled
through the central division at st.
Louis, and the headquarters at Wash
ington sent instructions to Henry NJ.
Baker, director of disaster relief, at
Sullivan, Ind, to proceed to the tor
nado zone.
The first Chicago train, organized
by the Chicago Herald and Examiner,
left Chicago at 10 o'clock last night
with 200 doctors, nurses and assist
ants aboard. The special carried two
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