The Washington times., 1925-03-19
.CL0UDBURST AND FIRE
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Kansas, sweeping over Missouri,
causing some loss of life in that
State. and gaining in intensity,
crossed the Mississippi river De-
tween ST. Louis. No., and Cairo LII.
Over in Few Minutes.
Murphysboro was first to- feel its
strength. A great, black cloud
swept down upon the city, turning
.afternoon brightness into inky mid
night darkness. Then came, after a
moment of fdeath-like stiffness, a
shrek Of the wind, crashing Of
buildings, and death. The surge OF
the storm was gone in a few MIMI.
tes. then came deluge OF rain.
That Is the description SURVIVORS
give.
MACK cloud had swept down upon
Frankfort, a hundred miles or so to
!. the east. The same destruction was
repeated there. The little village OF
Parrish, just northeast OF Frank
fort. was next to go.
Only three or four Of the villagers
had been accounted for last night.
Every habitatjon had been laid in
ruins. 1t was reported BY survivor
reaching Benton. The city OF Ben
ton suffered only slight damage. al.
though but q few miles north OF
Frankfort.
Path Mile Wide.
The path of the storm-the
heart of twas not more than a
mile wide. 1t might have passed
through the State without striking
any city. But it CHANGED that some
of the most populous cities in the
southern part of the State were di-
rectly in its path.
Rain continued to fall throughout
the night and snow was threaten
ing. The temperature had been
above so degrees before the storm.
eAfterwarI it fell to near freezing,
bringing intense suffering to. thou
sands Of homeless.
Churches, lodge halls, school
houses and private homes were con-
verted into emergency hospitals.
Doctors from st. Louis, Chicago,
and the larger cities of the country
were on the scene today to admin
lister relief Roads were reported
Blocked by washouts and banks of
debris. This condition hampered
the relief work.
Nation Speeding Relief.
BY tonight relief +, workers will
have made complete survey of
the stricken area and will be able
to give accurate estimates Of the
loss of life. and property.
Benton and nuquokn were quick.
ly organized as relief stations. as
was Gorharn.
IN all these towns every available
inch of space was being used for
4le injured. who Will number. int
The thousands. Many are reported
dying hourly. On every hand were
stretched u1angled and bleeding VIC
tins.
The wrecked towns Of Murphys.
boro and West Frankfort were un.
dergoing ~indeserib scenes of
death, devastation and pain
Long caravang Of automobiles
carried the dead to nearby towns
whose medical facilities are pftifuily
inadequate to cope with the UMPIRE
cedented situation.
5. The dead were left lying in the
streets, q few assembled in neat.
rows, but many left tangled in the
wrecks IN which they persisted.
The. cyclone struck Its first blow
az Annapolis, Mo-, 1eaped madly
across into Illinois for several hun
dred miles, tearing on its way to
Indiana before II spent ite force.
Herrin and Marion were both in
its path, but no. definite word has
been obtained of 1.-The damage or
casualties at either Of these points.
At De Soto fire added TO tn.
horror. The school house here went
down. sending its timbers and brick