Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-03-28
Woman Blown Into Treeton

l
nois towns reported from one to forty
deaths. AT De Soto woman with
baby in her arms was blown to the
top of tree where she chung until
the storm passed, and then descended
virtually without injury.
Soldiers Patrol Wreckaue.
Soldiers are everywhere on duty In
the area of suffering and citizens have
organized themselves and are digging
in the ruins of their homes Some who
probe the wreckage are seeking to re-
trieve little part of what were once
their belongings.
Witnesses said the towns In the
storms path were wrecked in few
minutes. One described the deadly
visitor as a greenish-black funnel,
slanting at an angle Of 40 degrees. A
deluge of hail followed in its path.
4 A committee from the Illinois state
Legislature visited the stricken area
with Gov. Len Small
While the storm started in Missouri
shortly after one o'clock, it did not
reach Illinois until around three
o'clock, and it was nearly dusk before
1t took its last savage blow In Indiana.
West Frankfort In Ruins.
Working under lights from autOmo-
biles and from bOnfires built from
wrecked framework of houses. hun
dreds of rescuers were searching for
bodies of victims Of the tornado which
swept West Frankfort, ILL.,
Public buildings, lodge halls, and
churches were converted into tenn
porary hospitals and morgues. Eighty
five bodies already have been recov-
cred. The injured number 500. many
of whom will die.
Hundreds of injured were rushed
from there in automobiles and on spe-
eial trains to nearby towns, where they
received care
The town Is a picture of ruin. Scores
of buildings are demolished and the
streets are strewn with wreckage.
Tangled wires and spllntered trees lit
ter the streets. Naked walls from
which the rest of the structure has
been torn stand out as grim silhou-
cites.
And all Of this thrown into fantas
tic contortlons by the flames from a
dozen fires which sprung up here and
there among the ruins Fire depart
ments from surrounding towns aided
the local department in checking the
flames.
Fire Follows Fire.
AS they put down one blaze another
sprang up in another section. And
through 1t all the fremen were con
stantly called on to leave their work
and help in rescue.
The picture after the storm was one
Of pathetic suffering. Dead and In
iured were strewn about the streets,
and among them ran frantic men and
women. or crying children, some al
most unclothed. seeking their loved
ones.
Relief Work in Indiana.
In Indiana relief measures also were
going forward rapidly under the d.
rection Of Gov. Ed. Jackson. or five
towns struck in that state Griffin, 3
Posey county village, suffered most
with forty-seven bodies recovered. II
was believed that the death list might
amount to 125. Griffin virtually was
wiped out. and systematic work a,
rescue was held up for time because
few were left uninjured in the village
Military lines have been drawn abou,
the entire area.
At Princeton. which counted twenty
dead. the 100000 shops II the
Sout m railway were destroyed
throwing 400 persons out OF work
Most Of the homes destroyed vera
those OF w0rkingnen.
II was announced from Washington
that national headquarters q the Red
+ Cross. with It's chief President Cool
idge, taking the initiative, had set II
motion its entire machinery Of mercy
to the Injured and homeless.
From Chicago. additional nurses and
physicians assembled by Or. Herman
n. Bundeson. departed for southern
Illinois with medical equipment. Plans
were made to raise 500 90 az Chi
Cages relief quota
Miners sueamed III from the mines
just outside the town. snd rush - IL
their homes where they songnt tnsi'
wives and cblIdrs