The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-03-19

Red Cross, state guardSmen, army
aviation forces, railroad resources
piled into many special trains, and
| private relief from two of the ma
tion's largest cities, Chicago and St.
Louis. with host of contributions
from smaller cities, concentrated on
Southern Illinois.
Two towns in the wake of the tor
nado were reported to have been
virtually erased from the map while
a large section of another was laid
TO ruins. But one home and
schoolhouse were the remaining
structures in the village Of Parish
in Franklin County, Illinois. The
four dwellings left standing at Grit
fin County, Indiana, town of 75O
people, were badly damaged. One
hundred city blocks at Murphysboro
were practically flattened. Seventy
blocks in the residential section were
swept by flames.
Setting record for swift legisla-
tion the members of the Illinois
Legislature and those in the Mis-
souri, Assembly respectively pushed
forward a measure appropriating
$5OO,O0O and $25,O00 for relief in
their devastated sections. The Hi.
nois sum will be available next Wed.
nesday, the earliest possible.
Martial law is in effect in Mur.
physboro and travel to and from the
city has been restricted to doctors
and nurses and relief workers.
The storm hit without warning.
An hour before the tornado hit
bright sun was shining. About five
minutes before the twister appeared
rain began falling and then the ter
rifle wind came.
The first Chicago train organized
by the Chicago Herald and Examiner
left Chicago at ten o'clock last night
with 20 doctors, nurses and assist
ants aboard. The special crried two
cars of medical supplies and a car
Of tents. Most Of the personnel was
assembled through radio appeals. At
the request of Mayor Dever, the
Chicago Tribune started financial
relief fund with subscription of
81 900.
Murphysboro, Ill.,, Mar. f9.-South-
ern Illinois today presented a vast
tableau of death and destruction
and its horror-stricken inhabitants
awaited anxiously more definite re-
ports on the toll of lives taken by
yesterdays tornado which swept
clear across the central southern part
of the state.
With the stricken towns almost
completely isolated, definite reports
as to loss of life were lacking, but
estimates place the number we'll
above the 1000 mark with many
more injured, some of whom were
dying. The amount Of the property
damage also lacked definite figures
but was believed to have mounted
! over several million dollars.
Murphysboro, West Frankfort, Par
ish. and Desoto, all situated in Illi-
nois' rich coal fields, appeared to
have suffered the heaviest loss Of
: lives and the biggest property dam
age.
Murphysboro, ILL.,, March 19.-One
hundred and fifty-two bodies have
| already been recovered, from 100 to
$50 more are believed to have been
killed. while $50 persons are in emer-
gency hospitals suffering from SER
ious injuries. according to compile
tion made here this morning.
| The main business section was
virtually wrecked and streets were
filled with poles, debris and wrecked
automobiles. Trainloads Of doctors
and nurses who arrived at all points
were taken to the basement Of the
Presbyterian Church which was not
destroyed. Bert Scoby, an undertak-
er from Marion, m, who came
through West Frankfort enronte
here; estimated an undertaken there
had sixty or seventy bodies and an
other undertaken probably had the
same amount.
"The whole northwest corner Of
West Frankfort Is rased and condi-
tions there are as bad Is they ars
here" Scoby said. Three scheol
buildings were practically destroyed.
The tornado scooped out ne center
Of thu high school, hurled heuses end
(CsaeiansA . - tA1oe)