The Tomahawk., 1925-03-26
WORST STORM IN
US. HISTORY HITS
FORTY TOWNS
Tornado Sweeps Part of Illinois,
Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky
and TennesSee-0ver
800 Dead.

Chicago-After the light OF a full
day had cast its cearching rays into
the debris left by Wednesdays tor
nado, and relief work had been Or
ganized to gather the dead, heal the
hurt and aid the homeless, the toll
of destruction to life and property still
remained the greatest ever recorded
in similar catastrophes, with 823 re-
ported killed and 1890 injured in the
five states affected.
While the casualty lists had been
reduced from first estimates in some
instances, word came from hitherto
unreported places to keep the total
casualties almost as high as indicated
in first messages from the devastated
Centers.
Path Of Storm 800 Miles.
Those in charge speak in millions
when asked to estimate material
losses. The brief dispatches read:
100000 in southwestern Kentucky;
"$2,000,000 at Princeton; "$6,000,000
in southern Illinois," 100000 in Mis-
souri," At the other scenes no one
yet ventures to estimate.
The tornado took its toll over a ter
ritory Of 800 miles in five hours and
within the same period of time outside
aid was covering that distance to
carry help and comfort to survivors.
The Red Cross rushed supplies from
st. Louis. Chicago offered $500,000.
The Illinois legislature appropriated
like amount, the Missouri legislature
$4,000, and the southern Illinois
American Legion $4,000. Other con-
tributions are expected to reach $780,
600.
Runs zis-zas Course.
Apparently arising in the Missouri
Ozark hills, the tornado jumped and
zig-zagged. Its path was about mile
wide in some localities; in others it
could be measured by feet. 1t was
more merciful at its start, preferring
to unload it's fury in Illinois and In
diana. 1t cracked into Kentucky and
Tennessee more as side-line, it ap-
peared. it's tail whipped loose the lake
freighters from their moorings in Buff
falo, miles away.
Human bodies in most every form
Of creation, butchered or crushed were
being removed from the debris. Only
a comparative few have been found in
tact. Identification by rings Of de-
tached arms was reported. Bodies
pierced with splinters of wind driven
wood are frequent.
Griffin Totally Destroyed; 1875 Killed.
From a prosperous town of 400 per-
sons, most Of whom were retired far
mers and their families, Griffin, in
Posey county, at the southwest tip Of
Indiana, in a few seconds was obli-
terated, when the tornado dipped
down. Every one Of the Is homes, 10
or more business houses, 3 churches
and the schoolhouse were raZed.
Thirty-three bodies have been taken
from the ruins, and military and civil
authorities, in charge of the relief and
rescue work here, predict at least 125
persons died in the catastrophe, or
will die from the injuries they sus-
tanned.
PAS Pupils Buried In Ruins.
The wind was so powerful at Par
rish that bodies were carried more
than a mile, it was reported. At
Murphysboro, where the deal totalled
100, a school house was blown down
over the heads of 245 pupils, while at
De Sto, late estimates placed the dead
at 100 and the injured at 800 out Of
total population of 703.
A school house at De Soto also was
razed and only three of the $50 occu-
pants escaped unhurt. while SS bodies
already have been taken from the
ruins. The latest reports say that 700
persons were killed at Parrish and
West Frankfort alone, but other in