Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-09-30
VILLAGE DESTROYED

the village of Rudy, prosperous fruit
shipping center nesting in a pocket
surrounded by the Boston mountains,
/ lay twisted and torn tonight, attestlng
to the fury of tornado that dipped
down upon it today, smashing every
thing in its path and injuring ten per-
sons, one probably fatally.
OF the IS homes and business houses
| that sheltered Rudy'S $50 residents,
only the Frisco railway depot, five
stores and half dozen dwellings re-
manned intact Among structures de-
molished was the Missionary Baptist
church. Fourteen homes were levelled
while barn and blacksmith shop. were
scattered over wide area.
Mrs. Garvin Graham and her baby
! were injured when their home was
toppled and it was feared the infant
was hurt badly. The others injured
were expected to recover.
Presence of mind of Miss MarJory
Carney, primary teacher, was cred
tied with averting serious injury
among the 100 children in a frame
school building, half of which was
wrecked. She ordered the tots to a
room on the far end of the school and
had Just got them there when the
section they had vacated collarGed.
Normal Mitchell, principal, with near
ly 20 older pupils, was on the second
floor and all fell with the building
but escaped injury.
L. D. Pitts, Frisco station agent, SAID
he saw dark gray and black CLOUDS
merge into a dark funnel shaped cloud
wel,t of town about 8 o'clock this morn
ing. The funnel dipped down over a
ridge west of the village and struck
directly over Frog Bayou. 1t then
swept the north side and cut dlagon-
ally to the south, rising as 1t sErucK
the hills east of town. The school
was on, the north side in the rim OF
the storms path A Frisco south
bound passenger train pulled OUT O!
the station ahead OF the storm ana
escaped undamaged -
The twister was accompanied Dy
a terrific rain which added 10 Ile
desolation. Houses and factories were
crumpled in many places like toys
The first flashes that reached IRE
and police headquarters set a general
mobilization of every available po-
lieeman and fireman. Behind the
cordons were hastily organized units
of relief and men began digging INTO
the heaps of stone and brick to look
for persons they believed were bur-
led.
Along Maryland avenue, Llndell
boulevard, Kings Highway west
minister Place, Mcpherson street
and other stately traffic ways IN
the pride of the city's home section,
there were gaping holes in walls, a
fallen forest of trees while along the
curbs were automobiles, some turned
turtle, others with the tops torn Oil
an demolished by falling bricks.
Beside the wrecked structures
stood groups of individuals, some
dazed, others crying for help. Will
ing workers responded and here and
there elrely women and men were
helped from their homes
Beside the wrecked structures
stood groups, of individuals, some
dazed, others crying for help. Will
ing workers responded and here and
there was fear that the roof would
cave in. A theatre received the fran
tic pupils as they sought refuge
from the rain. The children left
the building in good order, however
as they had been well trained IN
fire drills. Sixteen children were in
,iured but none are known to have
died.
Then came the wailing of fire and
police sirens as they sped to the
scene where three unidentified wo-
men we're killed, two Of whom were
burned to death in one of the many
fires that followed the catastrophe.
Detective Sergeant Edward Sclaai
and an unidentified patrolman, has
tily rushing into the storm district
we're killed by falling wall
At the Mullanphy hospital there
were pathetic scenes as sixty three
patients were carried out. None
were injured seriously although the
wind sideSwiped the building, rip
pedd the entire west wing to Shreds
and sent the roof and upper floor
to the ground.
| A score of expectant mothers or
mothers with babes in their arms
were, carried to safety, many of them
becoming hysterical.
Every available policeman was
brought to the area and police chief
Gerk Immediately issued an order to
"Shoot all looters" ending with the
grim admonitioh to make coroner'S
cases Of them"
AS the agencies of rescue and Suc-
cor were getting into motion, the
city was again enveloped by weird
greenish light which sent terror tc
the hearts of the storm sufferers
This shortly turned to a pinkiSh hue
and torrents of rain ushered in the
darkness which was unrelieved by the
thousands of street lamps which were
broken and useless.
So swiftly came the storm that
varying descriptions were given by
the frightened onlooKerS. A tense
heavy silence preceded the wind
There were dull drumming sounds anc
shortly the twisting black clouds
characteristic of tornadoes, bore dowr
from the southwest and the work
Of the twister was begun.
Everywhere the sound of crashing
glass could be heard. The air was
filled with huge missiles which tore
off chimneys, penetrated roofs ano