New Britain herald., 1927-09-30

ally the same course. The estimated area of the twister Of 1896 was eight miles in length and from one-quarter to mile and a quarter wide. Throughout the wilderness or crumpled houses, fallen trees, wreck ed factories and business buildings and twisted wires men dug frantical- ly in the darkness Shortly before 1 o'clock this morning explorers seeking the bodies of five missing children in the recently rCmodellod Central High school found the body of one child. Seven school buildings. housing $500 children. were in the tornado swept area. but only at Central High vas there a report Of a fatality. Eighteen other pupils in that school were injured when a huge tower was sent crashing down on the auditorium.
 Houses Are CrumpIcd
 Old brick houses were crumpled like cggshells in one part Of the area. The newer homes were not spared and gaping holes where the wind wrenched off a wing or lifted the roof gave the district the appear ance of a shell torn city.
 Rescue workers rushing into the zone found pathetic sights of men. women and children standing about dazed and helpless, while others dug into the heaps of brick and wood for loved ones.
 For an hour before the twistor struck. the air was heavy and DOT tentous with storm. The continuous low rumbling of thunder was pune tuated with lightning. The opprcs- siveness was dispelled by a rising wind and suddenly the telltalc black clouds appeared in the sky.
 Sheets Of Flame seen
 Tn twinkling the crashing of glass and the singing of the wind ill the trees announced the coming of the tornado. Chimnoys crashed. houses heaved and fell. while the air was dark with dust and flying mis- siies. Witnesses telling their stories later spoke of sheets of flame. thoir origin d mystery, that swept past and dissipated themselves by striking q building or a tree.
 Wind Moves Autos
 Automobiles moved crazily about, oyerturning and wrcckine them selves like playthings Of children, Everywhere the thud of falling walls and chimneys and the tearing sound of piazzas being wrenchcd from their foundations. filled the air.
 Swift in its coming, the tornado vas as quick in leaving. From tho ruined homes and stores the fright cnod. wet occupants appeared in q stream. They found q wilderness Of fallen trees 10 block their way Hys- terical women supported hy men picked their way out of the debris
 As the danger from fallrD power wires became great self appointed guards stationed themselves until police arrived 10 take charge
 A cordon was hastily placed about tho section while elementary relief work WaS begun within. As the news was flashed 10 the downtown section, the police and fire departments hastily mohilized and soon tho sirens Of fire apparatus and police am balances announced the coming of outside help.
 l6 Hurt in school
 The first movement was toward Central High school i'iromcn found lG injured pupils who were immcdi- atcly removed as the roof threatened to fall, Then the search for dead was begun in all parts of the area.
 Fire broke out in several places and was eNtinguishcd by frcIncu with the help of a steady driZzIe Of rain which followed the tornado The bodies Of three women were taken from burning debris, two of them Charrcd and unrccoGniza blc.
 The rain stopped and the sun came out but shortly afterward an other storm threatened and the air itself seemed tinted green, later turning to q pale pink and frightcn- ing still more those who had an hour previous seen the elements on q violent rampage.
 Coroner Baker did not declare martial law but gave local military authorities a frcc reign in marshall ling the Missouri National Guard and soon the streets assumed somc- thing of q martial aspect as guards men of St Louis reported for duty.
 Boy. :, kilicd
 Mammoth Springs. Ark, Sept. 30 Lagnston, :, was lilIcd. and his father, 4. F. LanEston. was severely injured in tornado which struck the Langston farm house in the town of French, Ark, late yes torday Three other members Of the family were less seriously hurt.
 in addition 10 the Langston home, two business buildings were wreck cd and several houses were dam aged.
 French is 15 miles southwest of Mammoth Springs.
 Lightning Kills Two
 Poplar Bluff, Mo-. Sept. go CPs- Two men were killed by lightning |