The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-09-30
25,000 Homeless in ST. Louis Disaster; Troops
Rushed in to Guard Devastated Dis
trict; Looters to Be Killed.
PROPERTY LOSS NEAR $1OO,OOO,O00
Morgues and Hospitals Jammed With
Anxious Inquirers; Red Cross Sounds
Plea for Government Assistance
BY KENNTH CRAWFORD

at 80 this afternoon, slow
ly growing as ruins gave up
more more bodies to searchers.
+. More than 800 were seriously
injured in the eighty-mile gale
that whipped through the city
late Thursday afternoon.
All day long relief workers
tugged and tore at debris,
hunting for more victims.
All available national guards
men G / Metropolitan police
were on duty and Federal
troops also will be here today
to assist in the work of rescue
and rehabilitation.
The most tragis spot in the city
today was the morgue, temporarily
situated in the basement of the city
hospital. Scores of anxious persons
swarmed around the door, each
waiting his turn to search the in
terror for relatives and friends.
Most Hunt in Vain
On bare granite floor lay the
dead.
Persons filed through slowly and
quietly. Most hunted in vain. They
passed out into the open air to be
hurried on their way by a police
man. Occasionally there was a sob
or a scream. Someone's search had
been successful.
Three bodies had been taken from
wreckage of the Central High School
at noon. The school was wrecked
while classes were in session.
The death toll was increased by
a checkup Of fatalities on the east
side of the Mississippi River.
Eight were killed there. Six were
employees of the st. Louis Coal and
Coke Company, burned to death
when showered with molten metal.
Traffic Disorganized
Several street car lines still were
out of order this afternoon and
transportation continued a problem
in the portions of the city most af-
fected by the storm.
Percy Redman, manager OF the
Southwestern Bell Telephone Com
pany, announced $4,000 telephones
were still dead. He estimated the
loss to his company at $500,OOO.
The Red Cross, the United States
Army, the National Guard, the
American Legion, and business as
represented by the commercial lead
ers of the city, united To succor the
victims OF the wind ano to plan for
rebuilding the leveled areas.
Food stations using War Depart
ment supplies have been set up in
stricken districts, and preparations
are under way for caring for an
estimated $4,000 homeless.
Property Toll Huge
Dormitories have been prepared
at National Guard armories and
other public buildings.
Property damage could not be es.
timated accurately. It was various
ly placed at $5O,OOO,oOO to $780,
100000.
The number of injured in hos
pitfalls and private homes was more
than 1000. While it was impossible
to determine the number hurt, po-
lice estimates placed it at about
1900.
Orders were given police and
guardsmen to shoot to kill any one
caught looting.
Red Gross canteens we're estab-
lished in several places last night
and the number was increased to-
day. All work of feeding and hous-
ing those left destitute was directed
by st. Louis members of the Red
Cross, pending arrival of national
relief workers.
Cots, blankets, tents and food were
rushed to the city from jefferson
barracks.
In the city hospital morgue alone
were thirty-one bodies. Police and
f1remen reported recovery of dead
and injured throughout the night.
Many of the injured were treated
at hospitals and Immediately dis
charged.
Comes From West
The path of the storm seemed to
follow Mill Greek valley, entering
the city from the west.
The only disaster of similar pro-
portions which has struck st. Louis
was the tornado of 1896, which
killed 40 persons and injured
hundreds.
The storm appeared to have
originated in Arkansas, where a
tornado struck the village of Rudy
and almost levelled it. The storms
may have been entirely separate.
as Rudy is about 300 miles.
airpline, from st. Louis and there
were no reports of destructive winds
from the territory intervening.