Evening star., 1933-05-05
ALABAMA TORNADO
KILLS 70, HURTS zoo
lin MINING TOWNS
Disturbance Strikes Several
Small Communities Before
Dawn Today.
RELIEF WORK BEGUN
IN STRICKEN AREAS
Curious on Highways Hamper
Transportation of Injured to
Birmingham Hospitals.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, May CP).-
Twenty persons were killed and more
than 200 injured by a tornado that
swept West-Central Alabama communi-
ties shortly before dawn today.
Helena. mining village Of TOO pop
ulation, bore the brunt of the storm.
with 13 dead and nearly 100 injured.
Tho other communities struck were
Demopolis, two killed; Centerville, two
killed; Brent, three dead, and Adams
vile, Union Grove, Coalmont and small
Ter communities where . number were
injured
Four Killed Yesterday.
The storms added to the toll Of May
storms In the South which swept
Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.
Two were killed in storms in the Lower
Mississippi Valley yesterday, one at
Tallulah, La. and one near Pine Bluff.
Ark.
Alabama's death list was expected to
increase during the day as several of
the injured were in such critical con-
dition that physicians said they had
only a slender chance to recover.
Relief facilities of Birmingham and
nearby cities which last year were taxed
to capacity as disastrous tornadoes
killed 300, were functionng within an
hour after the word of the storms had
been brought here.
The twister lasted but a moment and
was gone, leaving dazed and terror
stricken residents without means Of
communication or lights by which to
seek relatives who were scattered in the
confusion.
The body of one Of the dead. Mrs.
N. D. Thomas, wife Of q deputy sheriff
at Helena, was found lodged high In
the branches Of a tree yards from her
home.
Highways Jammed.
Ambulance drivers, doctors and nurses
took charge of rescue operations ano
rescue work that had been haphazard
was turned into q systematic search OF
the splintered wreckage.
Transportation Of the injured to hos
pitals was hampered by hundreds OF
curious, who jammed the highways In
L. G. Mullins Of Helena, among the
first Of the injured brought here, said
as the full blast Of the wind struck his
house it collapsed.
"The roof went sailing into space, "
said Mullins. MY bed was picked up
and carried across the street. My son
Alfred was by my side. Suddenly tim
bers began falling on us. Alfred was
injured and, although unintured, I was
pinned down and lay there listening to
the boys cries Of agony.
"On all sides, after the storm passed,
could hear women shrieking and chill
dren crying out in pain and terror
Hoarse shouts Of men seeking their
wives and children in the confusion
were heard through the darkness
broken only by flashes Of vivid lightning
that pierced torrential rains.
Appeared to Wait Ages.
ut seemed ages before any one came
to my rescue. I waited and struggled
while my sons cries became weaker
then a neighbor found us, and SEEM
ingly hours later the ambulances ar
rived"
Other refugees told similar stories OF
the horror in the passing Of the storm
and the frantic search Of men and
women for their children, from whom
they had become separated, with only
flashes of lightning to guide them
through the chaotic wreckage Of what
yesterday were peaceful village streets.
Following is a partial list Of the
dead:
Helena:
Mrs. Walter Simmons, SO.
Helen Grim, 13.
Frances Kirkland.
A Mrs. Wright.
Mrs. Helen Jones.
Mrs. N. D. Thomas.
Virginia Foster, 8.
An unidentified colOred man.
Infant daughter of Sam Renshaw.
Demopolis:
Henry Jones and wife, colored.
Brent:
Three unidentified colcred persons.
Centerville:
Two unidentified colored persons.