Evening star., 1947-04-30
Il Killed, 50 Injured
As Tornadoes Sweep
Across -Four States
BY IT.. Assoeioted Press

WORTH, Mo, April 30.-Tor-
nadic winds whipped through
small towns in Arkansas, Texas,
Missouri and Iowa, leaving at
least 81 dead today, injuring
more than so and causing thou
sands of dollars in property
damage.
Hardest hit was this Northwest
Missouri town with a population of
233. Thirteen persons were killed
and approximately As injured. Only
half a dozen buildings in the town
were left standing.
At least eight persons were killed
in Arkansas where vicious winds last
night lashed the small community
of Bright Water and swept close to
Garfield, not far from the Missouri
line.
A tornado struck Clio, a town
of about 200 population, in South
western iowa, causing extensive
property damage. No loss of life
was reported, however.
Small tornadoes also dipped into
several Northeast Texas commun-
tiles last night, injuring at least
six persons and destroying several
homes and barns
Six were injured at Clover near
Grand Saline.
The town of Mabank suffered
widespread property damage and
some damage also was reported at
nearby Odon.
The tornado that hit Worth swept
through the center of the town wip-
ing out the entire business district.
Two of the towns three churches
and its brick schoolhouse were
among the buildings demolished.
Practically every tree in town was
clipped off.
The community was in darkness
until late last night when a mobile
generator arrived from a neighbor-
ing town. Both the Salvation Army
and the Red Cross set up stations
and homeless were being cared for
in the few remaining residences
still standing and in nearby towns.
Like Texas City Blast.
AL Dopking, Associated Press re-
porter who also covered the recent
Texas City, (Tex), explosion dis
aster. described the devastation
here as greater proportionately
than at the Texas town.
There simply isn't anything left
standing except a few homes at the
south edge of town which the
storm missed Mr.. Dopking said.
THE center of town is wiped bare
except for splintered wood, bricks
and other debris
N. A. Combs, a Worth mail car
rier. said he doubted if the COM
munity would be rebuilt
Mrs. Combs, SO, nurse. said she
first saw the tornado high in the
air.
1T had a long TAIL" she said.
when it hit the ground there was
a swirling dark cloud The point
seemed to broaden and sweep every
thing before it. There was a ter
| rifying roar
Mr.. and Mrs. Bruce Pickering ar
rived just shortly after the tornado
hit and found their two children,
Irene and Melvin and Mrs. Pick
ering's mother dead in the ruins of
their home.
Everything we had is gone--the
children, the home, the livestock,
everything" Mr.. Pickering said
The couple had just returned
from nearby Grant City when they
saw the storm SWoop into Worth.
Sucked From Cellar.
Fred Jennings died in queer
| twist of the tornado.
Survivors reported he had joined
six other persons in cellar and was
standing near the door when a gust
of wind sucked him out and tossed
him into telephone line. His body
was found rs feet from the cellar
with the wire wrapped tightly
around his legs.
Nearby towns rushed ambulances
and other assistance 10 Wcrth. A
plane with 200 units of blood plas
ma was dispatched from Kansas
City.
Mrs. Anne Trump, school teach
er, helped save her l6 pupils by
ordering them to a cave" or storm
celler when she saw the tornado
approach. A few minutes later the
schoolhouse was mass of debris.
Mrs. Oren Myers, the towns tele-
phone operator for IA years, re-
manned at her switchboard, warn
ing of the storms approach until
just before The wind ripped the
building apart Her husband was
killed.
Il don't know how many calls
I made she said. But there was
no way to ring all of our subscribers
at once SO l mad to plug in and
call each individually.
Fruit Cellar Refuge.
THE first warning I had of the
storm was when Mrs. Ethel King
called me from her home about 4
miles west of town. She said it
looked like the tornado was headed
this way"
Mrs. Myers stayed at her post
until almost the last minute, then
Joined several other women in a
fruit cellar.