Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-23
Al Least 80 Killed
In Storms, Property
Loss in Millions
BY The Associated Press


Violent early spring weather.
much of it wintry-struck stag
gering blows across wide areas in
the Eastern half of the Nation
yesterday.
Property damage was estimated
in the millions.
The stormy weather was
blamed for at least 80 deaths.
Travel was slowed, both on the
highway and in the air. Power
service was disrupted.
Billiards whipped across mid
continent areas. Rain, sleet and
strong winds buffeted large areas
of the Eastern seaboard, tearing
down buildings. Floods harassed
some parts Of the South. A
tornado struck in a village area
of Northern Ohio, injuring four
persons.
Winds Diminish
Winds, which were gale force
In Midwest sections, diminished
during the night and south
westerly winds were expected to
send temperatures above freez-
ing today. The blowing snow.
with falls ranging up to more
than foot in some areas yes
terday, kept many roads blocked
and thousands of cars stalled.
Lashing winds swept snow
again early today in the Da-
kotas and sections of Eastern
Wyoming. Northern Wyoming
reported 6 inches of fresh snow.
A bowling desert storm raced
across South Dakota this morn
ing.
Strong, gusty winds and some
snow continued during the night
in the eastern and northern
Great Lakes region. But the
vigorous storm which whipped
over most of the Midwest the
first two days of spring moved
into Eastern Canada.
Cold air extended southwark
into Northern Florida. the Gulf
Coast and South Central Texas
early today.
Flood Damage Heavy
Floodwaters plagued residents
In sections of Tennessee, Missis-
sippi and Alabama. Property
damage was heavy. Five per-
sons. four in Tennessee and one
in Mississippi, have drowned in
the overflows. More than $500
families have been removed from
their homes along the Cumber-
land and Buck Rivers in Middle
Tennessee.
The windstorms which dashed
four Saskatchewan, Indiana.
Kentucky and Ohio - caused
widespread property damage.
The National Board of Fire I'm
derwriters said the loss may ex-
coed ST million in each State.
Heavy freeze damage to the
early fruit crop was reported in
Oklahoma. Northern Texas and 4
Southern Illinois as the cold air
extended southwestward from
the Midwest.
Deaths attributed directly or
indirectly to the stormy weather
included six in Ohio. four each
in Illinois. Nebraska and Ten
nessee. and two each in Con-
necticut, Michigan. Pennsyl-
vania, Kansas, Wisconsin and
Mississippi.
Winds Lash East
Winds also reached gale force
in areas of the Eastern Sea-
board. A windstorm which hit
Princeton. N. j., was described
like a tornado" 1t whipped
off the roof and collapsed the
walls of a warehouse but no one
was hurt seriously.
A speeding New York Central
train at WATERFOWL, N. Y,
plowed through a 20-by-40 foot
roof which was blown off a
shed and dumped on the rail-
road tracks. No one was in
jured.
A section Of a roof on a sheet
metal plant at Cortland, N. Y,
was lifted into the air by the
wind. Damage was estimated at
$4,000.
The Buffalo IN. " area was
raked by gale winds from Lake
Erie. Huge ice jams were re-
ported in the Niagara River and
a huge mass Of ice plunged over
the Niagara Fall cataract, pilling
UP in the river gorge. Flood
conditions threatened on Grand
Island In the middle Of the
river, which rose 5 feet.
New York City got o heavy