Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-26
Storms Sweep
Nation, lode;
Gusts Rip East
NJ tn. Associated Press

Storms spiked with cold, rain
and snow knitted diagonally
through the Eastern half Of the
Nation yesterday.
At lease 16 persons were killed,
dozens were inquired and hum
dreds were left homeless by the
turbulent weather which in
lcluded the seasons first major
series of tornadoes.
Property damage was esti-
mated in the millions.
The heaviest blow was thrown
by tornadoes in the southern tip
of Illinois. which counted seven
dead.
Violent winds were blamed for
three fatalities in Ohio, two each
lin Texas and Missouri. and one
each in Oklahoma and New York
Dust Storm Hits Texas
| The big blow began in Texas
as the Southwest's worst dust
storm. of the season. 1t raced
northeastward, and its force still
was being felt along the Eastern
Seaboard and from portions of
the Ohio Valley to the Great
Lakes late last night.
The most violent weather oc-
Cured along and Just ahead of
the leading edge Of a cold front
which by underwriting was NOV
ing of the East Coast into the
Atlantic, except through Upper
New England.
Thunderstorms in the wake OF
winds dumped heavy rain in the
East and the Southeast, Tenn
jperatures dropped sharply.
Tornadocs Kill Six
/ The Southern Illinois lorna
does struck in predawn darkness
near st. Louis. They killed six
and injured 10, Hardest hit was
Summerfield. community OF
500. where Mayor Eldon Loehr-
Ling estimated damage at 81 mil
lion. About half the towns Toe
businesses or homes were de-
stroyed or damaged.
/ The seventh Illinois death oc.
lcurred when q truck slid OF a
highway near Galesburg in the
central portion Of the State dur
ling q suowstorn.
| Last night. gusty winds OF gale
Ito hurricane force and driving
rain swept across most Of Penn
lsylvania. Widespread d mage
was reported in several sections
/ Winds Of SO miles an hour in
gusts, two miles an hour higher
than during Hurricane Hazel two
years ago. were reported at Al
Ilentown. Philadelphia, where ex-
ltensive damage was caused. had
winds up to So miles an hour
and Wilkes-Barre up to go.
! Suffer Power Failures
| The high winds tore roofs
from homes. disrupted power IA
cilities and blew over trees in
some areas. Allentown, Bethle-
hem and Philadelphia all had
power failures. destroyed proper
Ity and felled trees.
New York State, mainly up
state areas. suffered wide dam
age. Wind gusts of 86 miles an
hour were recorded ct Mascara,
! At Syracuse, Nicholas Cesa-
rome, IS, died when a power pole
'ltoppled and crushed him in his
automobile.
!. At Rome, several persons were
injured when the winds smashed
ia window in the lobby of the
Hotel Stanwix.
4 Plate glass store windows were
broken in New York City. signs
ripped down and chimneys top
Piled.
The wind also caused power
failures and property damage In
many parts Of New Jersey.
In Atlanta, Ga. trees and wires
were reported down in Is loca-
lions. The wind also felled trees
and damaged homes in Macon
and Rome, Ga, and whipped
through parts Of Alabama.
The storms, spawned by a colo
front, hit Texas first and roared
Eastward.
| At the storms height. wind:
with gusts up to IS miles ar
hour, dashed West Texas. Eastern
New Mexico. Oklahoma and parts
Of Kansas.
1t became a black blizzard
so dense that fire fighters coping
with two major prairie fires In
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