SECTION ONE
PAGES 1 TO 8
The Alliance Herald
TWO SECTIONS
Twelve Pages
VOLUME XX
ALLIANCE. BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA I THURSDAY. MARCH 27, 1913
NUMBER 16
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE IN THE EAST
Thousands Killed in Tornado Which Strikes Omaha and in Floods Which Sweep
Eastern States. Floods Now Subsiding
TEN THOUSAND HOMELESS AND DESTITUTE, PROPERTY LOSS MILLIONS
CINCINNATI, O., March 26. Ten
thousand persons lost their lives;
5,000 In Dayton, Ohio; 1,000 la Ham
Lton, Ohio; BOO in Peru, Ind.; 660
In Piqua, Ohio; 75 In Delaware, O.,
with property loss of Rcores of mil
Tons of dollars, in unprecedented
floods that swept four states yester-
( HV.
It was the most horrible disaster
that ever has viBited the Miami val
ley. It is impossible at this time to
more than estimate the number of
lives which were snuffed out, but
it is conservatively placed at 10,000.
For four dnys a steady downpour
of rain had soaked the land and
swollen the rivers bank high. The
lower parts of the cities were flood
ed, and while it was known there
was danger, it was not regnrded as
imminent. It was known that the lev
ees at Piqua had given away and
that a number of lives had been lost
there. It was hoped that this break
would relieve the pressure some
what. This morning the great pow
er plant reservoir north of Dayton
was full to overflowing and wan care
fully watched.
Suddenly, with hardly a moment's
warning, the big dam cracked under
the enormous pressure, then with a
smash which could be heard for miles
went out and the millions of gallons j
of water in a white crested wave. j
ten feet high, swept like a demon of j
carrying horses, cattle and hundreds
Of human beings on its foaming crest
There was no time for the people
of the- lower part of Dayton to es
cape. Hundreds of them were caught
In the swirling waters which had
toon turned the streets into rush
ing, murderous, corpse-laden rivers.
It was a gruesome sight to those
fortunate enough to be in buildings
strong enough and high enough to
withstand the mighty grasp of the
wrathful river god. Hundreds of
bodies, some of them still with the
breath of life in them and struggling
vainly, floated past their horror
stricken eyes. In a short time there
was thirty feet of water in some of
the streets nearest the river front,
and at this hour it is receding very
slowly.
The giant wave swept past Hay
ton, licking up the small cities and
towns on the banks of the Miami
river as though they were match
wood, on to Hamilton, where the
same scenes were enacted as at
Dayton, except on a smaller scale.
The people of Hamilton had re
ceived some warning of the approach'
of the flood and many of them had
sought refuge on the higher ground.
It is doubtful if there would have
been as great loss of life at Hamil
ton had the flood wave not been re
inforced by the smashing of a dam
to the north of the town, which so
augmented them that they swept
over sections of the city which were
deemed safe.
The citizens of the stricken dis
tricts, dazed to the point of stupor
by the awful calamity which had ov
ertaken them, have already begun
the work of rescue and relief. I'n
til the waters go down it will be im
possible to determine the number of
dead. Indeed, It is doubtful If the
full story ever will be known, for
there Is reason lo fear that scores
of bodies have been swept by the
flood Into the Ohio and may be car
ried hundreds of miles, even down
the Mississippi.
' The mayor of Dayton, in an ag
peal to the mayor of Springfield, at
8 o'clock tonight, stated that 6,000
were drowned and .10,000 homeless
n that city and that the water was
thirteen feet deep in the Union sta
tion. . Lat-. ion iu ht fires which had start
ed in 'b debris of wrecked build
,i!".s ad ' horror to the scene of
I. vastai.on in Dayton. The Immense
plant of the National Cash Register
Company was reported in flames.
Kdgemont. North Dayton, River
dale and Daytonvlcw are under wat
er. Dams were destroyed at Piqua
and Hamilton. The mayor of Day
ton, In his appeal, asked for food for
the stricken people of the city. Xen
ia sent three cars of food to Dayton
tonight. The Sprlngtlild officials at
once me and planned to take action
for the relief of the flood suffe rers
A man who arrived at Hrooksville
tonight from Dayton stated that the
water is thirty feet deep In the bus
iness center of the city and running
like a mill race. He reported that
ten mtlltlaiuen ou guard at the levee
were carried down stream and drown
ed when the embankment gave way.
J. U Espey. a Hamilton merchant,
saw a man and women fall from a
boai as It swept past bis house and
" .icVther appeared on the surface
again. Robert Shank and Dr. luUl
lost their lives while trying to save
others. '
Hamilton is in te-.al darkness ow
ing to the fact that the light plant
BIG FLOODS SINCE 1219
1219 Nordland, Norway; lake burst,
36,000 people perished.
1228 Frlesland: invasion of see: :
100,000 people drowned.
1421 or 1446 Holland; seventy-two j
villages inundated, twenty permanent j
ly; 100,000 persons drowned.
1521 Holland; 100,000 lives lost by.
Inundation.
1570 Holland; storm drove in the;
sea, destroying numerous villages and1
20.000 people in Frleslnnd. M
1617 Catalonia, Spain; 15.000 per- j
ished in floods.
1642 China; at Kaifong, 300.000 peo
pie drowned.
1646 Holland and Frlesland inun- '
dated; loss of life. 110,000.
1787-8 India, in northwestern pro
vinces and Punjab; 16,000 lives lost.
ITltl Cuba; floods from excessive
rains; 3,000 drowned.
1813 Austria, Hungary, Poland and
Prussian Silesia; floods caused by !
rains; 4,000 perished in Poland, 6.000 1
in Silesia.
1824 St. Petersburg and Cronstadt;
10,000 lives lost from overflow of .
Neva.
1876 China; floods in northern
provinces; in Bengal 200,000 persons
perished from inundation of a tidal
wave.
1887 China; the Hoang-hohand Ho
nan; millions of lives lost.
1889 Johnstown, Pa.( reservoir
burst; 2,209 lives lost.
1891 Consuegra, Spain; 1.200 lives
lost.
1893 Japan; 27,000 lives lost.
1900 Guivaston, Texas: 6,000 lives
lest and .,vm buildings destroyed.
1903 Heppner, Oregon; cloudburst;
300 lives lost.
was put out of working order early.
Three companies of militia from Cin
cinnati arrived in South Hamilton to
night, but owing to the swiftness of
the current in the streams, have not
been able to dertnin.
At Wyoming street, on the South
side, where the National Cash Reg
ister company centered its efforts at
rescue, many saved their lives by
creeping on a telephone cable, loo
feet above the flood.
The first carried a line along the
cables. Ropes to which the flat-bottomed
boats were attached were
fastened. When the flood became so
fierce that the boats no longer were
able to make way against it, men
and women crept along the cables to
safety. Others, less daring, saw
darkness fall ami gave up hope of
rescue. Those willing to risk their
lives In the attempt to rescue found
themselves helpless In face of the
water. Seventy thousand of Day
ton's population, it is reported, are
homeless.
The National Cash Register plant,
on a high hill, offers the only haven
in the south end. Three women be
came mothers In the hulls of its of
fice buildings tonight. .Main snvi
near Apple street was one of the
concentration points. In the wood
working department of the National
Cash Register company, boats were
being turned out at the rate of ten
an hour and these were rushed to i
where the waters hail crossed Main
street in a gully. .
But the waters crept up and the!
strength of the current was Bsf tool
strong for the crude punts, though
they were the best that could be
made in a hurry. Trip after trip
was made and hundreds of the refug
ees were taken from this stretch of I
houses. John 11. Patterson, president
of the National Cash Register com
pany, who headed the relief work in
the south end of the city, stnt out
in appeal for tO?d supplies and for
doctor and medicine
A fire which started from an ex
plosion in the Meyers Ice Cream
company near Wyoming street,
spread and burned the block on
South Park, about a block frcm Wy
oming. Another big fire is reported
to have burned u downtown block.
The breaking of the Karlton res
ervoir, which supplies the drinking
water, left the city wihout water,
and physicians declare there is great
danger of typhoid in the us I of the
flood w ater
CHICAGO. Thursday Morning, Mar.
27th. Special to The Alliance Her
ald. President Wilson today issued
an appeal to the nation for aid for
the flood sufferers in Ohio and In
diana. He urges that contributions
be made through the Red Cross. At
St. Louis the Mississippi Is 25 feet
above the low water mark. The
water has risen 6 feet in 21 hours.
The Illinois river la very hUh and
flood warnings have been sent thru
out the entire valley. Heavy snow
in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois today
makes conditions look worse At
Delaware, Ohio, 14 bodies have been
recovered. As many more are miss
ing. The flood damage is $2,000,
000. At Indianapolis 14 were drown
ed and hundreds homeless. West
Indianapolis Is practically Isolated by
he flood. The government at
Washington has ordered tents for
50,000 and 1,000,000 rations sent to
the flooded districts, with medical
supplies, etc. The 1,000,000 rations
will care for 200,000 people for three
days. A temporary mail service has
been organized in Ohio nnd all gov
ernment troops In the eas; have
been ordered gotten in readiness for
work in the flooded districts. U
Peru, Indiana, measels has broken
out among the refugees. There is
no pure drinking water and the doc
tors say there will be more deattiB
from pestilence than from the flood.
The water has receded five Inches.
At Dayton It is still impossible to
reach the northern section of the
city. Flames can be seen in eight
business blocks and the city Is under
martial law. A large number of pow
erful motor bjats have arrived and
It is hoped to reach the northern
end of the city in them today. It
is impossible to get within two miles
of the fire stricken district and ex- ,
ploding drugs and chemicals make
the fire seem fearful.
The estimated list of dead from i
floods is as follows:
Ohio
Dayton 2000
Piqua 640
Delaware 100 j
Middleton 100
Sidney , . . . 50
Hamilton I?'
Tippecanoe 3 !
Tiffin 50
Fremont II
Scattering 20
Indiana
Peru 150
Indianapolis 14
Scttering 32
THE HOSPITAL FAIR
St. Josephs Hospital Fair, Held the
Last Three Days, Was a
Great Success
LADIES TO BE ENTERTAINED
The fair held the past three days
for the benefit of St. Joseph's Hos
pital has been a success in every
way. Those In charge of the hospit
al extend most sincere thanks to the
citizens Of Alliance and surrounding
towns who so generously contributed
eatables, many beautiful articles that
were sold, etc.
Words are inadequate to express
their gratitude to the ladies who.
with untiring zeal, took charge of
the affairs and sacrificed their time
and energy in the cause of charity.
Mr. Uantz and Mr. K. Reardon ti-- 'I
every effort to make the dance a
success.
So fur us we otl learn, the com
mittee in charge and their assistants
were: Mrs. Rumcr, Mrs. (lilman.
Miss M. O Keefe, Mrs. Gailtz, Mrs.
Barnes, Mrs. Copsey, Mis. Slagle.
Mrs. Dwyer, Miss A. Aylward, Mrs
Rrennnn, Miss M. i'riplett, Mrs,
Hrazle-tou. Mrs. Rowan, Mrs. ft.
Reardon, Mrs. Newberry, Mis. Ham
ilton, Mrs. Keller, Mrs. Caddis, Mrs.
Hodgkinson, Mrs, Carey. Mrs. Km
urson, Mrs. McDetmntt. Mrs p.
Rowland, Mrs. C. llrennan, Mrs.
Nolan, Mrs. Kldreel, Mrs. Driscoll,
Mrs. BurgS, Mrs. Yount, Mrs. Sie
ger, Miss D. Aylward, Miss Agne
Phelan, also a number of young la
dles of the city,
Mr and Mrs. Hurlew and daughter
ot Hcmingford gencrousl, furnished
t'Kgs, Mrs. A. Welch and daughters.
J. H. Willies, Miss Hopk'ns, Mrs. O.
K. Neilk. Mrs. Hreckner, M. W. Km
erson. Mrs. A. J. A;,plcgarth, Mrs.
R. Walls and Mrs. R. Kinkaid of
liiughaui raised some- forty dollars
aud succeeded in collecting chickens.
laitter, cream, fancy work, etc., in
generous quantity, for which siiuere
thanks are due
This afternoon these ladies will
be eiiterialued at a musical given by
the pupils cf St. Agnes Academy in
the Academy gymnasium. Luncheon
will be served and the Sisters will
i liilratur to make the afternoon ail
, ujoyabb one for all eoncerneu.
PASTOR RESIGNS
Rev Geo. A. Witte. pastor of the
Alliance llaptist church, has tender
ed his resignation to take effect af
ter next Sunday. The Herald is un
able to state before- 'text Issue what
Mr. Witte's plans are for the future
or who will he his successor here.
v.jsJHgVijH
- -SjH BSDkr " ' I I ' "Jcea
lX)OU8T STREET LOOKING WEST.
CHI RCH DEMOLISHED.
i -
REMOVING BODIES FROM THE lUTNSk
Omaha, March 27. Special to The I
Alliance Herald.-- Every hour the i
atastiophe, whidi has prostrated all
Omaha, grows more horrible. Ry
finds of single bodies, couples aud
eves live or six ut a time the death
roll is continually growing. The list
of dead in Omaha and vicinity Is
knowg to number at least 170.
Outside the city repot ts ate filtering
in of a catastrophe, as great, but ou a
mailer scale. Not one tornado, but a
whole family of them appear to have
rtruck both sides ot the Missouri river
almost simoltaueously.
As far as can be ascertained, tU
tister started usn its career, of hor
ror some win-1 e iu Cass county, wipiug
OUt the town of Yinan. and then stiik
iug through Waterloo and Ralston. Its
zigzag couise was baffling, and many
towns report losses which Indii BtS
that the main stem of the tornado was
constantly giving off smaller twisters.
Gretna and Culon and Millard tell the
force of the wind but the chief disss
let lay io the path of the big. wide, all
powerful cloud which entered Omaha
almost exactly at the city limits on
Center street
The blow came, as R were, la the
twinkling oi the eye, so swiftly, and
so deadly ai'd destructive that its vle
l"U did not know what had onalen
t m m.
The tornudo came just at dusk ac
compunicd hy a decfening din and
roar, collapsing houses like card
board, and tossing all sorts of objects
nbout. passing on so quickly that Its
coming nnd going seemed to be simul
'.aneous.
Darkness Quickly Follows Devastation.
After the tornado followed a deep
darkness, and a dense downpour ot
rain Lights were out, traffic stopped,
telephone communication broken.
The stricken neighborhoods rushed
to one another's relief, the imprisoned
were dog out of cellars In which the;
had taken refuge. Nearby homes were
turned into hospitals, the entire med
leal staff of the community drafted foi
emergency work.
Con durations bursting out la the
wake of the storm kepi the fire de
put Uncut busy, and gave Inn. I ii.nl.
ground to the scene of devastation.
Autos and ambulances were called
Into requisition, aud with the speedy
cessation of the rain, although street
cars were Mopped, and street lamps
extinguished, thousands from all over
the itv pomed forth as curious spec
tators, the procession to and tro con
tinning through the night.
Storm No Respector of Persons.
Oulv wilh the reak of day. hoW-
BVer, wat tbl terrfliis rW'ttoTaMou w
visible.
The tornado proved to bs no re
specter of persons, and In no way dis
criminated between poverty ami
wealth. It had Invaded the hovel and
palace, the dwelling of the wags work
er, nnd the mansion of his employer.
Striking diagonally across the city, it
scooped up the hollows and slopes,
and shaved off the hill tops, where the
houses Omaha was most proud of bad
stood.
The chief loss of life seems to have
been OaTSTsd at certain spots around
Forty-sixth and leavenworth, at For
tieth and Farnam, where a crowd had
taken refuge in a wrecked garage; in
a crowded moving picture sbow on
North Twenty-fourth street, In a north
llde pool ha'l filled with negro visitors.
Relief measures are under way. Gov ernor
Morehead has called out several
companies of the militia and stand
guard over the exposed proper
ty. A mass meeting of citizens, called
by the mayor, has started s relief
fund and organised for work, and the
tate, through the governor and lsgis
lature, promised to extend a helping
hand.
What Daylight View Discloses.
Daylight only brought out stronger
tha havoc the awful storm had wrought.
The worst reports of damage done
to property were more than confirmed
by Inspection after day had com-
; again. The path of the storm center
J varied from two to six blocks wide.
and alnng the way houses wer
i smashed to bits, torn to shreds, heaped
ii fantnst'eal p'les or scattered wide
nJ tar. Then the wonder was tfiat
ijy had escaped alive front the shat
, :ered homes. Freaks of the storm are
iiuny; bousf left unscathed where all
ibout is heaped up ruin; the tra
; iitional splinter driven through a tree
is to lie seen, while huge slivers driven
I .nto the sids of bouses are many: In
! 3ne place, the first story of a two
itory building is torn out. while the
, ipper story settled down on the foun-
lation Trees are broken, uprooted,
j icatt' red M8I and far. Trolley wires
ire down, and with ihm electric light
: Sires, telephone cables, all twisted
I nd snarled mho dangerous webs, or
left hanging in low festoons across
i the street.
Path of the Storm Traced Out.
The tirM trace of the storm In Oma
ha is at Fifty fourth nnd Center
Streets. From there It traveled north,
veering slightly to the east, to leav
n worth. Then ft took a northeasterly
rourse to Fortl til and F.irnam, It cov
pted a coarse from Fortieth east to
Thii ty-ioiirfh. till Bemis park was
r ached. Then it turned sharply to
the east, nnd passed down aleng Par
ker and Hlcndo to Twenty fourth,
where Its pnth Is about six block
wide, in ihls section the damage is
most complete. The diagonal course
of the twister acros this part of the
city wrccd a wider range than in
any other section. Finally, ut about
Fourteenth and Spenfer, the storm
went over the bluff, dum llt hed the
Missouri Pacific 'oundhouse. leveled
the big treat's work of the Illinois
Central -ver Carter lake, wrecked
some buildings around the Rod and
, Gun club grottgda, and disappeared.
I The first siiious damag- done In
Omaha was saffi red by B' nls school,
i which is i. in ootd. aud partly de
I stroyed; the las', nppar nt'y. was the
wrecking of the trestle work cf the
Illinois Central: between the twbx
tremes stretches I path some four and
one-ha!i mi!es In extent, ar.d from two
to six blocks in width, ah ug which
the d.ttnaee is practically total.
Rally to Victims' Aid.
All Ogssaa is rallying to the assist
ance ol toiuado victims. Men. women
and children rendered destitute Oi
hciiui lesk by the devastating storm are
cated for as fast as their wants are
made Known.
The hospitals or the city are full:
churches, traterual orders and public
Institutions have opeued their doors:
city officials are busy with relief work
and hundreds of private homes are
aiding In caring for the stricken.
City commissioners passed an ordi
nance appropriating $25,000 for rellel
work. Cttigen present at the meeting
organic id and $.". more was do
i Continued ou page five I