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About The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922 | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1913)
BOWEN WAS IN OMAHA Account of Well Known ScottsblufT Man Who Saw Tornado in Omaha. " SAYS REPORTS ARE NOT EXAGGERATED. A western Nebraska man who WM 3n Omaha during the cyclone was A. L. Bowen. of the First National Hnuk of Scottsbluff. Mr. Howen and Mr. Fred Wright, of Scottabluff, were stopping at the Paxton over Sunday. They were on their way back to Scottsbluff Tuesday when Mr. Howen was interviewed by a Herald report er. His account of the storm is as follows: "I was eating supper about six o -clock at the Paxton. It was before sundown. We had been having sonic wind but you know that we people from western Nebraska don't think anything of a little wind and I did not know that anything unusual had happened until 1 finished supper and walked out Into the hotel lobby, when I noticed groups of people talking. 1 walked out into Farnam street, and on looking west, saw a great glow In the sky. This was caused by the many fires which fol lowed in the path of the cyclone. The sky did not seem particularly cloudy downtown. Within a very few minutes automobiles and cabs began to arrive at the hotel with dy ing and injured people. People down town then began to realize that some thing serious had happened and we, with many others, started west on Farnam street. Mr. Wright and I walked west as far as 40th and Far nam, where we were in the midst of the wreckage. I cannot describe the scene in words. Th aeccounts in the newspapers do not show the horrlblenese of the scenes words cannot tell what we saw. We arriv ed at the scene of the disaster a bout eight o'clock. "By the time we got to the path oi the storm It was pitch dark. There were no electric lights as all the light wires had been torn down by the storm. People did not dare to light matches and lamps on ac count of the escaping gas. which hun like a cloud over the scenes of the wreckage. I saw who'o blc ks, which had been thickly covered with big residences, swept as clean as a floor. It was hard to believe that houses had been where the bare foundations were, only a couple of hours before. People were running about everywhere, trying to find lost relatives. Firemen were frying to put out fires but in most places had no way to get their hose to them on account of the streets being filled with trees, wires, telephone poles and wreckage of all kinds. We walk ed along the path of the storm until about midnight. When we got back downtown refugees were crowding there by the thousands, the hotels were full, and Injured people were 1 1. inn carried on doors, planks, and whatever had come handy. It was an r.wfu. scene. I offered to give up my room but it was not needed. "Monday morning we again walked out to the scene of the storm. The papers had gotten out extras by nine o'clock Sunday evening telling what they knew of the storm but their stories were very meagre and the people of Omaha did not begin to realize the extent of the disaster un til Mnnri.iv The soldiers at Ft. O- maha wen- ordered out a couple of hours after the disaster and patrolled tiie district during the night. Mon day more troops were tailed out and Hie district was placed under martial law. It required a pass to get thru the lines. I secured a paas and was among the ruin a large part of the day. I saw many strange sights and scenes. Witnessed the taking out of 11 bodies from the negro pool hall. "1 saw a costly limouBine automo b'le on ita side with a heavy two by six timber driven clear through It. I saw an umberella driven four Itichea in'o a telephone pole. The forf cf the storm must have been terrific. Great phone poles were turn and twisted M though Miy were straws. One of the oddest sights v as to see a house or two sitting, apparently unharmed, in the midst of others which had been entirely torn to pieces. Houses were cut in two I i clean as though with a gigantic Ifplfe. Houses were sitting on top of each other as though bulit that way . I saw a monster tree driven entirely through one house, branches first. "Omaha was crowded to the limit Monday night. Special trains were jiinging in soldiers, members of the s.ate legislature, and people who ret hunting for relatives as well as thousands of sight seers. We were certainly glad to get away, although 1 'an never forget the awful scenes I witnessed there." Order and System Rapidly Brought Out cf Omaha Chaos. Omaha. Neb., April 8 Never in the history of disasters has one been handled with the organization as that which characterized the Omaha tornado Hardly had the tornado done its work than the Citizens Relief Committee was organized and Mart ed its relief work. Order and sys tem was brought out of the chaos and In less than 4 houni relier was being given the stricken in systematic distribution. No sooner had this been accom plished than plans were set going to restore and rehabilitate the stricken district. The first order wan tor a general clean up day and vol unteers were called on On April 5 and t; more than 5000 able bodied men responded to the call audi like a seaming miracle, the traces and evidences of the terrific storm were elilllillfatt d. These volunteers were divided in to squads and assigned to districts under competent foremen Hoys, mid dle aged men and even old men an gered the call and worked with a spirit showing that brotherly love Is the ohlefest asset of the Am erican people. The restoration work Is the bis problem now. This is being accom plished as fast as the gatherintc of fact will permit The iuteutlon Is How Buildings Were Wrecked In Omaha. i Photo copyright, 1S13. by American Press Association. This picture was mnde within a few hours after Omaha had Ireen wrecked by the tornado It shows the ap pearance of Lake Rtreet at the Intersection of Twenty-fourth. Not a building was left here with Its roof Intact, and many walls were blown down. to put every sufferer on hl feet again and the accomplishments In thin rsepect so far have been most, e-raitlfylng. Though the property loss Is gi gantic, running well over the 5( 000,000 mark, the restoration and re lief committees will be able to fi nance the work satisfactorily. Of Ithe 1,777 houses damaged or total ly destroyed repair work had begun on 57; In less than seven days. Within 60 days it Is estimated that every evidence of the storm will be eliminated. Seme vacant lots will be all that will he left in many In stances but they will be in ship con dition and Omaha will start on a new era of better construction. Instead of being known as "Om aha, the tornado stricken city," Om aha will be known as the wonder of the west destroyed In a night, rebuilt m a day the city that turn ed calamity into an era of pros perity. Omaha Extends Thanks to Generous Hearted Nebraska. To (he People of Nebiaska: Omaha, through its Citizens Re lief Committee, takes this method of extending its slncerest thanks to the r.eople of Nebraska for their prompt and generous assistance In the time of need. Never have tenders of a&sisitance come with suih generous promptings as those from the people of Ne braska. Hardly had the xeJioes of the tornado passed away before ten ders of aid were received from Ne braska cities and people. Omaha will never forget the kind ness of Nebraska people and while hoping that there will never be oc casion for reerocation In this par ticular, should such condition ar.se, Omaha will be the first to respond to the call. Citizens Relief Committee. Hy T. J. Mulicney, Chairman. C. C. Roi water. Secy. Wrecked Residence Section In Omaha. No Cr.nj;s in Plans for Editors' Annual Meeting. ' 1 Omaha, Neb., April 8. Despite the tornado, the Nebraska Press Asso ciation's Annual luettiuK will be carried cut as per schedule. No change will be made in the plans and the program will be car ried out as originally planned. Da ta Ha cf the arrangenu i s and n tertalnment will be announced later. Secretary Johns has the program all but oomph led FREAK OF THE TORNADO Robinson Will Bring Strange Relic of Tornado to Alliance. HAS ATTRACTED THOUSNDS. W. M. Robinson, manager of the piano department or Orkin Ilrotheis. who was in the city the first of the arek, has on exhibition in the did play windows of the big Orkin Brother! department store in Om aha freak of the tornado that is attracting thousands of pecple to see it. It is a piano which was in the home of Fred Stevens, at the cor ner of ;i8th and Chicago streets in Omalia, when the tornado stru-k. completely wrecking the house. A piece of lumber, known as a l'x4, w as driven through the side of the h use and into the end of the piano u distance of about twelve In ches, ae force which drove th; piect lumber completely through the ' of the house and this dis tance I '-to the end of the piaa must I e been beyond imagination ; for a I .ilet would hardly pierce the tough It eis of wood composing t he end of the piano. The 2x4 is driven into th piano as neatly as though insert- u by a carpenter. The piano was badly damaged by the tornado. After several days of negotiations Mr. Robinson succeeded in purchas ing this piano from the owner on Friday. It will be shipped to Alli ance very goon and placed on ex hibition in Okin Brother! store here. About sixty pianos were brought into Orkin Hrothers store in Omaha from the tornado district for repairs a BIG JOB PRINTING. The Herald's job department turn ed out a good sized bunch of laun rtiy slips for the Alliance Steam i.- .ndry this week A total of 18, tivti slips wen- munled In one ji.b. Alliance business men know Ihgl wii.n they want job printing done quickly aud properl the place to go is The Herald. SHORT MESSAGE STICKS TO TARIFF fariM Wilson Advises the Extra Session. URGENT NEED OF REFORMS Chief Executive Says Recent Elections I nd a Duty Upon the Democratic Party. Which Must Lighten the Bur den of the People Says It Would Be Unwise to Move Forward Headlong or With Reckless Haste; That Busi ness Must Be Encouraged, Not De stroyed, but That Everything That Has a Semblance of Privilege Must Be Aboliehort Promises Special Mes sage Dealing With Need-id Banking and Currency Laws. To the Senate and Uouse or Reprc sen tn lives; I hint) called the congress together In extraordinary session because a duty nan laid upon the party now K)wer nt the recent elections which ought to perform promptly In order thnt the burden curried by the people under existing law may be lightened as soon aa possible and In order, also, tbat the business Interests of the conn try may Dot be kept too long in ana pause as to what the fiscal change Photo copylght, 11, by American Press Association. This shows North Twentieth street and the Boulevard, a residence aectlon that suffered heavily In the Omaha tornado. Mrs. Fitzgerald and Mrs Blgelow were killed here Omaha Moving Picture Show Wrecked. WhBLtV' sasTsB bbwbsbt 50 BE smM sBsjatfJast - dttfrtlir e-K KsW sBsFB Bw'ffB Hllaal " " 7aMsTttae-fai , SCy- ''JsaflssBMtsBB aV-B Vs .rllB LV-!!fw1'B! -4laiL' Jafhjaaagj. Wf &3sBafliaB Photo copyright. l13. by American Press Association. This photograph shows what was lert of the Diamond moving picture the ater aftei the storm had passed through Omaha. The loss of lives here was heavy Many bodies were not recovered for days because of the delay due to a snowstorm. Section of Stricken Omaha. 4 W a. I Photo cop right. 1112. uy Am. i Iran Press Association Hera l sTBBl 1 left of Idlewlld hall, the center of the negro section of Omaha The tornado played havoe here, a dozen Mgfoea lieiug killed iu iu ruins of this iMtBshOjsl Wise Ones Watch Want Ads by American Prea Association. CKISIIlKNI Wlj.SOM are to be to wblcb tbey will be reqiilr ed to adjust themselves. It Is clear to the whole country tbat the turifl duties must be altered. They tuut Oe "hanged to meet the radical alt -ration in tbe condition! of our economic life which tbe country haa witnessed viih III tbe last generation While tbe whole face and method of our Indus trial and comtiierci.'il life were llHnl chnugeeJ l-eyond recognition the in riff schedules have remained what they were heyfnre the change began i have moved In the direction tbey were giv en when no large circumstance of our industrial development was what It i today Oiii tusk l to xqunre them with the iietnal facts. The sooner that I done the MSNW1 tve Miall WNM from suffering Minn the farts and the sooner our men of Ihihiuoms will I" free to thrive hj the law ot nature ithe nature nf flee ItWalOrWl Instead of by the law ul legislation and nm tl-lal arrangement. He Tariff Has Grown We have een tartft icgnlal Ion wan rter very far aaVM in our day hfl tai indeed troin the field In whieh our prosM'i-ity might buve had m normal growth and stimulation No one who looks I he facts stuare:y in the face or knows anything that lies beneath th hiii tin e of action can tall to pereelve Hie pi iin-lples upon whleh recent In rift legislation has lieen IhIhiiI. We long ago passetl Pevinid the ii,imch lioll-n-of protecting" the industries ol the tHaWll f and moved lioidiy forward to fie Idea that they were entitled to t In direct patronage of Hie government lor h long lime a time so long that the men now active in public pollcv hardly remember the conditions that preceded It- we have sought in our tariff schedules lo give each group of uiiiiiutai Hirers or producers what they themselves thought mat they uecded in order to maintain u practically ex clusive market as against the rest of the world, fonsclousiy or unconscious ly we have built up u set or privileges and exemptions from comMtltion be hind which It was easy by any. even the crudest, forms or combination to organize monopoly, until at last noth IUK Is normal, nothing is obliged lo stand t lie tests of etbcieney and econo my, in our world of big imsiness. bur everything thrives by concerts ar i-Hiigeuieui Duly new priuclpies rx action will Have us from s tin.il mud crystallisation of moiioisjiy and s ium plele Iomji of the Influences that ipilck en enterprise uiul keep ludeiMMidetit en ero-y ullve Must Abolisr- Privilege. It is pin in what fhlav principles must he We uiusl Mls.llsll everything thai henrs en tin- seiiililatice of -rivueg ol ot ant kind ot itrttBftOI Hih wtag an I put nor Imslnes. men and pro Jueery under the stimulation of a con stant necessity tu be efheieut, econow teal and enterpdsing. musters of com letltive supremacy, better workers uod merchants than any In tile world. Aside froui the duties laid upon arti cles which w do uut uud probably cannot produce, lliurefore. and tbe duties laid ukhi luxuries ami merely for the sake of the revenues they yield, the object or the tariff duties hence forth laid must be effectJva competi tion, the whetting ot American wlta bf contesi with the wits of tbe rest of tbe world It would be unwise to move toward this end headlong with reckless basta or with strokes that cut at the very roots or what bus grown up among os by long process and at our own in vita Hon It does not alter h thing to upset It and break It and deprive it of n chance to change, it destroys It We must make changes In our fiscal laws. In our tlscnl aystem, whose ob ject Is development a more free and wholesome development, not revolution or upset or confusion. We must build up trade, especially foreign trade. We ueed the outlet and the enlarged field of energy more than we ever did be fore. We must build up industry aa well mid must adopt freedom In tbe place of artificial stimulation ouly so far as It will build, not pull down, la dealing wltb tbe tariff tbe method by whlcb this may be done will be a mat ter of Judgment, exercised Item by Hem. To some not accustomed to the excitements aud responsibilities of greater freedom our methods may la some respects and at some points seem heroic, bat remedies may be heroic and yet be remedies. It la oar boai oess to make sure tbat they are genu Lne remedies. Our object Is clear. If our motive la above Just challenge and only au occasional error of Jadg ment la chargeable against ua we shall be fortunate Thorough, but Moderate. We are called upon to render the country a great service lu more mat ters than one. Our responsibility should be met, and oar methods should be thorough, as thorough as moderate and well considered, based upon tbe facta as they are, aud not worked out as if we were beginners. We are to deal wltb tbe facts of our own day, wltb tbe facts of no other, and to make laws whlcb aquare wltb those facta. It is best Indeed, It la oeceaanry tw begin with tbe tariff. I will urge noth ing upon you now at tbe opening at your session wbicb can obscure thai Brat object or divert oar energies from that clearly defined duty. At a later time I may take tbe liberty of calling your attention to reforms wbicb should press close upon tbe heels of tbe tariff changes, if not accompany tbem. of wblcb the chief la tbe reform of our banking and currency laws, bat Joef now I refrain. For the present I pot these matters on one side and think only of thle one thing of tbe cbangea lu our iacal system whl- b tuny beet servo to open once more tbe free cbau oels of prosperity to a great people whom we would serve to tbe utmost and throughout both rank nod Die. WOODROW WILSON Tbe White House. April S. 1013 1 INTEREST IN THE SESSION. For the First T me In Many Years Democrats Control. ICIeineuts In the extra session or coll Bless urv unusual President Wilson bus alled the great Ixslt tog. -tin i at a time when Ills pain nils absolute rtSMS trol of everv branch of t lie govern ineid idaiiug to ii-'jistat ion This has mil lawsM the ease lie lore tw twenty years Inning that perusl of long ago when the leliiocral were In powei President l lrel.inil rT) I kit an ' extra session, nut the miafitMMiS were really dllleient from How, The extra session under I're-iil.nt Wilson Is leiuarl-alile Pccnijsi- nn law i makers to a targe extent ait- men ol I . WUiperallveiy recent rise in pimui- ! m lire Herat! of l lie tail that Hie I Hum.' rath latrt) Is providing, u .-bangs' t from rterllUlntfl rule foi Ihr flisl time III sIMeeli veals gteal llilclisjt Is re.1 tertsl upon the doings of I iminea Virtually a new i -ner.il ion or legis lators ha -i ii.ii- up Wltb nut a very few exrei -Hons tbel'e are Ho men Who figiir.il mi congressional doings of tWeWtj .tears ago who are sharing the responsibilities ol the ImmI.v now Of on one thing has he public been absolutely t err iu. and that Is that tbe tariff u-niiil lie tirst ami roreuiost among the sulljss la tor work by the , legislators, uud that revision down ward ; Would be the pulM)se. The legislators themselves have not known Just uo the revision is lu be managed, and It bus been well Msalrraliawj that they would not all be pleased ovel all ; the details ot the UlttOMtO changes , Tbe subject has lieen thrashed over so often and earnestly that its intricacies have i -Nn- feared , Tbe ways and means committee. which has bad the task ot drafting tbe tentative form ot the new tariff fueas ore. has Uceu unable to uuuouuce com pletion of its work in advance of tbe extra session, but the probability la tbat the measure will Is? taken up schedule by schedule. Tbe public has been led to expect that after the tariff is dlsosed of con gress will consider currency, tbe in come tax, Philippine independence aud tbe Panama lolls questions Much publicity has been given to the proposed national income tax. The tax will probably apply only lo incomes t over fo.OUO annually. Certain members of congress hold that this sort of levy would tie confined to inn a compara tively small proportion ot the public aud that the revenue would not be suf ficient They iirgue thai an inheritance tax should be added to Insure the need ed revenue