Nebraska Newspapers

    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