Hundred Killed, Many Injured, Thousands Homeless
EXTRA The (Maha Daily Bee EXTRA
VOL. XLTI-NO. 240.
OMAHA, TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 25, lOUJ.-SLXTERN PAGES.
SINGLE COPY TWO CENTS.
AT SECTION OF OMAHA IS DEVASTATED BY TH
MOST DESTRUCTIVE STORM
IN STATE'S HISTORY
Slowly, but surely, tho people are having their eyes opened to the
tremendous extent of tho Incalculable damage wrought by the death-dealing
tornado that swept over Omaha early Sunday evening.
The number of known killed Is creeping up close to the 100 mark.
The severely Injured aro more than twice as numerous, and tho homeless
count into the thousands.
The blow came, as It were, In the twinkling of the eye, so swiftly, and
so deadly and destructive that Its victims did not know what had over
taken them.
Tho tornado came Just at dusk accompanied by a deafening din and
roar, collapsing houses llko card board, and tossing all sorts of objects
about, passing on so quickly that Its coming and going seemed to be simul
taneous. Darkness Quickly Follows Devastation.
After the tornado followed u deep darKness, and a dense downpour of
rain. Lights were out, traffic stoppodj telephone communication broken.
The stricken neighborhoods rushed to one another's relief, the im
prisoned were dug out of cellars In which they had taken refugo. Nearby
homes were turned Into hospitals, the entire medical staff of the commu
nity drafted for emergency work.
Conflagrations bursting out In the wake of the storm kept tho flro
department busy, and gave a lurid background to tho scene of devastation.
Autos and ambulances were called Into requisition, and with the
speedy cessation of the rain, although street cars were stopped, and street
lamps extinguished, thousands from all over the city poured forth as curl
5us spectators, tho procession to and fro continuing through the night.
Storm No Respector of Persons.
Only with tho breait of day, however, was tho terrible desolation fully
visible.
Tho tornado proved to be no respector of persons, and in no way dls-
criminated between poverty and wealth. It had lnvadod the hovel and
palace, tho dwelling of the wage worker, and the mansion of 1i!b employer.
Striking diagonally across tho city, It scooped up the UoIIowb and slopes,
and shaved off tho hill tops, whore tha houses Omaha was most proud of
had BtQotl. i
'IfTho chief loss of life Booms-to have been suffered at 'certain flp'olsf-f
around Foriy-Blxth'nd Leavtmworth, -at Fortieth-.nna'FarHaftlere a
crowd had taken refugo In a wrecked garage; in a crovdpd"novlng picture
show on N6rth Twenty-fourth street, in a north side pool hall filled with
negro visitors.
r Hair breadth escapes and personal narratives of' extraordinary exper
iences are so numerous that comparatively few of them can find their way
Into print.
Relief measures aro under way. Governor Morehead has called out
several companies of the militia and stand guard over the exposed properly.
A mass meeting of citizens, called by the mayor, has started a relief fund
and, organized for work, and tho state,, through the governor and legisla
ture, promises to extend a helping hand.
What Daylight View Disclosed.
Daylight only brought out stronger tho havoc last night's awful storm
had wrought.
The cloudy morning and tiie piercing wind from tho north seemed fit
ting accompaniments for the scene of wreck and ruin that spread for miles
through the best built residence section of the city, where householders
who had escaped with their- lives were trying to salve something of their
effects from the debris of what had been their Homes.
Tho worst reports of damage done to property were more than con
firmed by Inspection after day had come again. The path of the storm
center varied from two to six blocks wide, and along the way houses were
smashed to bits, torn to shreds, heaped In fantastical pllos or scattered wide
nd far, as if the demon of the air had spitefully tossed them about. Thon
he wonder was that any had escaped alive from the shattered homes.
Freaks of the storm are many; houses left unscathed whero all about Is
neaped up ruin; the traditional splinter driven through a tree Is to be
seen, while huge slivers driven Into the sides of houses are many; in one
place, the first story of a two-story building is torn out, while tho upper
story settled down on the foundation. Shade trees are brokon, uprooted,
scattered near and far. Trolley wires are down, and with them electrlo
light wires, telephoue cables, all twisted and snarled Into dangerous webs,
or left hanging in low festoons across the streets.
Path of the Storm Traced Out.
The first trace of tho storm In Omaha Is at Fifty-fourth and Center
streets. From there It traveled north, veering ellgliUy to the east, to
Leavenworth. Then it took a northeasterly course to Fortieth and Far
nara, sweeping Its way clear of everything. Still traveling a little east of
north, it covere da course from Fortieth east to Thirty-fourth, till Bemls
Park waB reached. Then It turned sharply to the east, and passed down
along Parker and Dlondo, to Twenty-fourth, where Its path Is about six
blocks wide. In this section tho damage 1b most complete. Tho diagonal
course of the twister across this part of the city wrecked a wider range
than in any other section. Finally, at about Fourteenth and Spencer, the
storm went over tho bluff, demolished the Missouri Pacific roundhouse,
leveled the big trestle work of the Illinois Central over Carter lake,
wrecked some buildings around the Rod and Gun club grounds, and disap
peared. The first serious damage dono In Omaha was suffered by Seals school,
which is unroofed, and partly destroyed; the last, apparently, was the
wrecking of the trestlework of the Illinois Central; between the two ex
tremes stretches a path some four and one-half niijea In extent, and from
two to six blocks In width, along which the damage Is practically total.
Story of Death Dealing Storm
that Struck Omaha Easter Sunday
The most appalling catastrophe la
all Omaha's history befell the city
Just before sunset on a beautiful
Easter day. Just berore 6 o'clock on
Sunday evening a tornado swooped
down on the city, coming from tha
southwest and tearing a path
through to the north and east from!
wo to three blocks wide and aboutl
four miles long.
From the best accounts that could
be obtained, the storm seems to have
first struck the city of Omaha b-r'c
of the Field club; from there It,
Estimate of Storm Damage
moved In a direction a little east of
north till it crossed Cuming street,
two miles north; then it veered
slightly more to the east, till Lake
street was reached at Twenty-fourth,
a mile further on; here it seemed to
separate, the more destructive part
moving east along Lake, Ohio, Maple
Locust and IMnney streets, till It
crossed the river, more than a mile1
away. )
Best Ketdrienco Section. I
This was through the best built
residence section of the city, I
The Tornado
V M I
ASSOCIATIONS PROTECTED S&jf1!
i , xovxi uiuuu BHrr-iHsra a w s a
inquiry at tne uirrerciu uuuninK aim urn l"irl"B laCnrEi 1 UWTZJ
I ..ni.fin frM 1(pIi Mip Information nW ; I1 - IfZl Kl11 "r11 1 Oil flsaVPR
that thev nro all amply protected by .
what are termed blanket tornado In-ur- W j r-M . . I ., BaflBSfefrM 77 1 1
ance policies The,,, are not for the pro- ULJlI
i tantinn re thn inrrnwiTH. nut ior inopc i -tr,MMM!f i p ti n I i 1 1 sM I - ' HtfcfltuiHD' if 1.1 i I
members who hnvo Invested money In the
I ,., ,v, 1--... I csaogtatadBfcj W WW Uim feR UrH:
many of tho borrowers are carrying H-HWKMi: fr -f lhfiO-nlf 1
policies for tornado louses on their re- fa'pzziYrMnfafF WfmP rrflr'i ."'- "V-r"'.
upectlve residences and In that way are fcj I SrU jrT l
fully protecaed against loss. The above iP H ' fj ajjjsB'SHSJlftllir j I I N
I soelatlons at the time nf the Hellnvne
tornado a few years ago and absolutely r'tjPTTBPTfty pirj f-TlTIJll T " JHl " 7 " "H
protects the members of the association FjijiL .jtfr-f ft""?! -IHF jrTjffy r f;r,"' mr '
against any loss of tholr saving or In- cdl ""jl 1,11111 111 1 R
vestments and will bo of assistance to the F jRlaPfl r j lF Vl ITXTjxiH' I : 1 3 : " 11 7
officers In rendering assistance to those PffKfhF -4 -- -Jf - -' QSl
borrowing members whose homes have lOBJ JLJLH rjf Q ,'-i-'i4 It. IT
tBaiaHMSTOTS' wm KI AT BERL,N
Lives Lost . . 140
Persons Injured . 240
Houses Demolished 350
ChurGhes Wrecked . 11
Schools Wrecked 8
Buildings Damaged . 1250
The List of the Dead
Otoe County Village is Practically
Wiped Out of Existence.
BUT THREE BUILDINGS STANDING
One of Thrxr I u Church with ihr
Hoof Torn Off It U Ileitis;
Ijmetl for it Hospital
Many Are Injured.
UAIIV ANITA, 3 years old, mlflrt-
IUR.
A. ,?. I'UCK, 4117 Fnrnam.
11KNMAMIN 1IAHNKS, brother of
D. J. Uarnea, druggist at Fortieth
and Dodge.
MllH. A. H. 1HI3U 2527 CasB
street.
MA1UIC HOOKKrt, 1414 North
Thirtieth street.
JUAN 1J..1UIOOKH, real estate
dcalor, Twenty-fourth and Lake.
INFANT SON of Morris Chrlston
Bon, FIfty-flth and Center.
IIAIUtY COOPKIl, Telophono lineman.
U. V. COI'LKY, 2620 North
Twenty-fourth.
MI18. CLIFF DANIKLS, Nine
teenth and Locust streets.
QhlVl MANIKL8, mall carrlor,
Nln.toenth hlld-LocuBt streets.
m8'."Il."IAVI8, 4428 Jackson. "
MftS. J)AV1S, Forty-fourth nnd
Howard.
(JICOIUJK J. DUNCAN, 4101 Far
nam street, advertising solicitor for
Tho Dee, dlod at Nicholas Senn Jjob
pltnl. V. W. DILIiON, proprietor of pool
hall, Twenty-fourth and Qrant.
FKKGUBON, 205 North Nine
teenth.
TWO DAUailTKlW of Cliff Dan
iels, aged 8 and 12 years.
D. Ii. FIELD, 3808 -Franklin, at
coronor's.
WILLIAM FISIIEU, Forty-sixth
and Marcy.
MIlS. 15. V. FITZGKRALD, 2701
North Twentieth.
MHS. F. O. OOI)KNOUII, 4703
Mason street.
IIKNJUI5TTA CilllKH, Twenty-
seventh and Durdotte.
J. O. HANSUN, 4C90 Mayborry
avenue, tracKman employed by
street car company.
MHS. J. O. HANSEN, 4C90 May
berry avenue.
MIL and MHS. HARDY of Cedar
Creek Valloy aro reported dead.
MISS HEINE and 81STEHS, Twen
tieth and Miami.
ANDREW HENRICKSON, Forty-
second and Harney.
flilln. i;iil,HN IIENSMAN, 1021
South Forty-sixth street.
HEN, found at 4600 Leaven
worth street.
MRS. VAN DAUEN.
MHS. HOAGE.
H. I. HAHNEB.
LARSON, man.
LLOYD GLOVER, colored, 2102
North Twenty-seventh street.
GEORGE HANSETT, colored,
Twenty-first and Grant streets.
"SUNNY" FORD, colored, Twenty
first and Grant streets.
T. E. JOHNSON, colored, Twenty
sixth and Seward streets.
BR0WNELL HALL ESCAPES;
NOT IN PATH OF THE STORM
Many Inqulrlog from out In the state
have been received regarding pupils at
Ilrownell Mall. The tornado wan not
even felt at the pchool, and the occu
pants knew nothlnir of the cutastropht
until afttr It wu over
Baby Blown Away
from Its Mother
is Still Missing
Mrs. W. W. Sherwood. 3CU California,
was In bed sick, when the storm struck
her home, the wreckatte of tho buildings
felt In upon her, causing serious Injuries,
from the effects ot which It Is doubtful
If she will recover. In the bud with her
was n babe a week old. When the
mother was dug from the wreckuge, the
child could not be found. It Is thought
that it was blown to another part of
tlu house ami killed The mother wus
taken to the .MttliuJUt hospital.
HEHLIN, Neb.. March 23. This village
wus practically wiped out of existence
by r. tornado which struck it at 6:30 Sun
day evening. Kight persons are known
to be deud nnd many aro Injured. Par
tial list of victims:
Dead :
MUNHV KOCH. WIFE, son . aged 16
and daughter aged 14.
lMlaHTI5R OF LOUIS THBDK.
SECTION FOItMAN, living In boxcar;
members of family Injured.
Injured:
Iritis Trede, Implement dealer.
Mm. Fred Meetzman, not expected to
lira.
All the business houses and nil dwell
ing houses In town except two, are
wrecked. Two churches were totally
wrecked and a third church had the roof
torn off. The damaged church Is being
used as a hospital.
The new school house and the bank are
among the buildings wrecked. The prop
erty loss will exceed a quarter of a mil
lion dollars.
llerlln Is n village of about 400 Inhabl-
" (.Continued on i'aso Two.J
JOHN DOYLE, Forty-eighth and
Mason streets.
MR. HANSON, Forty-eighth and
Mason streets.
MRS. HANSON, Forty-seventh and
Pacific streets.
JOHN RYAN.
MRS. 1 (J. GOODNOUGU, 4713
Mason streot.
MHS. ELLA JOHNSON, 2813
North Twentieth street.
NATHAN KRIN8KY, baker, 2308
North Twenty-fourth streot.
MRS. KHIN8KY. .
FIVE SMALL KRINSKY children
SOLOMON WARTZEL, baker,
2308 North Twenty-fourth street.
EMMA ROESING, 12 years of age,
Twenty-seventh and D streets, South
Omaha.
MISS JEPSON, Ferty-cighth nnd
Mason streets
MRS. FRANK DAVIE, 4110 Wll
Ham streot.
CHARLOTTE DAVIE, 4110 Wil
liam streot.
V. V. FITCH.
MRS. SAI1BR, Thirty-second and
Charles streets.
MARIE HANSON, 2723 IJlondo.
MHS. LAVIDGE, 3C9 South
Thirty-eighth streot.
LAVIDGE nOY, 2 years old.
MHS. DAVIS.
MRS. H. R. VANDEVAN, 3218
Charles street.
C. B. WI8SON, Thirty-second and
Hamilton.
MOOR K 1 1CW 10, 2522 Burdette.
H. V. FITZ, 2723 Pratt Btroot.
EMMA HOSING, 1321 North Twenty-ninth
street, South Omaha.
MHS. FRANK DAVEY, Forty
eighth and I'loreo street.
MRS. J. D. HOGG, 3411 Cuming
street.
MISS IIASS, sister of William
Hasa, a salesman for Paxton & Gal
lagher's. MRS. HOLM nnd BABY DAUGH
TER, Thlrty-olghth and Chicago.
MISS FREDA HULTING, 2633
Chicago, died after reaching Child
Saving Institute.
MARY HANSEN, 2723 Blondo.
FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGH
TER of Edward N. Jepsen, 1025
South Forty-eighth.
J1MPSON, workman, Missouri
Pacific roundhouse. Fifteenth and
Emmot.
AGED LADY, unidentified, now
at tho Wise Memorial hospital.
SMALL SHRUNKEN LADY,
rathor largo face, thin gray hair.
NELS LARSON, 522 North
Thirty-sixth street.
MR. PECK, at Burkett-Leslle's.
NATHAN KRINSKY, proprietor
of bakery, Twenty-fourth and Grant.
(Continued on Pago Two.)
Help for the Homeless
Omaha has suffered the most appalling calamity
in all its history. Hundreds of happy homes have
been demolished and thousands of citizens are, tem
porarily at least, in need of assistance. All sorts of
aid is solicited money, clothing, bedding, etc.
Bring or send your offering to The Bee business
office, and it will be taken care of to the end that
it will do the most good. Help is needed and must be
had promptly. Come on.
t