THE TORNADO

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 June 1924, Page 11

THE TORNADO

DEAD ESTIMATED AT 400. GREATEST STORM IN HISTORY

•AMERICAN STATES’ SEVERE EXPERIENCE. «#>

SY CABLE-rKESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received June 30, 10.55 a.m. NEW YORK, June 29. Northern Ohio is prostrate under the fury of the tornado. The latest estimate put the dead at 400, while 2000 were injured. It is feared that three lake steamers were caught in the storm. Reports indicate that the storm was the greatest in the country’s history.— Reuter. • "

Cleveland (Ohio) reports that a storm is sweeping the four West-Central ►States, and is concentrating with unparalleled fury upon northern Ohio, ivhere already more than- 300 people ■ue reported killed and at Meast 1500 injured, while property damage will probably reach millions. The city of Loraine seems to have suffered most acutely being, reported entirely demolished. A similar fate, it is feared, has befallen the neighbouring city of Sandusky. The storm completely destroyed communications throughout a wide area, making it impossible to learn which municipalities require help, ihe Red Cross, hampered by lack of communications, is conscripting the services of motors and trucks'" from business establishments for an attempt to traverse the highways, most of which have been washed out hv the fierce torrents Fire apparatus is likewise employed to carry supplies. One fire company succeeded, in reaching Loraine, u hence a frantic appeal for assistance was issued. It- is reported that .several hundred people. were injured when a theatre Vollapsed upon |he> helpless occupants. Meantime the high winds capsized the boats on the neighbourin' lakes and rivers.

Police, military and civilian, have been dispatched to assist the unfortunate survivors to gain a night’s shelter in tents, which have been specially Ivan sported to the devastated areas. The passing hours brillg graver reports, which aggravate the apprenhension felt throughout the country. One correspondent states that 200 people were killed in the collapse of the State theatre in Loraine and forty others were killed in other parts of the eitv.

Reports from various other sources place the dead as high as 500 in Tjoraine alone, while m Sandnskv it is believed that there are 25 killed. The entire water-front section ivqs either swept away nr wrecked. The pumping station was wrecked, and the city is unable to fight the fires which have started.