A TERRIBLE TORNADO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17483, 29 May 1920, Page 2 (Supplement)

A TERRIBLE TORNADO.

DEVASTATION IN AMERICA.

WHOLE TOWNS WIPED OUT.

Death and wholesale ruin have been the harvest of two tornadoes which swept over eight American • states. Scores of people were killed, hundreds injured, and thousands robbed of their homes, while the damage is counted in millions. These tornadoes were the culmination of a series of storms which had been raging for a week across the United States. Whirling in a • huge cone-shaped cloud from the west, at a speed of 80 or 90 miles an hour, the northern visitation cut a wide zigzag swathe of ruin through the States of Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois. Apparently its fury was concentrated around Chicago. In its wild course it w;ped several villages oS the map. Solid brick and stone structures, such as churches and public buildings, were crushed into heaps of debris, and many fires were started.; Wooden dwellings were twisted from their' foundations and were turned upside down or whirled about like so many sheets of paper. In most cases the great wind came in a sudden darkness that shut out the sunlight, or else it was preceded by a torrent of rain. That great wind passed on as swiftly as it had come. For 40 miles around Chicago it left a belt of ruined suburbs, towns, and villages. Elgin City, which topographically is to Chicago what St. Albans is to London, suffered severely. There alone the damage was estimated at £1.000,000. A theatrical company was rehearsing when the theatre fell in on them, and two members were killed. In the First Presbyterian Church the minister had just concluded his sermon with the strangely prophetic exhortation to his congregation to bo prepared, " for they knew not when they should be called." His hearers, numbering 1000, were about to leave when the storm broke. Many worshippers remained to take shelter from the rain ; and 75 children were in the basement schoolroom, when the roof of the structure collapsed; but, as if miraculouslv, onlv three persons were killed. One family were seated at table in the dmingroom on the ground ffoor of their home when, in a twinkling, the house was lifted clean over their heads and whisked out of sight, leaving them exposed to the torrent of rain, but unhurt. Edgerton, Indiana, with a population Of 500 was virtually destroved, and in Wnio the towns of Swanton." Greenville, and liaabs Corners were razed. Soldiers l m , called out to guard the Melrose Bank, which had it* roof blown off, and their orders were to "shoot or kill" if any looting was attempted. . So far as is known the number of dead is as follows :-Ohio 26, Indiana 27, Michigan 9, Atalanta (Georgia) 78 La ST /ftW - 50 ' Alexander' City (Alabama) 11 Agrieola 5. West Point, Milner, and Madon, one each.