TORNADO SWEEPS OHIO.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 1 July 1924, Page 7

TORNADO SWEEPS OHIO.

Widespread Damage Reported.

UNPARALLELED FURY OF THE STORM.

By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. NEW YORK, June 29. Cleveland (Ohio) reports that the storm sweeping the four West Central States is concentrating with unparalleled fury upon northern Ohio, where already more than 300,people are reported killed and at least 1500 injured, while the property damage will probably reach millions. The city of Lorain seems to have suffered most acutely, being reported entirely demolished. A similar fate is feared to have befallen the neighbouring city of Sandusky. The storm completely destroyed communications throughout a wide area, making .it impossible to learn which, municipalties require help. WORK OF RESCUE. The 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 are washed out by fierce torrents, H - Fire apparatuses likewise\ employed to carry supplies. One fire company succeeded in reaching Lorain, whence a frantic appeal for assistance was issued. •It is reported that several hundred people were injured when a theatre collapsed upon the helpless occupants. - Meantime high winds capsized boats on the neighbouring lakes and rivers.. . Police; military and civilians have been despatched to assist the unfortunate survivors to gain a night’s shelter in tents, which have been specially transported to the ■* devastated area.

GRAVER NEWS RECEIVED: The passing hours - bring graver reports which aggravate the apprehension felt throughout the Country. One correspondent states !; that 200 ,• were killed in , the., collapse of the State theatre in Lorain. Forty others were killed in other parts of the city. 7 Reports froin various other sources place the dead as high as ’SOO in Lorain, while in Sandusky, it is believed that there are. 25 killed. The entire water front section was either swept away or wrecked. The pumping station was wrecked, and the city is unable to fight fires, which have started. PROSTRATE UNDER FURY. : Northern Ohio is * prostrate underi the fury of the tornado. The latest;, estimates put the dead at 400, while 2000 are injured, lit is,;feared that three lake steamers werecaught in the storm. , Reports indicate that the storm was the greatest in the country’s history. FRANTIC APPEALS FOR HELP. - A Cleveland message states that an officer of the Elyria Fire Department, which succeeded, in _ reaching - Lorain, which got the full force of the tornado, sent out a frantic, appeal for help. It is. reported that several hundred people were> injured, when a theatre collapsed, A motorist, who drove from Lorain; reported that East Lorain has been demolished,. and the city of Lorain swept away. A relief train was rushed to the scene. All commuffication wires are down, isolating Sandusky and othejj points. • ■ . ■ - - , .

MODIFIED CASUALTY FIST, HEAVY DAMAGE CAUSED. By Cable —Press Association —Copyright. Received 10.10 p.m„ June 30. J NEW YORK, June 29. A telegram ; from Cleveland says that a re-checking of the. casualties in Saturday’s tornado show . that probably there were 100 fatalities./ Lorain had 59 dead and 120 injured.' One hundred city blocks were demolished. ; . The damage is estimated at up- . wards of 30 million dollars. - The four-storey State rtheatre partly collapsed during a cinema performance, crushing many of the audience, in "Sandusky. Six were killed, and one hundred injured. The damage is two million dollars. The damage in the rural regions will probably aggregate 'SO million dollars. 'f Fears for the safety, of several steamers are unfounded", except a ! towing launch, which w<js crushed - against a barge. The crew of thirtyfive scrambled to safety. . :