TORNADO TERROR

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1920, Page 4

TORNADO TERROR

WHOLE TOWNS BLOWN TO PIECES.

MINISTER'S WARNING BEFORE. THE STORM.

Death and wholesale ruin have been the harvest of two tornadoes which swept over eight American States. Scores of people will 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 00 miles an hour, tins northern visitation cut a wide zig-zag 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 wiped several villages off the mep. Solid brick and stone structures, such as churches and public buildings, were crushed into heaps of debris, and in any fires were started. Wooden build nigs were twisted from their foundations, and wero turned upside down or whirled about like so many sheets of paper. In most cases the great wind, came in a sudden darkness and 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 were rehearsing when the theatre fell ii on • them and two members were killed. In the First Presbyteriah Qhurcli, the Minister had just concluded his sermon with the strangely prophetic exhortation to his congregation to be prepared, “tor they knew not when they should be called.” His hearers, numbering 1,000, 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 miraculously, only three persons wore killed., One la. mily wore seated at table in the dining room on the ground floor of tlicir homo, when in a twinkling, the house was lift, ed clean over tliefr heads and whisked out of sight leaving them exposed to the rain but unhurt. Edgerton, Indiana, with a, population of 500, was virtually destroyed, and in Ohio' the. towns of Swanton, Greenville, and Raabs Corners were razed. Soldiers wore called out to guard the Melrose Bank, which had its roof blown off, and their orders were to “shoot to kill” it any looting was attempting. So far as is known the number of dead is as follows:—Ohio, 26; Indiana, 27; Michigan, 9; Atalaafca (Georgia), 78; La Grange, (Georgia), 50; Alexander City, (Alabama), 11; Agricola, 5; West Point, Milnes ,anfl Madon, one each.