Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 42, Number 102, 12 March 1917 — Page 2

PAGE TWO

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM. MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1917

Heart-Rending , Incidents of Human Love and Sacrifice Mark New Castle Tragedy

MAYOR 00351

TO NEW

NS' OFFERS HELP

GASTLE HOMELESS

Mayor Yi'l Robbing at 2 o'clock this assistance would be needed in New m. rains said bo would seed a message Castle and that he would take steps to Mayor WaCcins of New Castle of- at once to mobilize relief forces in faring Lira sympathy and assistance Richmond.

from Richmond if it is needed. Mayor!

Rolbinj will send his offer to New Castle early Monday morning. Informed of th magnitude of the dLatter, ths raaycr said he bf-lieved

PENNSY SENDS LINE CREWS TO OPEN WAY

The Pennsylvania railroad quickly gathered crews and prepared a second special train to rush to New Castle. The firfst special train was sent out shortly after the first news reached Richmond. This train carried linemen ttlsgraph operators and repair men who opened a way to the Henry county city. With the telegraph lino restored, the Pennsylvania was the first to obtain an estimate of the number of dead and irjrred. Co-operating with the Pal- - ! in. the railroad officials gave out -jation .they had received. company did not send the secypucial. Its representatives at . , ;-.iv Castle informed the superintendent's office here that relief work was well in hand.

Richmond Folks See Furniture Tossed in Air

ROADS LITTLE DAMAGED

Roads between Richmond and New Castle were little damaged by the storm. Early this morning, dozens of automobiles bearing relatives of New Custle 'people and sight seers were sv.anning into the stricken city.

Here's the story of H. A. Mills, S03 North Eighth street, who, with his wife and little son, saw the tornado tear its way through New Castle Sunday afternoon at 3:15 o'clock. Mills with Mr. and Mrs. George Unthank, 309 North Eighth street, were In the Pennsylvania station waiting for train No. 21 G. "First we heard an awful roar. We rushed to the door and saw a perpendicular cloud, gray in color, moving from the west to the east over the city. "The air was filled with debris, doors were flying into the skies, boards, furniture, clothes, household utensils were to be seen everywhere. "We saw lumber flying 500 feet in the air. "Three houses burst into flames about six blocks south of the station. "Circle street, A and B avenues

were a mass of wreckage.

"I do not know how many persons were killed, but few could escape

with their lives in the district where the tornado struck its heaviest blows. "We boarded our train at '3:25

o'clock and ran out of the storm. One

mile south of Hagerstown, we saw where the storm had swept through Wayne county. I did not see what damase was done in this section of

the county."

Mother in Son's Arms When Bodies Are Dragged from Splintered Home

NEW CASTLE, Ind., March 12. One of the most pitiful incidents of the entire horible episode was brought to light when the bodies of Gray Davis and his mother, Mrs. John Davis, were dug from a pile of splinters which formerly had been four houses standing on the corner of Twenty-second street and Grand avenue. The arms of the mother were around her son's neck and her face was against his, holding him tightly to her. From .all evidences the mother had thrown her arms around her son's neck when the hurricane swept down upon them and all the fury of the assault which tore the house in shreds, could not tear them apart. Mr. Davis had been sick with pneumonia for the last week and his mother, Mrs. John R. Davis, of Mooroland, had come to this city to take care of him. They were found only after a large tree had been removed by the searching parties. The mat

tress on which the sick man had been lying, was turned over and they were found under it. Mrs. Gray Davis, wife of the dead man, disappeared directly after the cyclone, and nothing had been heard of her late last night. Orville Davis, son of the dead roan, was also killed during the catastrophe and was carried from the pile of ruins shortly before the remains of his father and grandmother were uncovered. A small daughter was also seriously injured, and her life is in doubt. ,

HOUSES

BY AT

RAZED

TORNADO ROSE CITY

Hear Furniture Tossed About As Wind Tears House Off Base

STORFvVS APPROACH SOUNDS LIKE SALVO FROM SATTERY OF BIG SIEGE GUNS; PEOPLE HUNT SAFETY IN CELLARS

- NEW CASTLE, Ind., March 12 The syclone approached New Castle from the west. As the funnel-shaped cloud swept upon thd doomed city the Inhabitants were warned of its approach by a terrifying uproar. Many persons hurried to their basements. The homes of others tumbled over i heir heads before they could find a place of safety. The 6torm took a southeasterly direction through New Castle and it was the south part of the city that bore the entire brunt of the storm. With a roar like the salvo of a battery of siege guns the hurricane struck the plant of the Indiana Rolling Mill company on the extreme southwest edge of the city, bowling it over like a child's playhouse. At the same time the greenhouses of the P. J. Lynch Floral company were completely demolibhed. The cyclone proceeded along Indiana avenue, one of the city's fashionable streets, scattering destruction in its wake. It then proceeded southeast to Maplewood avenue, then east on Lincoln street to Main street. Its direction was then southeast on Bundy ave., then hurdling back to Main street, , spreading

ruination to Fourteenth street. It

then went to A ave., completely de

stroying the Bently greenhouses as it proceeded. East on A avenue, the

cyclone traveled to Seventeenth street, thence southeast to A avenue In this neighborhood the M. M

Mintch drug store caught fire after

the building had been blown over and a very 6erious conflagration was

threatened for a time. The drug

store's ruins were completely burned From D avenue the storm traveled

east to Grand ave., bowling over, en-

route, the large south end school

house. It proceeded in a- southeast

ward direction along Grand ave. to the corporation limits. Practically all the persons killed were residents of Grand ave. Nearly every house on Lincoln ave. was blown down.

j The handsome residence of former

mayor George Barnard, situated on the highest point in the "city, was almost demolished. Tonight New Castle is without street lights and the work of searching the ruins for the dead and injured proceeds under the glare of lanterns.

Woman in Bathtub When Tornado Comes, Flees to the Basement

Several women of Richmond were able to get by the militia and enter New Castle last night. Upon their return they described in vivid language the havoc of the pillar of air that had smashed its way through the city. jl talked with a Mrs. Bradway," said one of the women. "Her home, on Fourteenth street, escaped the wrath of the storm, although the hous3 on either side were caved in by the wind. 1'Mrs. Bradway was in the bath room when she heard the roar of the aproaching storm. She and her family made a dash for the cellar. "Before they reacher the basement, the storm had swept through the city. Upon their return they found

LOCAL PHYSIGANS VOLUNTEER SERVICE

Scores or Richmond physicians called the Palladium over the telephone last night, offering to go to rfew Castle and help care for the injured. Inquiry by the Palladium elicited the information that Indianapolis and Muncie bad hurried to the stricken city and that a call would be sent to I he Richmond physicians if additional help were needed.

that the chimney had been torn off the house and that the garage had been moved two feet. "The storm played some funny antics. Some houses looked as if a giant had bitten a mouthful out of the roof. Others were smashed in as if a giant had planted two feet In them, crushing them as if they were made of paper. "A few houses directly in the path of the storm escaped. Not a window was broken."

GET INFORMATION THROUGH PALLADIUM

State Perfects Relief Board

,NEW CASLE, Ind., Mar. 12. Appeals for 8tato-wldo financial assistance wUI be made by a state, relief noramiseion which was appointed last li&ht consisting of; John V. Rogers, NTew Ca3tle. chairman; Will W. Goodrich, ' Winchester: Heilcrl S. M.id-

ley, irunctc.

The Palladium and the New Castle Courier have established an information bureau. Friends here .who wish information about friends and relatives in New Castle may call the Palladium. Word will be sent to the Courier which will try to find them.

Residents of New Castle who wish to get word to Richmond relatives will have an opportunity to do so through the Courier. Telegraph and telephone wires will be taxed to their limit tomorrow. If you cannot reach your relatives, call the Palladium which will try to find them for you.

Storm Exposes Tender Flowers

r

NEW CASTLE, Ind., Mar. 12.-Three cf the local greenhouses met with disaster when the cyclone swept the town. Thoy were the Lynch Green House in the west part of the city and the Bentley and Heller green houses in the south. The greenhouses were badly damaged. It Is feared that the exposure to the cold air during the night would kill all of the r'actii, in which ca&c

j the Iocs vould be much larger.

25TH STREET Walter Murray House, barn, garage. Damage $900. Thomas Thoman House. Damage ?250.

Frank Fletcher House and barn; damage $2,000. Fred Griff in House ; damage $750. A. J. Nail House and sheds destroyed; damage $1200. Everett Newby House and sheds totally destroyed; damage $2,700. Perry Dudley House, garage and Maxwell automobile destroyed; damage $3,000. Elva Burton House and sheds, total loss; damage $3,000. Antonio Stepnek House damaged; damage $1,000. Frank Lowry House and sheds, total loss; damage $2,500.

Albeit Walan House damaged; damage $900. Stephen Adani3 House totally destroyed; damage $2,200. GRAND AVE. EAST 21st ST. William Bell House and large barn, one horse damage $6,500. John Evans House damaged; damage $1,000. H. E. Brown House and killed horse; damage $1200. Mrs. Alice Utt House damaged; damage $500. - Henry Jeffrey House and sheds destroyed; damage $2,000. 18TH STREET J. I. Lyle House leveled; damage $2,500. William Feathergill House and sheds destroyed; damage $2,100. Wm. Minch House and tirug store; damage $15,000. Jesse Western House damaged, practically destroyed; damage $2000. Jack Rice House and sheds; damage $1,700. Fred Phelps House and out buildings destroyed; damage $1650. Charles Staub House partially destroyed; damage $1650. , Arthur Chappell Fouse and barn damaged; damage $1750. 17TH STREET George Deeter House and out buildings; damage $2,500. Joseph Getz House, and sheds destroyed; damage $2,700.

H. E. Griffin House destroyed; damage $1,200.

Frank Young House damaged; damage $900. Frank Waller House badly damaged; damage $1,800. Harry Murphy House damaged; damage $750. Charles Dnnlap House damaged; damage $750. Luther Williams House destroyed; damage $2,000. 22ND STREET Gray Davis Double house destroy

ed. Damage $3,000.

A. E. Hammerman House wiped off

foundation. Damage $2,000.

21ST STREET John Dunlap House destroyed.

Damage $2,000.

Luther Van Hoos Bungalow

destroyed. Damage $1,S00.

Frank Hayes House destroyed

with outbuildings. Damage $2,500.

S. E. Gray House destroyed. Dam

age $600.

Sam Smith House destroyed. Dam

age $1,700.

A. J. Rogers House destroyed.

Damage $1,500

Empty house destroyed 1019 21st street. Damage $2,000. House 1031 Twenty-first street Damage $250. D AVENUE South Building School. Damage $10,000. 20TH STREET Widow Harlow Boarding House. Damage $2,700. House belonging to D avenue grocery proprietor. Damage $2,000. Alvan Hultz House demolished. Damage $2,100. Asa Wiliamson Boarding house. Damage $2,800. 19TH STREET Roy Newman House swept from foundation. Damage $1,200. George Flynn House and sheds damaged. Damage $500. Ross Calland House totally destroyed. Damage $2,500.

Charles Duke, three miles east of New Castle on the Richmond pike who escaped the ravages of the hurricane teli3 the following story: "We saw it coming. It resembled a large funnel. The roar was like that of a freight train. It did not move fast. Ben Beall, the man for whom I work, and I were the only persons at home. We rushed to the cellar. Then came the crash. "Death seemed inevitable. The house was twisted from its foundation. We heard the furniture and stoves being tossed about above. Then came the horrifying crash which took the roof and top floor off. To make sure it was past, we waited several minutes, then forced our way out. "The once beautiful farm home was a total wreck. The dreadful cloud which swept a path two hundred yards wide had passed. The fence had been twisted up and tossed in a big

heap. Gigantic trees many years old, were lifted from the ground and carried several yards." Wind Digs Large Hole. The wind had dug a large hole in

the road in front of the dwelling. Hedge fence was torn roots and all from the ground. After passing the Beall home, the tornado did no more damage until it neared Hagerstown. It came toward the farm from the southwest and after passing swung around to the southeast. t On the way from New Castle to the Beall- farm the tornado did much damage andkilled dozens of head of vaFuable live stock. A half mile west of the Beall home, it struck two large barns on the farm of L N. Millikan, leveling them and killing instantly little Ernest Watterman, 6, who was helping his father do the evening work. The father, Asa Watterman, is a farm hand. His chest was crushed by falling timbers, but it is thought he will recover. Valuable Horses Slaughtered. Many valuable horses and cattle were imprisoned under fallen timbers and their pitiful moans caused farmers to work untiringly all night to relieve suffering. Several animals that were not already dead, had to be killed. It took fifteen minutes for the tornado to travel three miles. Clocks stopped by the storm in New Castle showed that it arrived there at 3:05 o'clock. Two clocks stopped at the Beall home, three miles east, at3:20. Twenty workmen working at the Indiana Rolling Mills when the storm struck, crawled into a large vault when they heard the roof of the building fall. The building was complete

ly demolished, but not a man was m-

Ljured. After the storm passed they

dug themselves out of tne debris.

Persons on the second floor of the

Colonial flat building saw the cloud descending and ran into the basement or into tha street in time to escape injury. Residents who ran into the streets held onto trees, hitch posts and all other solid objects.

LIST OF DEAD COMPILED AT ONE O'CLOCK

DEAD Everett Dunlap. Berniee Davie. Oris Davis. James Neilis. , Gray Davis. , Mrs. John Davis, Moogeland. Davis, 10 years. Earnest Waterman. Mrs. Archie Fletcher. Haler, girl, 12 years. Razer, boy. Mrs. Alice Williamson. 12-year-old son of Mrs. Alice Williamson. Miss Opal Williamson. Berniee Day. Ethel Day. June Day. Mrs. Mary E. Williams. Mrs. Vera Higgans.

MISSING William Davis. Mrs. Gray Davis. J. W. McLane and two sons. Elizabeth Day. Mrs. W. Newton. Everett Davis. William Lowery. INJURED Varley Dudley. Mrs. Varley Dudley. Russell McLane, serious Henry Jeffries, serious. Mrs. Charles Shelley, serious. Dorothy Shelley, serious. Harley Newton. Elizabeth Newton. Clarence Fletcher Peter Day, serious, Mrs. Peter Day, not expected to live. Ray Day. Carl Harrison, Newport, Ky. J. W. Lewis. Calvin Todd, seriouu. Archie Fletcher, serious. Mrs. George Sox.

Human Interest Items from the Debris Of Tornado-Ridden City of New Castle

When residents of New Castle heard a nnlnn likp th ran id aDDroach

of a vast fleet of aeroplanes with their

exnausts roaring, tney were warnea of the approach of the tornado and many saved their live3 by taking refuge in their basements. Paul Brown and George Barnard, both well known in Richmond, live on a high bluff overlooking New Castle. Their houses stand side by side. When the storm approached tie families of both were at home. The men were absent. The women and their children took refuge in their basements. Brown's palatial residence was swept off the bluff and into the valley below. Barnard's home was badly damaged but remained practically intact. Charles W. Mouch, son Edward, and several employes of the Indiana rolling mills, the first point struck by the storm, fled to the basement and locked themselves in a vau't underneath. Had they not reached the cellar when they did they would all have been killed as the mill was completely destroyed. Berniee, the little daughter of Cal. Lamb, was the only member of the

DIG SMALL GIRLS FROM DEBRIS HEAP LONG AFTER STORM

GAS EXPLOSION PUTS JOHNSTON IN THE HOSPITAL

Andy Johnston, believed to be about 45 years old, is in a critical" condition at Reid Memorial hospital from burns one the face and. hards received Sunday evening when an explosion, whose origin had not been ascertained late Sunday night, occurred in the regulating room of the jras plant of the Rtehmond Light, Heat and Power company.

CUSTOMER CAUGHT WHEN STORM HITS THE MINCH STORE

MOBILIZE WORKERS TO PUT OUT FIRES

ONLY SLIGHT WIND HITS FOUNTAIN CITY

FOUNTAIN CITY, Ind., March 12 Large hailstones fell here late yester. day afternoon between 3 and 4 o'clock while the tornado was sweeping the western part of the county. Only a slight wind accompanied the fall of hail which in some places, south of

town, is reported to have broken out;

Houston Msrlatt and his party after being turned back by blockaded roads near Dunreith were able to reach New Castle over another route Sunday night. "A thousand men mobilized in the plant of the Maxwell-Briscoe company were used as guards until the militia arrived," said Marlatt. "Many of these men were used to put out fires that started from furnaces and stoves, in the houses that had been wrecked by the storm." Guards prevented the party from reaching the scene of the worst havoc wrought by the storm.

NEW CASTLE, Ind March 12. Mrs. Clyde Nicholson, South Eighth street, was at the home of Mrs. Nordquest, the rest of the family being up town. Mrs. Nicholson is at present at the home of Ker mother, Mrs. Taylor, in the Jennings building, and is reported to be. seriously injured. Mrs.

Nordquest was also injured but not

seriously. The Minch drug store was com

pletely torn to pieces. At the time, there were but two persons in the

store, Mr. Minch and a customer.

Upon hearing the approach of the hurricane, both left the building. They had just reached the street when the wind struck the building and caused it

to collapse. The entire building and stock were destroyed.

The Minch home, one of the finest on South Eighteenth street, was also

destroyed, the rear part of the house being torn completely off. The ruins of both house and store took fire and it was some time before the fire departments were able to extinguish it.

NEW CASTLE, Ind., March 12 Berniee, age 9, and June, age 12. the two daughters of Peter Day, 1102 So. Twenty-second street, met death when their home collapsed before the fury of the hurricane. The father, mother, sister, age 16, and brother Ray age 12, are at present in a local hospital and their chances for recovery are regarded small. Perhaps the Day family was one of the most unfortunate of those involved in the cyclone. It looks as though the family had been exterminated. For hours after the cyclone had laid their home low the two younger sisters could not be feund. Finally, however, the body of the youngest sister was dug from the ruins. It was so mutilated that recognition was impossible and it was not until the father recognized a ring on the left hand that the body could be identified. It was some time later before the other dead sister was found. The third sister was found dead later. Carl Harrison, Newport, Ky., a mail clerk, was visiting here with J. W. Lewis, when the cyclone descended. The house was demolished, Mr. Harrison receiving a crushed shoulder.

family who was injured when they found refuge in the basement. The child was "struck by a falling board as she was being taken to the basement. The house was wrecked. One of the most spectacular features of the whole tragedy was the touching exhibition cf filial love shown by Joseph Getz, who rescued his' invalid mother frcm their home on South Seventeenth street, when the bouse ' was being twisted and splintered by the storm. Working men who had recently erected cozy little homes along Grand avenue, sufered heavily. This was swept on both sides, the storm sweeping up the center of the street and wrecking houses on either side. It was in this section that the death toll was the heaviest.

STREET CAR HITS DDGGY; TWO INJURED

Howard Mull and Harry Burgess, both of this city, were injured, Mull perhaps fatally, when the buggy in which they were riding on North E street collided with a street car at Thirteenth street, Sunday afternoon. Both were removed to Reid Memorial hospital. Mull is suffering with what physicians believe is a fractured skull while Burgess suffered a broken leg.

Two Bodies Put Under the Floor

RED GROSS OFFERS NEW CASTLE HELP

Clings to Tree and Saves Wife

NEW CASTLE. Ind., March 12 Superintendent E. W. Lawrence, of the city schools, his wife, and his daughter, Dorothy, were on South Twelfth street, not far from their home when the cyclone descended. Mr. Lawrence saved himself and wife by grabbing her in his arms and grasping a nearby tree. He was unable to get hold of his daughter and the hurricane picked lier up from the ground throwing her into the gutter and breaking her collar bone.

DIVIDE CANNING PLANT

window panes."

1

NEW CASTLE, Mar. 12. The tornado divided the New Castle Canning factory building into two distinct halves. A hole was torn through the structure about twelve inches thick and the wcrk was done as neatly as

i v. i'Ji a sav.

Richmond's newly-organized Red Cross chapter may have its first opportunity for real service as a result or the New Castle tornado. President Comstock said early this morning the Richmond chapter would respond to any call for help from New Castle and would offer its services early to today. He said he did not know what form of assistance the Richmond Red Crossers could render.

Goodrich Keeps Tab on Tragedy

NEW CASTLE, Mar. 12. Governor Goodrich through the night was kept informed of every detail concerning the relief work following the tornado which swept through here yesterday afternoon. It was reported by local newspaper men that "the governor is planning to visit the stricken city, today. .

PASTOR'S DAUGHTER SAFE AT NEW CASTLE

Houston Marlatt, Paul Jones and Harvey Pride, who composed a party that went to New Castle to ascertain the fate of Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Kayper, were unable to find them when they reached New Castle. Kauper represents the Starr Piano company in New Castle. His wife is

the daughter of the Rev. A. J. Feeger, I

for many years pastor of St. John's Lutheran church, this city. Harley Smith at New Castle late Sunday night was able to get a wire to L. M. Feeger, a brother of Mrs. Kauper, in which he said, "Sister and party safe." Feeger does not know Smith. Word of the safety of Mrs. Kauper was telephoned to the Rev. Mr. Feeger who in the meantime had been trying to get information out of New Castle regarding the fate of his daugh-

NEW CASTLE, Ind., March 12 The bodies of Mrs. Acie Williamson and her daughter, Opal, who at the time of the tornado were at their home on South Twentieth street, were found after much search under the floor of their home. At this place the Williamson home and house standing south of it were jammed together in one compact pile. How both the mother and daugh

ter's bodies came to be under the floor

is among the many mysteries of the horrible tragedy. A roomer. J. W.

j Lewis, who was with the two women

when the cyclone struck the hcu?e, through some means or other came out alive. -His ear was almost torn from his head but he staid at the scene of the disaster until the bodies of the women were located.

LEAVE FOR DISTRICT SWEPT BY STORM

ter.

Saloons to Close

NEW CASTLE, Ind. Mar. 12. Saloons will be, closed here all day today, while a state of martial law will practically be in force, the militia having complete charge of the situation. . T

EIGHTEEN

Continued from page One funnel-shaped whirling wind struck the city from the west, first demolishing the rolling mills. The tornado then crossed the Blue river valley and blazed its path of destruction and ruin along Sixth street and through Maplewocd one of the city's finest residence sections up A avenue and east along Grand avenue to Twenty-fifth street. The storm passed over the business section. Unconfirmed reports say that Millville, east of Newcastle, was practically wiped out and that several were killed. ALL COMMUNICATION CUT. When the extent of the storm first became apparent all wire communication was cut. The only line out of the city was to Muncie and this wire was working so intermitently that no information could be given out over it. Later it was possible to connect with the Pennsylvania operators in Richmond. It was some time before the telephone linemen were able to establish

comunication with Richmond.

As soon as lines were obtained to the Richmond offices of the Pennsyl

vania, negotiations were opened with Superintendent Stimson for a special relief train to bring medical assistance. At 9 o'clock the Richmond offices were still awaiting further information as to the extent of the need before dispatching the train. When the tornado struck the city, the entire population was apprised, of the fact by the roar of the wind and the deafening noise of the tearing and splintering timbers a the houses were twisted from their foundations and. carried sometimes as far as a block before they were hurled to the ground in a mass of splinters. The pheasant is a great enemy of the potato beetle. It will go out into the fields and consume a prodigious number of them. .

A large number of persons having relatives and friends in New Castle left for that city on the Pennsylvania train at 11:30 o'clock last night. It was not known when they left whether they would be permitted to enter the city, as martial law had been declared there. ' '

SHUT OFF GAS SUPPLY TO PREVENT BLAZES

NEW CASTLE, Mar. 12. Local newspapers were unable to put out extras concerning the great loss of life and property here yesterday afternoon' because the gas supply was shut off to guarantee safety from fire.

Safety First. At the first sign cf a cold take CASCARAgQUININE The old family remedy in tablet form-safe. sure, easy to take. No opiates no unpleasant after effects. Cures colds in 24 hours-Grip in 3 days. Money back if it fails. Get the genuine box with Red Top and Mx. Hill's picture on it 25 cent At Any Drag Stat

HOT TEA BREAKS A COLD-TRY THIS

Get a small package of Hamburg Breast Tea, or as the German folks call it, "Hamburger Brust Thee," at ' any pharmacy. Take a tablespoonful , of tbe tea, put a cup of boiling water , upon it, pour through a sieve and drink a teacup full at any time. It is the most effective way to break . a cold and cure grip, as it opens the pores, relieving congestion. Also loosens the bowels, thus breaking a -cold at once. It is inexpensive and entirely vege-, table, therefore harmless.

Every Niqhf For Constipation HeadaclieiKfesfionetc

n irzM.ti.rii4 U UU

Ul HDIR 9

S Sure