March 28, 1925 undefined undefined More... undefined [Close] undefined [Close] undefined THE TRI-STATE TORNADO MISSOURI COUNTIES: REYNOLDS - IRON - MADISON - BOLLINGER - CAPE GIRARDEAU - PERRY ILLINOIS COUNTIES: JACKSON - WILLIAMSON - FRANKLIN - HAMILTON - WHITE INDIANA COUNTIES: POSEY - GIBSON - PIKE At About 1:01 PM on March 18, 1925, trees began to snap north-northwest of Ellington, Missouri, and for the next three and a half hours more people would die, more schools would be destroyed, more students and farm owners would be killed, and more deaths would occur in a single city than from any other tornado in U.S. history. Records would be set for speed, path length, and probably for other categories that can't be measured so far in the past. The tornado maintained an exact heading, N 69 degrees E, for 183 of the 219 miles, at an average 62mph, following a slight topographic ridge on which a series of mining towns were built. These towns were the main targets of the devastating winds. Between Gorham and Murphysboro, the forward speed was a record setting 73mph. No distinct funnel was visible through much of its path, yet for over 100 miles, the path width held uniformly at about three-quarters of a mile. After touching down 3 miles north-northwest of Ellington, Missouri, it killed a farmer. The funnel was very wide, a double tornado, or accompanied by downbursts as it enveloped Annapolis and a mining town called "Leadanna" 2 miles south of Annapolis. Two people were killed and 75 more were injured in that area. Losses in both towns totaled about $500,000. There were no injuries across most of Iron, and all of Madison Counties. The damage track was very wide; damage was F2 in intensity, and this may reflect a break in the tornado path, but with downburst damage connecting the tornado damage tracks, 5 miles south of Fredericktown. Only once more, near Princeton, Indiana, would there even be a minor hint that this event was a tornado or tornado/downburst family. Once out of the Ozark hills and onto the farmland of Bollinger and Perry Counties, the death toll quickly mounted near Lixville, Biehle, and Frohna. One child was killed in a rural wooden school, 5 miles North of Altenburg, Perry County. At least 32 children were injured in two Bollinger County schools. The event was probably a double tornado for three miles near Biehle. Eleven probably died in Missouri, although some lists have 13 deaths. In Illinois, the devastation was at its worst. At Gorham, 34 people died as virtually all of the town was destroyed. Over half of the town's population was either killed or injured. Seven of the deaths were at the school. At Murphysboro, there was the largest death toll, within a single city, in US history. The 234 deaths included at least 25 in three different schools. All of these schools were brick and stone structures, built with little or no reinforcement, and students were crushed under falling walls. Murphysboro losses totaled about $10,000,000. Another 69 people died in and near Desoto, and the 33 deaths at the school was the worst in US tornado history. Parrish was devastated, with 22 deaths, as was the northwest part of West Frankfort, with $800,000 damage. About 800 miners were 500 feet down in a mine when the tornado struck. They knew there had been a storm, but they had lost electrical power. The only way to get out, and find out how their families had fared, was to go up a narrow escapement. Most of the demolished homes were miner's cottages, and many of the 127 dead and 450 injured were women and children. Also unprecedented was the rural death toll of 65 in Hamilton and White County. There were single deaths in three different rural White County schools. The normally weatherwise farmers were apparently unaware of what was bearing down on them. With such a great forward speed, and appearing as a boiling mass of clouds rolling along, rather than a widely visible funnel, the tornado gave these people too little time to react. Massive amounts of dust and debris also served to obscure the storm. In Indiana, multiple funnels were occasionally visible, as the 3/4-mile-wide path of destruction continued with no letup. At least 71 people died in Indiana. The town of Griffin lost 150 homes, and children were killed on their way home from school. Two deaths were in a bus. Another stretch of rural devastation occurred between Griffin and Princeton, passing just northwest of Owensville. About 85 farms were devastated in that area. About half of Princeton was destroyed, and losses there totaled $1,800,000. The funnel dissipated about 10 miles northeast of Princeton. * DEATH COUNT IS MORE THAN EIGHT HUNDRED Chicago, IL: Late figures Show 2,916 Maimed; Murphysboro Death Toll Rises to 201. (Complete article not copied) The storm swept territory of the Ohio Valley continued the tragic task of burying its dead while relief workers completed bringing order out of chaos and plans for rehabilitation were advanced.... In towns where loss of life was heaviest community funerals were planned with burial in one long grave... Today aid continued to pour in for sufferers in the greatest tornado in America's history, which snuffed out more than 800 lives and injured 3,000 persons. A few isolated cases of looting came to light, but generally there was no disorder. At West Frankfort a man caught taking a ring from a woman's finger was slain by a police officer. Additions to the lists of dead left the figures at 809. The toll at Murphysboro rose to 201 with the finding of 11 additional bodies, and in other districts original estimates were reduced as final checks were made. The Red Cross at St. Louis issued an appeal for sightseers to remain away from the area as every available building is already taxed to capacity in caring for the injured and homeless. At DeSoto, while virtually wiped out, plans were made to bury thirty dead in one grave. Of this village of 500, fewer than 200 were left uninjured. Most of the casualties were among children, who perished when the school house was destroyed. Funeral at Parrish, Illinois, victims were held in adjacent towns as nearly all of the towns 250 inhabitants were killed or injured and the handful of survivors moved to homes of neighbors outside the tornado district. At Gorham 12 funerals were held yesterday. In the wilderness at Murphysboro, where 1,000 residences had stood, a search for additional bodies were continued. Of 700 injured, 300 are said to be in a serious condition. Parrish and Gorham, Illinois, and Griffin, Indiana were virtually annihilated. The present outlook is such that no effort will be made to rebuild the Illinois towns but State Senator SNEED rufuses to give up on DeSoto, saying, "My father is buried there." MATERIAL AID RUSHES INTO CARBONDALE Not copied verbatim... All sorts of aid was being rushed into Carbondale by train and truck, including food, money, clothing, shelter, medical assistance, and even caskets. Sanitation had became a big concern, especially as many had returned to whatever kind of a home that remained, and a supply of tetanus serum was brought in. Federal, State, Military, Red Cross and Civic organizations all helped. The First Methodist Church was turned into a Red Cross and relief headquarters and was stacked high with items. To help with medical aid, Chicago organizations offered half a million dollars. St. Louis had already raised over half of a $100,000 subscription fund to be turned over to the Red Cross. Gorham, IL TWENTY NINE GORHAM DEAD BURIED TODAY Gorham, IL: Twenty nine bodies remained here to be buried today, twenty-two were sent to St. Louis and an unknown number to Cairo, the record of Gorham's toll to last Wednesday's tornado. Fifteen to twenty persons are in a few of the homes which remained standing after the twister had passed. Such is the count of J.P. GLENN, acting city clerk, the only person here who has kept a tally of the death admidst the scene of devastation hardly expressed by that phase. Of the eighty houses originally in the village of more than 500 inhabitants, only twenty houses stand and not one of them escaped damage. GLENN indicated his belief that the original number, 67, fixed as the loss of life here was not an exaggeration. The basement of the school house was the only place left for a temporary morgue. The super-structure of the school building was entirely carried away, but the first floor was left to serve as a roof above the dead. Between Gorham and Murphysboro, eighteen miles to the east, the country side presents a scene of utter devastation. Visible from the road was the wreckage of more than a score of farm houses, barns and other buildings, and more than 50 farm homes and their complements seriously damaged. The tornado, as it twisted its angry way through the rural section, cut a swath from 200 yards to ½ mile wide in which no trees remained erect, and in which farm animals were strewn about. Farmers and their families were prodding the ruins of their homes for precious belongings. Death seemed not to have stepped heavily, however, despite the scenes of confusion left in the twister's wake. It seemed that the comparatively flimsy construction of the farm houses in itself provided salvation in that, easily swept away, they were not driven in on their occupants. The SCHOFIELD farm, a show place just outside Sandridge, was blown away flat. Eighteen box cars were wrecked in Gorham, and the Missouri Pacific railroad station was wrecked, Ernest SWARTZ, Cashier of the First National Bank, heard the approach of the tornado, grabbed the money and records and rushed into the vault. Just as he closed the door the building caved in. Only one $20 bill was lost. SWARTZ said that after the storm he picked up all the silver money he had been unable to clutch in his dash to safety. The day previous, SWARTZ had talked about a storm with his mother, and had told her that he would follow the course he did if one should approach. She warned him not to go into the vault, because of the possibility of his being killed by a poison gas protection devise. Today she said she was "tickled pink" because her son disregarded her advice. Fire did not follow the tornado as it did at Murphysboro, where it added to the horror of the situation. Only one house was burned here, but in it three persons were incinerated. The damage was estimated here at $150,000. A serious food shortage developed here today, although relief forthcoming immediately when the Red Cross shipped in a carload of food. "It took us twenty-five years to build this town to what it was" said Mr. GLENN, "and now in one instant it has been wiped out." Gorham's death list from the tornado includes two entire families, one of three members and the other made up of a mother and four grown children. The list as established by J.P. GLEN, the only man to keep even a partial list of the casualties, follows: ASBURY, Murray BARTON, Charles BEAN, R. BROWN, Margaret CASEY, Bertha CRAIN, Reuben and wife Ollie CRANE, sister of CRAIN CROSS, Della, Gerald DUNN, Joe Robert FONCREE, William GALE, Lawrence GORDON, Charles INCHCLIFF, Sally JOHNSON, Dick NEEDHAM, baby; NEEDHAM, Lafayette REEDER, Nancy and Gus ROSENBERGER, Opal STAMP, Frances THORMURE, George WHITE, Kitty MOSCHENROSE, Mrs. Mary; Louise; Edward and Andrew Twelve of Gorham's 65-70 victims were buried today The precise number of victims whose life was snuffed out by a whimsical fater probably will never be known for in the devastation and confusion, only one man kept a list and that admittedly incomplete. It showed 29 bodies here, 22 sent to St. Louis and an unknown number forwarded to Cairo, Illinois. Only about 15 injured persons remained here. The serious cases were sent to St. Louis and Cairo. Gorham, the first town hit in Illinois as the whirling fury leaped the Mississippi River, after its onslaught on Annapolis, Mo., suffered tremendously. Of its approximately 80 buildings, 60 were destroyed, and of the remaining 20, not one escaped unscathed. Gorham spurned all outside aid, although a food shortage threatened until the Red Cross sent a carload of food. "Gorham will fight its own battles," said B.B. EASLEY, chief storekeeper of the town. "There is a food shortage, but we can not let that get to the outside world. Benton Evening News - 21 March 1925 Issue TORNADO SURVIVORS TELL STORIES OF HORRORS Death List at Murphysboro Still Growing Murphysboro, IL. - Murphysboro's death increased again today when the recovery of bodies and deaths of injured brought the total to 180. Despite the growing death toll and predictions that it would be still further increased, the atmosphere changed suddenly from one surcharged with tension, fear and strict plodding to one of the fair equanimity. The change was manifested in the attitude of relief workers, national guard officers and the townspeople themselves who, accustomed after three days to the tangled wreckage which litters virtually the entire city and the veritable wilderness where 1,000 residences stood, joked over narrow escapes and freaks of the whimsical wind. Through it all, however, there was no let up to alleviate the sufferings of the approximate 700 injured, 300 of whom still were in a serious condition and the nearly 4000 homeless. Enough doctors and nurses were in the Murphysboro area to take care of the situation, desperate though it was, and the 108th Medical Regiment from Chicago was held at Carbondale today as there was no need for it here. There was no excess of relief supplies however, and a constant stream of victims, many of whom possessed nothing but the clothing on their backs with much of it in rags, passed through relief stations, obtaining at one place an order for necessary clothing and at another food tickets. Medicine, dressings, clothing and food was coming in by the car load but those directing the work of relief had no fear that quantities than needed would be available. Most of the debris was cleared from the main streets today, but many blocks remained so badly clogged with fallen poles, roofs, uprooted trees, twisted wires and the other litter that once had made beautiful residence districts divided by tree-lined streets that even foot passage was slow and tedious. The feared death list in rural communities hereabouts had failed to develop tonight but a few deaths are being reported from the territory surrounding Murphysboro. The path of the storm as it tore through the rural districts was no less severe than that recorded in the urban sections. Farm houses, barns, sheds, hay stacks, trees and growing crops were flattened but for some reason, possibly best explained by the comparatively flimsy structures, the frenzied wind failed to add deaths to its toll of destruction in any appreciable proportion. Scouts sent out from Murphysboro to review the rural condition reported some suffering but added only three deaths and since they were in the immediate vicinity of this city, they were attached to Murphysboro's list. LIGHTNING KILLS TORNADO SURVIVOR IN TENT Murphysboro, Ill, March 29...With the death of Mrs. Eliza Humphreys in a Murphysboro hospital Friday the tornado death toll here was increased to 215. Lightning Thursday killed Granville Whitelaw, who was living with his family in a tent on the site of where his home was destroyed by the storm last week. LIST OF MURPHYBORO DEAD Storm and fire - dead is 106 here on Thursday. More bodies are reaching the morgues hourly. Hundreds are injured, many seriously. DeSoto dead reported at 118. School collapsed, town flat. Gorham destroyed. Italian woman, four children Mrs. J.W. GIBSON J.W. MIFFLIN Frances HAMMER Unidentified woman at high school. Joe MOORE Loris MILLER David ELLIS Sam KEREENS Arthur DUNCAN John HAMERHELH and brother Ben. Mary DAVIS John SWAFFORD Frank BORONI Mrs. Ardell SPANGLER and child Mrs. Louis MILLER 3 unidentified children Robert PILTZ Luella PILTZ Tressie SCHMALLERBERGER Clara BAILEY Dr. L.R. WAYMAN's son 1 unidentified girl 3 dead in Tower Grove settlement August HASSEBROOK Helen BOWERMAN Alworth GREGORY Mrs. George BAKER John DeWITT E.J. BJIK BAKER's child HASSEBROCK's child 1 unidentified child Dorris STEVENSON Jerry CALLAHAN's child Albert CALLAHAN's child Ernie A. HINCHCLIFF Robert STEVENSON 1 unidentified girl Joe CORRENTI's child Helen May COOK (child) Colombus PEIRSON's child J.G. HARRIS Campbell LIPE H.S. COONTZ D.E. DARBY Dr. FORSHEE's son-in-law Mrs. Mary BRANDON 1 unidentified woman Mrs. George BERGER 1 unidentified man Mrs. Mart HALLIDAY S.M. HANEY, Meridian, Miss. J.A. JONES W.E. NEAL Ernest HARDWIG Ben McALLISTER Mrs. James FIELDING Son of James FIELDING Claud LIPE Jerry N. MIFFLIN - WILLIS, (child) Joe BARONI Albert NAUSLEY, son of Ray unidentified man Mrs. Wallace BLACKLOCK Ivan LIPE Bernard SHELEY Mrs. L.E. FILE Minnie BECK R.A. ORLAND E.C. HARRIS's boy Octavia TREMBLY Evelyn BOSTON Edna HAYS Child of Robert McCORD Mr. and Mrs. O.S. SILVEY - - - GREGORY Earl RUSSELL John J. BREWER 3 unidentified children William SPURLOZZIE Dolph ISOM, colored Mrs. JONES, colored Mrs. KELLY, colored 1 unidentified man Mary MAINARD Major VERBAL and wife 1 of STIVER's children 3 unidentified women - - - CLEMENTS Herbert LENNINGTON Mrs. Sam RODMAN Mrs. SLATER, colored Sister of Necie COFFER Joe HENRY Mrs. Anna LOY Charles LOY Thomas LOY Mrs. HALL DeSoto, IL GREAT GRAVE YAWNS FOR DESOTO DEAD DeSoto, IL: Large number of dead will be placed side by side in nearby cemetery. This desolate wreck of what until two days ago was a little village of 500 contented men, women and children, today is the scene of the last act of the prank of the elements, - the internment in DeSoto soil of all that is earthly of thirty of it's inhabitants. Besides the lonely piles of debris that once were homes, a great grave yawned today. Nearby in neat arrangement, guarded by a few sentinels, neighbors of those that watched, were the caskets of a score of the victims brought here throughout the afternoon by hurrying hearses which disgorged their burden only to return to nearby towns for others. Today the hearses bring more of the now silent neighbors back to their silent village. Then beside the great grave will gather about 200 DeSoto people, all that escaped uninjured of last Wednesday's tornado, and the caskets will be lowered one by one in the earth. The services themselves will be simple. A minister will say a prayer, there will be hymns, a short reading of scripture and another hymn and neighbors will replace the earth they removed today. The caskets, in varying sizes, are black or gray. In the large black ones are the fathers and mothers of DeSoto, in the smaller gray ones are the school children, some of the thirty killed in the collapse of the DeSoto school as screaming tots sought to escape the falling bricks. Two of the 69 known dead, 49 of which have now been identified, were buried today. They were a mother and daughter. Beside the large grave in the little DeSoto cemetery two other single graves will be opened. Sunday others of DeSoto's people will take their places in the little plot beside their neighbors, following the services. Tonight the little town was dark except for a few dim lights in half a dozen homes that almost miraculously escaped destruction, the flickering candles of those who have come back to try to recreate homes out of a mass of debris, and the lanterns of the sentinels maintaining their lonely vigil beside their silent neighbors. The list of known dead from Wednesday's tornado follows: Margaret NEAL Fay HYDE Ruth BROTHER, baby Ruby AUSTIN Alva HEEVLETT ____ ESPEY Mrs. S.O. SOUTH Mrs. SILB Mrs. POLSTON Francis MURRAY ___ BROWN Tina May BRYANT Joe BULLAR W.N. SHANKLE Frank WOODS Mrs. Arch WILL Nora WILL Millard BAKER John BARR Mrs. Barbara HALL _____ AUSTIN Mr. and Mrs. Frank REDD (REED?) Mrs. Morton BASH Mrs. WESTWOOD Helen WATTS Viola FORD Man Named OLIVER (name unclear) Eula MORRISON Mrs. Henry BULLARD Joseph HARTLEY Mrs. TEMPLE Electa BEASLEY Richard BEASLEY R.L. HYDE Mrs. ____ HUGHES George HUGHES and daughter George BULLAR John BUTCHER Son of Rev. STECESS _____ BAINBRIDGE, girl _____ DICKSON, girl Three unidentified women and one unidentified boy. West Frankfort, IL There are missing issues of the newspapers containing stories of the tornado of March 18th that took so many lives in southern Illinois, although on April 4th a condensed form was published. By the time the newspaper is again available in April some had even blamed the tornado on the fighting that was occurring in Williamson County. The Red Cross was trying to help survivors in need of groceries and other items. Free typhoid shots were being given to West Frankfort citizens by the public health department. For some reason, the county was stricken with rabid dogs shortly after the tornado. In May 1925 an article ran stating "Women and girls are asked to stay off the streets of Murphysboro by city and county officials due to men of all character swarming into the city since the tornado. These are men of characters such that they have no respect for women." Over 1200 homes were destroyed in Murphysboro in the tornado and at least 142 lives were lost in West Frankfort. The full fury of the storm broke over West Frankfort at 3:25 p.m. Although hundreds of extra copies of the paper were published each day during the time of the storm, the supply proved inadequate to meet the enormous demand. Hence this edition. Here is the story of the storm and its aftermath, re-written, in a condensed form to our readers who were unable to secure copies of the papers they desired. One hundred and thirty-nine persons dead and three hundred injured was the toll in human life in the worst storm to ever visit this section of the state, which spent its wrath upon West Frankfort shortly after 3 o'clock, Wednesday afternoon, March 18th. Hundreds of injured were cared for in the hospital at West Frankfort and at emergency first aid shelters in all parts of the city. Doctors, nurses and ambulances rushed here during the afternoon and evening from surrounding cities and aided in caring for the injured and dying. Three hundred homes were lying in ruins and rescue workers searching among the debris for victims of the storm. Improvised beds were set up in the hospital on the floors in the corridors, and in the bathrooms. Churches, lodge rooms and school houses were converted into emergency hospitals and still there was not ample facilities to care for the injured. The storm entered the city from the west at the Joiner School and swept a path about a mile wide, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Mine #1 at New Orient was damaged to the extent of several hundred thousand dollars. As rescue workers rushed into the stricken areas a few moments after the storm had passed, men, women and children were rushing frantically among the wrecked homes, pleading for some word of their loved ones. Many mangled, bleeding fathers and mothers asked for knowledge of the fate of their children, as they lay, moaning among the wreckage. Children ran screaming about the streets, calling for father and mother. One woman was found in the midst of a ruined home, with her five month old baby clutched to her breast. Mother and babe had died together. At Caldwell, Mine #18, the storm swept a path a half mile in width, leveling all the homes and everything in its course, level with the ground. At the south of the mine, where the storm seemed to have reached its height, more than a score of houses were completely demolished. From the fields north of the Orient mine, blackened figures of miners, engaged in probing the wreckage of the houses could be seen. A miner, still in his pit clothes, carried a pitiful, bloody little bundle which he held limp in his arms. It was five year old Leroy ROBERTS, who had been taken from the wreckage of his father's home, more dead than alive. He had no shoes, and his little stocking feeted seemed horribly still. There was no movement that could be discerned, but the man who carried him said that he was not dead. In the house lay Mr. and Mrs. ROBERTS, both terribly injured. The air was full of cries and screams, of those who were homeless, helpless and grief stricken, This reporter left the scene with the screams ringing in his ears. They are ringing there yet. One mother was lying in bed in a house, her breast torn open and a tiny infant crawling around her cold body, attempting to nurse. On a porch lay a woman, her head split wide open, her scalp laid back and hanging from the porch floor. Another woman was found with a stick driven through her head. Other had arms and legs twisted completely off. And so it went. A store and dwelling belonging to Ike KARNES of Caldwell were completely destroyed, killing KARNES' wife; Mrs. Charles CAMPBELL, a daughter of KARNES; and two children of Roscie KARNES, son of the elder KARNES, were killed and Charles CAMPBELL, a son-in-law, was seriously injured. The surface plant, engine room, boiler room and tipple of Mine #18 was completely destroyed. Railroad cars on the storage tracks near the mine and the miner's cars were hurled from the tracks and blown about as mere scraps of paper in a stiff breeze. There was an unusual stillness about West Frankfort the night following the storm, a silence that was symbolic of death that had so suddenly and surely visited so many homes here. It was a silence that was broken only by the clanging of an ambulance or the screaming of a siren as the huge van-like cars darted about the city streets with their freight of dead and dying. It was human freight that they bore, pieces of bleeding or of cold inanimate clay that only a few hours before had been joyous laughing humans, living and loving, concerned with the thousand and one petty details that go to make up life. But now they were of no consequence at all. Almost in the twinkling of an eye, it had all been changed. A black ugly-looking cloud, the herald of approaching death, a terrific wind that threw hailstones about, the crash of falling walls, screams, and then blackness, and for many, Eternity. And scarcely an hour later the warm sunshine streamed down as if in mockery on the wreckage of the victims. West Frankfort, IL DEATH LIST IN FRANKLIN COUNTY INCREASES TODAY Twenty-Seven Injured Persons Are Still in Benton Hospitals, Nearly Forty of the Dead in West Frankfort Were Small Children. The list of known dead in Franklin County was increased today with the death here of Frank GALLOWAY of Parrish, five members of whose family had previously died. Twenty-seven persons were still in hospitals here today. Chats with injured people brought to Benton from the Parrish storm area reveal stories of horror and pathos, some of them telling of miraculous escapes from the storm's wrath and bearing out all but unbelievable facts. The family of Everett PARKS residing a half-mile from Parrish is authority for one of these stories. Mrs. PARKS is receiving treatment in the Christian Church relief hospital here, and on the cot with her is her six months old babe, Imogene. The mother has a slight fracture in her skull and the baby's face is cut and bruised. Little Margaret, five years old, and her brother, D.C., aged four, are at the home of Benton people where they are being looked after and their minor injuries treated. The father yesterday afternoon was able to leave the relief station. Little Margaret, who is a guest at the home of the writer, earnestly tells of the things she saw. "The sky was dark, and the wind commenced blowing, oh so hard," she says. "We were scared and before we knew it we were blown away and our home was ruined. When I woke up Mother was holding me tight in her arms and we were way out in the field. A great big plank was on me and my dress was gone. A nail or something had torn my underwear. Daddy picked us up and we all went to Parrish and then they brought us over here on the train." The little girl's father says that he and his family were carried a quarter of a mile from their home. "I did not remember anything after the storm struck until I found myself holding a fence post a quarter of a mile from the house," PARKS said. "I happened to glance over my shoulder and saw my little boy in the air, only a few feet above the ground and coming directly toward me. I reached and was barely able to grasp him by the leg. I pulled him down to me and held him until the storm had passed. Then I picked up my other two babies and led my wife to Parrish a ½ miles away. We were picked up at Parrish and brought to Benton." Mary MELVIN, 17, is on a cot near Mrs. PARKS. Her mother and five brothers and sisters were with her in the home near Parrish when the storm struck. When asked what the family did to escape the storm, Miss MELVIN said, "We didn't do anything. We had no idea it was a s bad as it turned out to be. When the wind started to blow so hard, we tried to hold the windows and doors to keep them from being blown down. While we were at this the house was lifted up and carried away and we were dropped several hundred feet away from where our house stood. I came to myself and got up, but I don't remember anything from then on until I seemed to wake up sitting on the porch of a neighbor's home." Miss MELVIN suffered a broken collar bone and several injuries of a minor nature. Her father, Jim MELVIN, was away from home, and the only member of the family to escape injury. Dr. W.J. PARTINGTON, a physician and surgeon of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was driving through the country near Thompsonville, on his way to Paducha, Ky., when the storm struck. He arrived in Thompsonville just as the first relief train backed into that city from Parrish and asked for doctors and relief workers. Dr. PARTINGTON rushed to a Thompsonville drug store and commandeered all the surgical dressings and supplies available and boarded the train. Reaching Parrish he organized the first relief squad and started work of sending the injured ones to Benton. "We loaded fifteen people on the first train," he said, "and while they were being brought to Benton I helped pick up thirty other injured and dead. I gave first aid to the injured and did what I could for them until they could be brought to Benton." He has been in constant attendance on his adopted patients since they have been in the Christian Church relief hospital here. The family of Ed KARNES, living between West Frankfort and Plumfield, had gone through a cyclone that destroyed their home in 1912. When they saw Wednesday's storm coming, they realized what it meant and ran into a storm cellar. Mr. KARNES, peering though a window, saw the timbers flying through the air. He had sent a farm hand to the school a mile away after their little son, but when he saw the fierceness of the storm, he told Mrs. KARNES that he could not bear to stay there, knowing that his boy was probably in great danger. He made a dash for the cellar door but was held back by his wife. With her arms tight around her husbands neck she held him back until the storm had passed. After the storm they started to search for their son and found him along the road bathing the face of the farm hand who had been sent for him, and had been caught beneath his automobile when the wind blew it over and pinned him to the ground. The boy had been in the White School House, which was destroyed by the storm, but had escaped with only a few minor scratches. One of the most striking features of the tornado here was the large proportion of women and children killed. More than 1500 coal miners were at work beneath the surface in the devastated area and thus escaped injury or death. Nearly forty of the dead in West Frankfort were small children. One of the most heart-touching scenes was the long -(paper torn) morgue of little bodies from whom life had been snuffed out almost in the twinkling of an eye. Five children in the families of three KARNES brothers here were listed among the dead as well as two adults. In the Parrish neighborhood, Frank GALLOWAY lost his wife, a son, a daughter, a son-in-law, and a grandson. GALLOWAY himself received a broken leg and other injuries and was brought to Benton, where he lived until Saturday morning. His folks were buried at Thompsonville yesterday. West Frankfort and other storm stricken communities in Franklin County today went about the grim task of burying the bulk of their dead. Of the 163 known dead in the county, virtually all had been identified and funeral arrangements had been made. West Frankfort, IL MINE MEN TELL EXPERIENCES Wind Plays Freakish Pranks in Vicinity of Mine #18 Charles SINKS and John KNIGHT, weighmen at the Industrial Coal Company Mine #18, were on the tipple, eighty feet above the ground when the tornado struck. In an instant the wind had bent the tipple to the ground. KNIGHT was able to walk away and suffered only minor injuries. SINKS had both legs broken. More than 500 miners at #18 were 600 feet below the surface when the storm broke. Power was cut off from the cages and the men were forced to climb tiresomely to the surface while they conjectured as to what had happened. Jack BURBOGE was in the washhouse at #18 when it blew down. He was covered with brick and mortar which required half an hour to dig him out, but he was not seriously injured. Ten persons in a boarding house near the mine escaped with scratches although the 15 room building was flattened to the ground. The engineer at Orient Mine #2 crawled under the engine and held on or probably would have been killed when the surrounding buildings collapsed. George MEYER, a boss at the same mine, was at work while his wife and two children were in their home nearby. The roof was lifted off and all the furniture sucked up but the family escaped with minor injuries. Many escaped injury by seeking shelter in basements. Among these was Sam KNOWLEN (NOLEN?), township supervisor, who with his wife and twelve children, reached the basement just before their home collapsed. West Frankfort, IL LIST OF DEAD AT WEST FRANKFORT (Comparison of reported dead on 21 March 1925 issue of Benton Evening News, and reported dead in the 3 April 1925 issue of the West Frankfort Daily American) ***** ***** Published 21 March 1925 Published 4 April 1925, Benton Evening News, Benton, IL Daily American, West Frankfort, IL ***** ***** AYDEBTT, Sarah, W. 5th St. Mrs. Sarah AIDLOTT (AYDELOTT) Margaret ARNO BANES, Earl, 3 Earl BARNES Bertha May BARNES Mr. and Mrs. BAXANIC ** BAYS, Harvey Raymond BAYS BEAN, J.H. J.H. BEAN Mrs. Virgie BELL BIGGS, Fred Fred BIGGS BIGGS, Mrs. Fred Mrs. BIGGS BIGGS, Marguerite Marguerite BIGGS BLACK, John, 64 John BLACK George BOGANIE Dushanka BOZEWICH BROWN, son of Jesse, 1 BROWN, Francis, 29 Billie Jean BROWN BROWN, Jesse Frances, alias "Jessie" BROWN BROWN, Jesse (child) Jesse BROWN Jissut BROWN Wayne BROWN BROWN, Zukarkia BURBANKS,Euphama, wife of Fred. Mrs. Fred BURBANK BURNS, E.E., Fall City Chloe Emmett BURNS ** BURTON, Mrs. Ola Ola BURTON BURTON, baby Infant of Ola BURTON Mrs. Joe BUTLER Mrs. Joe BUTLER BUDTKA baby CAMPBELL, Charles, 18 Charles CAMPBELL CAMPBELL, Mrs. Charles * Mrs. Charles CAMPBELL (Daughter of Ike KARNES) Jeannette CAMPBELL Joe CAMPBELL Ruth CAMPBELL Virgil CAMPBELL L.J. CARLTON CHURCH child CHURCH child CLARK, Mrs. E.G. Mrs. E.G. CLARK CONNER, child ** CONTER, Wesley Joiner Asa CRAMER ** CUDY, Elizabeth, 60 Jeff DAVIS Mrs. Jeff DAVIS DEATON, Charles Charles DENTON DIXON, Flora Mrs. Flora DIXON DONER, Frank Frank DONNOR Mrs. Minnie DONNOR G.W. DOWNING DROBISH, John Mary ESTES FISHER, Mrs. Charles Mrs. Charles FISHER FOOTNEY, Helen, Belleville, Il. FORD, Mr. George FORD, Mrs. George FORD, Miss Lorriane Miss Loren FORD John FORD Mrs. Nora FORD GILBERT, Walter Walter GILBERT Marion GORDON Wesley GUNTER Jr. Mrs. Maggie HAMMONDS HANCOCK, Mr. HANCOCK, Andrew Andrew HANCOCK HAND, Laudean, 209 S. Douglas Loudean HAND HAND, Mrs. Joe, 209 S. Douglas Mrs. Nell HAND HICKS, C.I. C.I. HICKS HICKS, Mrs. C.L. Mrs. C.I. HICKS HICKS, Ruth, child Harry HILL Jacob HOLLAND Elizabeth HOWARD Gertrude HUNTER Anna Lou JOHNSON, Plumfield KARNES, Oscar, 4 KARNES, Roscoe, 6 " , Roscoe, 2 , Roscoe (baby) (may be a repeat of the one above) " , Larraine, 5 Lorene KARNES " , Lorriane (could be same as above) daughter of Tim KARNES KARNES, Ordell Ordel KARNES " , Randall Randall KARNES " , Mrs. Tim Mrs. Tim KARNES " , Mrs. Anna Anna KARNES Vivian KARNES Kenneth KARNES KELLEY, Mrs. Nann Nan KELLEY Justine KECHROIR LEBACH, Stanley LESTER, Mary LEWIS, Elmer* Elmer LEWIS Mrs. Stanley LOLOVIK Mrs. Franzisk MANCHURA J.A. MASON McCOWAN, James James McGOWAN Frank McLELLAN Mrs. Frances McKOTO Child of Morgan MUNDAY Cantrel Udel MUNDAY Morgan MUNDAY NEIBEL, Bessie Bessie NEIBEL NEIBEL, Hattie Hattie NEIBEL NORRIS, William William NORRIS ---- NOVOTNEY Mrs. John OAKS OGDON, Ida Ida OGDON OGDON, Walter Leroy, child Walter Leroy OGDON OGDON, Malcom Nola OLLER ORESLEY, Kenneth Anna OSTROSKI ---- OSTROSKI Ella OWSLEY ** R. OWSLEY PANOVICH, Amelia, (Mrs. Metz) of Belleville.. Mrs. Amelia PONOVICH Illinois PANOVICH, Steve PATTILLO-child of Luther PETTILLO Wilma PATTILLO Joe Joe PLESKOVICH Steve PLESCOVICH Homer POWELL Mrs. Violet POWELL, Vienna PRITCHETT, Frank, 25 ** Frank PRITCHETT Marshall RAMSEY, Jr. Frank RAZER (not certain) Infant of C.P. REED RENNLEY, Gladys T.C. RITINGS Infant of T.C. RITINGS Mrs. Cora ROBERTS * Josie/Joeie? ROBERTS * Leroy ROBERTS * ROMLEY, Geraldine Geraldine REMLEY Mrs. Marshall F. REMLEY RUSSELL, G.L. G.I. RUSSELL David Spencer SANDERS ** he did not die until May see obit SANDERS, Jane, 56 Mrs. Jane SANDERS ** SCOTT, Dollie Stella SCOTT Anthony SHEMANSKY SHOPENSKY, Mrs. Mrs. Maggie SHOPINSKY M.E. SILKWOOD SMITH, Mrs. Walter Mrs. Walter SMITH Andy SOLCATCH Fred SOWERBY Fred SOWERBY Elijah STAGNER Fred STAGNER Jr. Tommy STAGNER Clarence SULLIVAN SULLIVAN, dau of J.A. SULLIVAN, 1 1/2 Ben SUMMERS Lula SUMMERS Mrs. Fred TAYLOR Geraldine TAYLOR Harold Leigh THOMAS Girl at TITSWORTH home. WAMPLER, Bonnie, child of Bonnie WAMPLER C.R. WAMPLER. 611 S. Logan St. WAMPLER, Dorie, wife of Mrs. Ralph WAMPLER C.R. WAMPLER, 611 S. Logan St. WATSON, Joe Joe WATSON WATSON, Pearl, child Pearl WATSON WATSON, Pearl (this may be a repeat) Nora Edith WHITTINGTON WILLIAMS, Elbert, Ohio Valley WILLIAMS, Mrs. James Mrs. James WILLIAMS Tekla ZISKONSKI Brown ZUKOSKIA Man, 36, unidentified Unidentified man Lady, 39, unidentified Unidentified woman Man, 38, unidentified Unidentified man Lady, 55, unidentified Unknown woman Boy, 16, unidentified Man, 34, " Woman, 35 " Woman, 38 " Man, 47, " Man, 35 " Woman, 60, " Man, 32 " Lady, 35 " Lady, 65 " One small unidentified child THOSE INJURED IN THE STORM ARINO, Margaret BLACKBIM (BLACKBURN), Jacob BROWN, Joe BROWNING, Joseph CAMPBELL, Mrs.; Mrs. Margaret CHANCE, Lulu and Anna M.. CLARK, E.C. CLAYTON, Ellen and J.M. COBERT, Nettie and Messett COOPER, John CROW, Clarence CULPEPPER, Roy CUMMINGS, Ed DIXON, Fred DOSHO, Mary EUDACK, Albert FISHER, Charles FISTERN, A.M. FORD, Mary (released); G.W. (died) GARDNER, John S. GIBSON, Ilene and Helen GILBERT, Bagret and Francis GORDON, William GREGORY, Marie GUNTER, Herbert HILL, Claude and Mary HUDACK, Mary - Mary HUDDOCKS HUDOCH, Albert HUGHES, Mike and wife HUNTER, Gertrude and Violet JACOBS, Mrs. KARNES, Fred KELLER, Ella KIRKPATRICK, baby KOCHEVAR, Helen LACAN, John LAKANO, Tony LAKOSH, Rosie LEKSHA, Mrs. Tony (see LAKANO) LEVI, Mike LEWIS, Mrs. Elmer and daughter; Elmer LITTLE, Mrs. James MARTIN, Mrs. David and 2 children McCABE, Leone McCLELLAN, Mrs. Frank MATHERS, George MITCHELL, Lucy and Gladys MUZZARELL, Tony NOLAN, Dora NORRIS, Fred NUGENT, R.C. OAKES, Mrs. Martha OLEAR, John OWSLEY, Arthur and Etta PATILLO, Ruth PATTERSON, Mrs. R.P. PAVELICH, Jacob PANOVICH, John PLESKOSH, Rosa POVOSICH, Anna PRITCHETT, Mrs. Frank QUICK, Abe RAINEY, Nancy REED, Arthur Marion REJZAR, Tony - Tony REZZAR SALTZ, Mrs. SANDERS, D.S.; Mrs. L.C. SCHIL, Mrs. SHIPP, Mandy SIKIE, Augusta SINKS, Frank SNOWDEN, Mrs. SMITH, Mrs. W.F. SPIRES, Joseph STAGNER, Eliza; Sylvia and 2 children; SULLIVAN, Leroy and Ann and Gladys THOMAS, Loretta TURNER, Mrs. Ralph and 2 children WALL, Mrs. Eloise; Mrs. Ed WATSON, A.C. - mother at Cocoa, Florida.; Mrs. A.G. WHITE, Raymond - 308 S. Emma WILLIAMS, Flora WILLIS, Henry - (Chicago) Two unknown girls Three small boys Unknown child Unknown Two babies (Jess Brown dead) Franklin County, IL TRI-STATE TORNADO OBITS & TIDBITS 03 Apr 1925 - (she died the day of the storm but could have been from some other cause) Annie, daughter of James and Parthena SMITH, was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee 22 June 1853; died 25 March 1925. She was married to James DORRIS 13 January 1870. The happiness of this home was added to by the coming of ten children, five boys and five girls. Five of the children are now deceased, those living are: Mrs. Annie WALLACE, Mrs. Scott WILLIAMS, and Mrs. Elmer GRAY of West Frankfort; Jimmie DORRIS of Ulin, Illinois; and Everett DORRIS of Thompsonville, Illinois. In addition to her children, she leaves 30 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. Her husband, James DORRIS, had been a deacon of the County Line Baptist Church for a number of years prior to his death. ***** 04 Apr 1925 - While two daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer LEWIS, aged 10 and 12, went sorrowfully about preparing for the funeral of their father, Elmer LEWIS, who was killed in the tornado, a sister, five years old was lying critically injured in a hospital and the mother of the children was also in critical condition. Mrs. LEWIS was seriously injured in the storm. She is soon to become a mother. NOTE: On 8 April the paper reported that a 7½ pound girl was born to Mrs. LEWIS. ****** A store and dwelling belonging to Ike KARNES of Caldwell were completely destroyed, killing KARNES' wife; Mrs. Charles CAMPBELL, a daughter of KARNES; and two children of Roscie KARNES, son of the elder KARNES, were killed and Charles CAMPBELL, a son-in-law, was seriously injured. ***** 06 Apr 1925 - Chloe Emmett BURNS, son of W.J. and Nancy TRIPP BURNS, was born 24 Oct. 1894 near Goreville, Illinois; was killed in the tornado 18 March 1925, at the Round House in West Frankfort, Illinois where he had been an employee for the past ten years. He was a veteran of the World War. He married Miss Lillie EASON of Marion, Illinois 29 August 1921. To them was born one son, Paul Emmett BURNS. ***** 0 7Apr 1925 - Mrs. Ella OWSLEY, 27, wife of Arthur OWSLEY, died yesterday from injuries received in the tornado. Burial will take place at the Denning Cemetery. ***** Mrs. Ira LAWRENCE of Dowell was in West Frankfort today seeking information about her husband who came to this city several days ago in search of employment, She fears he may have been killed in the tornado. Anyone having information is requested to write to her at DuQuoin, R.F.D. 1, Box 89. ***** 11 Apr 1925 - NOTICE: F.D. COLLINS of Chicago requests information: "Friends of Pete DeLANOS and family, residents of Bear River, are fearful that they may have perished in the tornado which swept Southern Illinois two weeks ago. They left Routt County about a week before Christmas, going to Frankfort Heights, and are believed to have been there at the time of the tornado. Miss Violet MORRIS, daughter of Mrs. DeLANOS, was the fiancee of Bruce "Shorty" ROBERTS, who is now employed on the construction of the state highway between Elk River and Milner and he had been receiving letters from her in nearly every mail. Since the tornado he has received nothing, in spite of the letters and telegrams he has sent. He greatly fears Miss MORRIS was among the victims." ***** Seven additional children are being cared for at the DuQuoin Orphan's Home: Densanka BAXANIC, of West Frankfort, whose father and mother were killed in the tornado. ***** Stella and Joe GARLAND of West Frankfort, whose remaining parent, their mother, was a tornado victim. ***** 18 May 1925 - Another death is attributed to the tornado with the death of David Spencer SANDERS, 60, who died at the Union Hospital late Saturday, 16th., of injuries received during the storm. His wife, Mrs. Jannie SANDERS was killed by the tornado. At the time of her death she was 60y 6m 10d. Burial will take place at the Denning Cemetery today. He was the father of Halcie SANDERS whose home, the Green River Poultry Farm, was destroyed by the tornado. David was the son of Luke R. and Elizabeth SANDERS and was born in Williamson County, Illinois 15 Dec. 1863. He was first married to Mollie WAGONER and to them was born one child, the mother dying when the child was about one week old, the child living to be about eight months old. He was later married to Jannie BOLEN, daughter of Larkin BOLEN of near West Frankfort. To them were born two children, Halcie of West Frankfort and Rome SANDERS of near Benton. He is also survived by two brothers, Otis SANDERS of near Marion and R.H. SANDERS of Arkansas, Agnes MOAKE of Marion, Jane SANDERS of Marion, Susan SANDERS of Herrin. (Relationship of Agnes, Jane and Susan not stated). Written by W.T. SANDERS, a nephew. (Combined with obit carried 20 May 1925) ***** 29 May 1925 - Mrs. Ruby CONNOR vs. Dwight CONNOR, married 31 July 1914. A child whose custody she sued for was killed in the tornado. Another child had also died. ***** 06 Jun 1925 - Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Andrew GINESAY will please communicate with Hon. J.S. SCHEFEBEEK, Royal Hungarian Consul, S. Dearborn St., Chicago, Il., who has inquiry from his relatives making anxious inquiry concerning his condition since the tornado. ***** 02 Jul 1925 - Mrs. Ben LeMASTER of Orient underwent an operation yesterday. She was injured in the tornado of March 18th. A large piece of wood was hurled through her arm when the storm struck and yesterday's operation was for the removal of granulations from this wound. Mrs. LeMASTER, who was driving a taxi from Orient to West Frankfort had with her in the car at the time, Asa CRAMER, who died as a result of his injuries. ***** 07 Jul 1925 - The father of three sons, D. SMITH, of the state of Washington, was in West Frankfort last week in an effort to locate Harry, Emmett and Hugh SMITH, all of whom had been reported to him as having located in West Frankfort or immediate vicinity. He has yet not been able to find any trace of them. The missing boys are all reported to be of middle age and the father is fearful they may have met death in the recent tornado. ***** 13 Jul 1925 - Halcie SANDERS, proprietor of the Green River Poultry Farm, which was completely destroyed in the tornado of March, has bought an 85 acre farm near Vienna in Johnston County and will leave with his family this week to take charge of the place. In addition to losing his farm here, he also lost his parents and his wife sustained injuries from which she has not fully recovered. ***** 27 Jul 1925 - Edna Georgina, six month old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph CAMPBELL, died Saturday afternoon, July 25th, of typhoid fever. The Campbell's lost three children in the tornado of March 18th and the little one who died Saturday was carried almost half a mile by the destructive winds, when the Campbell home was laid in ruins. The child recovered from injuries received at that time. Her body was taken to the Herrin City Cemetery for burial. (Obit carried July 28th states she is survived by her parents and two sisters, Minnie and Margaret. One brother and two sisters were killed in the tornado while Edna was blown 400 feet and was so injured that her little body was not strong enough to recover from the injury.) ***** 02 Jan 1926 - Gervia B. BURGESS of Johnston City, died unexpectedly last night. His death was attributed to injuries sustained during the tornado on last March 18th. He was at that time employed at Mine #15 and while on his way home had just reached the Public Well about two miles west of town when the storm struck. He was driving a car but was blown from the machine and against a garage building. The car was completely destroyed. Mr. BURGESS held on to the garage building until it also gave away, some of the timbers falling on him. The morning after the tornado one of his shoes was found several hundred yards east of where the building was. He was a son of the late Dr. BURGESS of Johnston City and was 44 years old. Deceased was a son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis HORRELL of Frankfort Heights, he having married their oldest daughter, Bertha HORRELL, more than twenty years ago. She survives along with four children. Burial will take place at the Tower Heights Cemetery. (Combined with article carried 3 January 1926) ***** 12 Feb 1926 - Zona Fay MOORE PRITCHETT, now a resident of Benton, will run in the Democratic primary for County Clerk. Her husband was killed in the tornado of March 18th, 1925 while they lived at West Frankfort. She comes from pioneer stock of strong Democratic tendencies, being a daughter of George B. MOORE, who has served the City of Benton two terms as Police Magistrate and is now serving as Justice of the Peace. Her ancestors were one of the oldest families in Franklin Co. Zona was born in Frankfort Township, Crawford's Prairie in 1893. She attended Southern Illinois University Normal at Carbondale. She taught school for six years and married Frank PRITCHETT in 1915. Since the death of her husband she has lived with her father, with her three small children who were spared. She is a niece of the late Capt. J.M. JOPLIN, who was the last Democratic County Clerk. ***** 05 Aug 1926 - Leonard GUNTER, 23, of West Frankfort, and Miss Cloe CREMEENS, 19, of Akin, Illinois, were married yesterday. He is the son of the late Charles GUNTER who was killed in the tornado, 18 March 1925, at his home here. ***** The (school) report card of Guy ESTES, son of Charles ESTES of Caldwell, Franklin Co., Il., which was carried from Caldwell to Bicknell, Indiana by the recent devastating storm, was returned. His teacher was J.R. NEAL. Guy was slightly injured in the storm as were two other children, when the tornado swept over Mine #18. ESTES' wife was fatally injured and died about 8p.m. on the night of the storm. ESTES received cuts and bruises when the tornado caught the mine tipple on which he was working and leveled it with he ground. ***** JOHN C. SWOFFORD NOT STORM VICTIM Reports were current in Benton yesterday that John C. SWOFFORD of Carbondale, son of Mrs. Emma SWOFFORD of this city, was among the dead at Murphysboro. The dead man is another John SWOFFORD. ***** Sheriff Henry DORRIS issued a warning at noon today that visitors and spectators will not be permitted to visit stricken territories of the county tomorrow. ***** 20 March 1925 Daily American (West Frankfort) A live baby was found near Dahlgren in Hamilton County, Illinois, forty miles from home from which it was snatched during the devastating cyclone on Tuesday. It is said the baby was found by a farmer in his field about an hour after the storm had passed. The little one was taken to the farmer's home where nourishment and careful attention will preserve the life of the little one. The child had on no clothes and had no scratches on it's body. It is about three months of age. ***** A little girl named REED is reported missing. She is two months old, has brown hair and blue eyes. ***** Mrs. Leonard BRIDGES, one of the storm victims, was not rescued until late last night when she was found lying wounded near their home three and a half miles west of this city. ***** An unclaimed baby girl, fifteen months old, is in a serious condition at the City Hall. She is suffering from serious burns and the doctors hold out little hope for her recovery. No one has called to claim the child. ***** The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. C.L. HICKS and seven month old daughter, Ruth, and Mrs. Flora DIXON, mother of Mrs. HICKS, victims of the tornado, were taken to Benton today where their funerals will be held tomorrow with burial at the Oddfellows cemetery there. ***** The funeral of Mr. and Mrs. George W. FORD and daughter, Norine, aged 4, and Mrs. Nancy KELLY, aunt of Mrs. FORD, will be held tomorrow at 11 am. from the Northern Baptist Church, where the bodies are now lying in state. Burial will be at Carbondale. ***** The funeral of Mrs. Oscar WHITTINGTON will be held tomorrow at the First Methodist Church with burial at the Benton Cemetery. ***** The funeral of Mrs. Mahala STARNES will be held tomorrow from the residence of Frank GOLDMAN at 307 E. Clark St. Burial will be at the Benton Cemetery. Mrs. STARNES leaves four children: Mrs. Mary MARTINDALE of E. St. Louis; James STARNES of Illma, Mo.; and Fred and John STARNES of West Frankfort. ***** A brother of John ISAACS reported that a team of horses is at his brother's farm about two miles north of West Frankfort. The team is that which an unidentified negro had when he was killed late Wednesday. The negro was riding one horse and leading the other when his horse became frightened and slipped, throwing its rider from his back directly into the path of an oncoming car driven by Felix DILLON. Mr. DILLON had learned of the tornado while in Benton and was returning to West Frankfort. ***** The funeral of Frank PRITCHETT, who was killed instantly in the tornado, will be held in the First Baptist Church Saturday with burial at the IOOF Cemetery in Benton. ***** The children of St. John's school have undertaken to furnish 500 sandwiches for the hungry sufferers and workers by 5 o'clock tonight. ***** Edward Joicey of Smith St. Injured in Cyclone During the tornado Wednesday afternoon, Edward JOICEY of Smith St., Benton, who is an employee of Mine #18 in West Frankfort, was severely injured. After coming out of the mine and entering the washhouse, at that time, him and some other men were completely covered by the wreck of the wash house. Mr. JOICEY saw two small children who had entered the entrance of the building (for supposed safety) and were caught in the path of the wreckage, he tried to reach these children but his injuries would not allow him to do so and after being released from the debris, was taken to Frankfort Hospital and later was brought to Benton in a friend's car. Mr. JOICEY is hurt internally and several ribs are crushed. ***** David Spencer SANDERS, 60 - although he is listed in the April report, he didn't die till later unless this was a son which is doubtful. ***** three children of Mr and Mrs. Joe Campbell ***** Gervia B. BURGESS Charles Gunter Frank GALLOWAY. 21 March 1925, Benton Evening News LIST OF DEAD AT PARRISH AND VICINITY BRADEN, Wilma, 5 BRADEN, Martha BRADEN, Robert CAMPBELL, Mrs. Joe, 52, m/o Martha BRADEN CLEM, Mrs. Gertie CUNNINGHAM, Billie, 3 CUNNINGHAM, Mrs. Hannah C. DOWNS, Andy HICKS, Columbus and daughter-in-law FLANNIGAN, Sam FLANNIGAN, Mrs. Arlie GALLOWAY, Royal Eugene, 14 GALLOWAY, Mrs. Frank, 46 GAMMONS, John GUNTER, Charles, about 50 GUNTER, Mrs. Bert, 23 GUNTER, Christina, 3 ING, Mrs. Monroe KERLEY, Mrs. Ettie, 47 KERLEY, Bertha, 3 KERLEY, Otto, 12 KERLEY, Homer, 12 LAUNIUS, Mrs. Isabelle McFARLAND, Mrs. Belle, 63 MELVIN, Mr. and Mrs. Joe PRICE, Layman, 22 PRICE, Beulah, 21 PRICE, Jackie Jean, 1 PRICE, Raymond PRICE, baby RAINEY. Mrs. Deboria, 52 RAINEY, William SHEW, Mrs. Arthur SMITH, Hattie SMOTHERS, Ivan, 18 SULLIVAN, Mrs. Silas TAYLOR, Merl, 4 TAYLOR, Kenneth, 3 WILLIAMS, Ivory, 32, Station agent at Parrish. Mrs. ____ Gray (as written), 65 Unidentified Negro March 28, 1925 DEATH TOLL IN HAMILTON COUNTY Mrs. Janie Cheek 48 McLeansboro Route 6 Mina Gertrude Taylor 8 McLeansboro Route 6 Emery Loyd 44 McLeansboro Route 6 Mrs. Edna Ballard 23 McLeansboro Route 6 Vonnie May Ballard McLeansboro Route 6 Lottie Jane Ballard 1 McLeansboro Route 6 Mrs. Martha Adams 69 McLeansboro Route 6 Mrs. Mary Ballard 52 McLeansboro Route 6 John R VanWinkle 26 McLeansboro Route 7 Robert P Adams 74 McLeansboro Route 7 Charles Leslie Prince 1 McLeansboro Route 7 W Sumner Hollister 45 McLeansboro Route 7 Mrs. Rosetta Hollister 49 McLeansboro Route 7 Mrs. Media Forrister 25 McLeansboro Route 7 Lonnie Smith 45 McLeansboro Route 3 Mrs. Lillie Smith 40 McLeansboro Route 3 Roy Smith 21 McLeansboro Route 3 Belva Smith 17 McLeansboro Route 3 John B Lockwood 71 McLeansboro Route 3 Sam Flannigan 38 McLeansboro Route 4 Columbus Hicks 80 Thompsonville Route Martha Hicks 48 Thompsonville Route Wesley Cluck 40 McLeansboro Route 5 John Lampley 65 Macedonia Route Francis Marion Pittman 50 McLeansboro Route 4 Carl Hunt 21 McLeansboro Route 4 Frank Oglesby 60 McLeansboro Route 3 Earl Mayberry 12 McLeansboro Route 5 Mrs. Minerva Ray 44 McLeansboro Route 7 Ollie Flannigan 40 McLeansboro Route 4 Mrs. Charles Webb McLeansboro Route 7 Mrs. Walter Mick McLeansboro Route 5 FIERCE CYCLONE SWEEPS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS LEAVING PATH OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION Terrible Tornado Wipes Out Many Lives In Hamilton County Hundreds Injured; Many Families Unaccounted For; All In Stricken Territory Destitute and Homeless. March 30, 1925 The most terrible tornado in the history of the country swept out of the heavens about 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, leaving in its wake a path of death and destruction. The catastrophe spread over southern Illinois, wiping out nearly 1500 people at the following places: West Frankfort, Gorham, Elizabeth, Annapolis, MO, Altonburg, MO, Griffin, Ind, and Princeton, Ind. Over 5000 people are believed to have been killed and approximately two hundred injured in Hamilton County. The terrible wind swept a mile strip through Hamilton County, entering near Macedonia and making its exit at St Patrick's church at the White County line, creating one of the most devastating scenes ever witnessed. Not a house or outbuilding in the stricken vicinity is standing, woods are torn up, roads blocked, hundreds of heads of live stock are killed and injured. Arrangements have been made with the L & N Railroad to secure special trains to carry the injured to the various surrounding hospitals in Mt Vernon, Harrisburg, St Louis and Evansville, this morning (Thursday). As many as possible will be cared for at the hastily installed Red Cross hospital in the Mary E C McCoy Library building. The reported dead at this time are as follows: Emery Loyd, Mrs. Lando Ballard, Mrs. Bob Ballard, and two children, Mrs. Harriet Tyler and daughter, Monroe Lampley, Mrs. John Ray, Lonnie Smith and three children; Mr. and Mrs. John Trobaugh, Wesley Cluck, 12-year old son of Moses Mayberry, Mr. and Mrs. Sumner Hollister and daughter, Leslie Price's baby (Leslie Prince), Bob Adams and wife, Lando Ballard, Elza Wilson and family, William Hanagan, Rev Marion Pitman, Carl Hunt, John B Lockwood, Frank Oglesby, Sam Flannigan, Arthur Flannigan. TORNADO'S TOLL SWELLED TO 33 First Death Occurred At Red Cross Hospital Sunday Night Result of Tetanus The tornado's death toll in Hamilton County was swelled to thirty-three when one more of its victims, W C Cheek died at the Red Cross emergency hospital of this city at 8:30 o'clock Sunday night. Cheek, who resided with his brother, Chalon Cheek, in the Lick Creek community was seriously injured when the home was swept away. It is said that he became indifferent and gave up all hope for recovery when he learned that his little niece, Mina Gertrude Tyler (also listed as Taylor) who was the apple of his eye, had been killed. Although 91,500 units of tetanus anti-toxin were administered to Cheek who had contracted tetanus as the result of his injuries, it was of no avail, due to the fact that pneumonia set in as a result of his exposure. His jaws locked for 96 hours prior to his death. This was the first fatality to occur at the emergency hospital. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon. Hamilton County, IL Deaths caused by the Tornado ***** 1925-04 Ballard, Edna Shelton d. 18 Mar 1925 Vonna May d. 18 Mar 1925 Lotta Jan d. 18 Mar 1925 ***** 1925-10 Brockett, Letha McElyea d. 18 Apr 1925 Cheek, W Charles d. 29 Mar 1925 Charles Cheek, son of John and Susan Cheek, was born in Hamilton County, Illinois, October 22, 1879, and died March 29, 1925. He was 45 years; 5 months and 7 days old at the time of his death. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Allie and Ezra Cheek, and one sister, Laura Thompson, and leaves to mourn his death one brother, Chalon Cheek, of McLeansboro; and two sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Clark of McLeansboro, and Orilla Olivers of Catr__, Mo. ***** 1925-37 Forester, Martha Almedia Hicks d. 2 Apr 1925 Thursday, April 2, 1925 Martha Almedia Hicks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C C Hicks, born April 17, 1902 aged 22 years and 11 months and 1 day; killed in cyclone March 18, 1925. She was united in marriage to Ezra Forester, November 15, 1922, and to this union was born one daughter, Thelma Fay, who preceded the mother in death. She leaves to mourn a loving companion, four brothers and three sisters, namely: Allie and Hugh Hicks of McLeansboro; Chris of Redlands, California; Ella Nipper and Maria Moore of McLeansboro; Amy hicks of Evansville, Indiana; (names six), and a number of relatives and friends. She often said she was ready to meet her blessed Savior when he called her. She had a kind and loving disposition and to know her was to love her. Funeral services were held at the Albion Presbyterian church, conducted Rev Quinten V Williamson, Pastor of the First Christian Church, assisted by Elder John B Maulding. Internment took place in the Albion Cemetery. (see Hollister obit) ***** 1925-58 Hollister, Rosetta Webb Hicks Moore d. 18 Mar 1925 Thursday, April 2, 1925 Rosetta Webb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E E Webb, was born May 31, 1875 killed by the cyclone, March 18, 1875, aged 49 years, 9 months and 18 days. She was united in marriage to C C Hicks, February 4, 1892, and to this union seven children were born, namely: Ella Nipper, Allie Hicks, Hugh Hicks of McLeansboro; Lee and Chris Hicks of Redlands, California; Amy Hicks of Evansville, Indiana; and Media Forester, who preceded her in death but a few minutes. Her husband also preceded her in death on March 6, 1911. She was again married to J H Moore, September 3, 1913, and to this union one daughter, Madeline Marie, was born. October 20, 1922, she was married to W S Hollister, who was killed in the cyclone a few minutes before her death. She leaves to mourn seven children, three brothers, and four sisters and many other relatives and friends. She was a kind and loving companion, mother and neighbor. Some time ago she professed faith in Christ and to read the Holy Bible was her greatest pleasure. Only a few days ago she told her children that she prayed that they would prepare for Heaven for life was short and death was sure. ***** Hollister, W Sumner d. 18 March 1925 (according to wife's obituary and newspaper listing of the dead) 1925-72 ***** Lockwood, John B d. 19 Mar 1925 John B Lockwood was born 19 April 1853 and died 19 March 1925, a cyclone victim. He was the son of John Barthlomew and Sarah Flint Lockwood. He married Eliza Titsworth on 23 Feb 1873. Five children: Christopher Lockwood, West Frankfort; Annie Hungate is deceased; Clyde Loockwood is deceased; Doug Lockwood, Carbondale; Joe Lockwood, Zeigler. Leaves wife, 3 children, two brothers: Joe of McLeansboro and Douglas of Galatia; 1 sister, Mrs Alice Ingram, Centralia; 2 half-sisters: Mrs Nancy Hungate , Marion, Indiana; and Mrs Zonis Rogers, Braden. ***** 1925-93 Oglesby, Retta/Rella d. 3 Oct 1925 Rella was born 1 October 1888 and died 3 October 1925, daughter of George and Missouri Harrison Denny. Married Walter Oglesby 18 Mar 1906. Four children: Willie, Leland, Gladys and Clarence. Leaves 7 siblings: Lydia Hunt, Farmington, MO; Cora Pressley, McLeansboro; Bessie Allen, Carterville; Gracie Miller, East St Louis; Marie Lesalie, Dixon; Augustus & Earl Denny, both of Sullivan, Indiana. Interred at Mt Olive Cemetery. ***** 1925-94 Oglesby, F M d. 18 Mar 1925 F M Oglesby was born January 1851; was killed by the cyclone Mar 18, 1925, aged 74 years, 2 months. He was married to Josephine Johnson Johnson in 1874, and to this union six children were born , four boys and two girls, namely: Emory of Herrin, Illinois; Leiza of Lake Fork; Walter of McLeansboro; Raymond, Chloe and Lillie preceded his in death. He and his wife lived happily together until her death. He was again united in marriage to Nola Oneal, and to this union one child was born, Ralph of McLeansboro. He was a member of the A F & A M Lodge at Walpole. He leaves a brother, John Oglesby, besides the above named children, and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services were conducted by Rev N C Henderson of Carrier Mills, after which the Masonic Lodge took over the ceremonies. ***** 1925-98 Pittman, Rev. Frances Marion d. 18 Mar 1925 Frances Marion Pittman was born 3 December 1856, seven miles south of McLeansboro, and died 18 Mar 19225, at his home in Knight's Prairie, a tornado victim. He was the son of John M and Edith Dale Pittman. He married Emmer Irene Younger in September 1874, she died in 1880; three children: Mrs Fayette Cantrell, Broughton; Louis I died in infancy; and Chester of Vincennes, Indiana. Mr. Pittman married Margaret Bryant of Saxton, Kentucky, she died in 1883. He then married Eliza J Claxton of Oneida, Tennessee on 4 July 1885, she died in 1908. Eight children: Harry L and Iva R, both deceased; Six children survive: Chalon E of Quincy; Mrs Douglas Younger, Piggott, Arkansas; Mrs R Wright, Herrin; Mrs Edith Pittman, Galatia; Mrs Earl Russell, Broughton; and Paul Pittman, McLeansboro. Leaves 9 grandchildren, two brother and 3 sisters. Interred Knights Prairie. ***** 1924-112 Smith, Lonnie d. 18 Mar 1925 Lillie Lockwood d. 18 Mar 1925 Roy d. 18 Mar 1925 Belva d. 18 Mar 1925 (Willie Smith b. 22 Jun 1905 survives) ***** Webb, America Mrs. America Webb, daughter of David and Becky Ballard, was born in Hamilton County, Illinois, August 29, 1875; died from injuries received during the tornado at age 49 years and 7 months. She was married to Charley Webb, August 25, 1829 (?), and to this union twelve children were born, one of whom died in infancy. Six boys and five girls survive, namely: David, Elvis, George Roe, Lando and Oakley, Mrs. T R Emmerson, Mrs. Elsie Nipper, Mrs. Ed Wheeler, Mrs. Spruce Walters, and Bertha Webb. She professed faith in Christ at an early age and united with the General Baptist Church at Lick Creek and lived a faithful christian until death. She was a loving mother and a good neighbor. To know her was to love her. Her friends are legion. She leaves to mourn their loss the above named children and fourteen grandchildren. Our lost is her eternal gain, her husband having preceded her in death about four years ago. We will say farewell for just a short time, but we do not mourn as those who have no hope. Funeral Services were held at Sneed church, March 25, conducted by Rev. Bob Pierce of Norris City. ***** ***** "Submitted by Carla Pulliam & Sheila Cadwalader" Sept 2, 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright Information and Restrictions: All information from the "HAMILTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS RESOURCE PAGES" have been provided for the free use of those engaged in non-commercial genealogical research by our HAMILTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS Discussion Group. Any and all commercial use is strictly prohibited. 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