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Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= The Indianapolis Star Monday, 12 March, 1917 23 Known Dead, Scores Hurt, In Wake of $1,000,000 Tornado at Newcastle Majority of Victims Trapped in Homes By Sudden Twister Indiana's City of Roses Spends Night of Terror in Darkness and Later Search Is Expected to Reveal More Bodies Buried in Masses of Debris Which Mark Path of Wind Through Residential and Factory Sections. MARTIAL LAW MAY BE DECLARED by a Staff Correspondent Newcastle, Ind., March 12, - Twenty-three known dead, 200 persons injured, almost a score missing and property damage approximating $1,000,000 is the toll exacted by a tornado which swept this city at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, cut- ting a path from 300 to 500 feet in width for a distance of eighteen blocks and leaving in its wake only a mass of twisted ruins to mark what had been the prettiest section of Indiana's City of Roses. With wires down and the local gas supply shut off to prevent fires resulting from broken pipes in the ruins, the stricken population spent the long hours of the night in total darkness, relieved only by the flickering glare of lanterns and torches as parties of workers searched among the debris for more vic- tims of the disaster. Those whom death fortunately had spared pried among remains of snug cottages for something that might have escaped the havoc of the wind, while others haunted the morgues and hospitals with anxious faces seeking a trace of missing loved ones. Under the direction of Mayor L. J. WATKINS, scores of depu- ties patrolled the streets to prevent looting until the National Guard companies ordered to the scene relieved them of this re- sponsibility. ALL SPACE THROWN OPEN TO HOMELESS. Doctors and nurses, rushed within a few hours from Indianapolis and Muncie, assisted in caring for the injured and hotels, lodge rooms and churches threw open their doors to receive the homeless, of which there are at least 100 families. Because of the darkness and fog it was impossible to estimate the extent of the damage. The chill wind which blew increased the suffering of those not rescued promptly. Three or four ruins caught fire and at least one body was found badly charred after the flames were extinguished. RICH AND POOR FARE ALIKE The tornado struck the city from the west and after leveling the Indiana Rolling Mills, west of Blue River valley, swept over the city from Sixth to Twenty-fifth streets, cutting a wide swath through the fine residential section as well as through the dis- trict inhabited by factory workers and poorer classes. It is in the poorer neighborhoods that the rescue workers expect to find more dead when daylight aids their efforts. The first houses in the path of the tornado were leveled to the ground, after which the wind raised slightly, shearing off the roofs of the houses from Tenth to Twentieth streets. Here it dipped again, razing practically every house on to Twenty- fifth street. LITTLE WARNING OF TORNADO'S APPROACH Although the skies had been threatening during the warm after- noon, there was little warning of the twister's approach. Hun- dreds of residents were on the downtown streets when suddenly the huge funnel-shaped cloud, hanging low on the horizon, swept toward the doomed city with incredible velocity. From a point in the Court House square, it seemed as if the swirling mass would pass directly through the business section. Groups of persons, sighting it, ran panic-stricken for shelter. Then, with an in- describable roar, the tornado swooped down, lifting houses from their foundations, razing substantial business blocks as though they had been built of cards, sending trees hurtling through the air and filling the darkened streets with flying debris. Five minutes later the hurrican had exhausted its rage, and veering sharply, rushed away to the southeast. One of the most pitiful incidents of the disaster was brought to light when the bodies of GRAY DAVIS and his mother, MRS. JOHN DAVIS, were dug from the pile of splinters which had formerly been four houses standing at 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 rushed to her son's side as the storm swept down upon them, and all the fury of the assault, which battered the house to shreds, could not tear them apart. BODIES BURIED UNDER DEBRIS MR. DAVIS had been sick with pneumonia for the last week and his mother, MRS. JOHN R. DAVIS of Mooreland, had come to this city to take care of him. They were found only after a large tree had been lifted by the searching party and rafters, plas- tering and lathes had been removed. The mattress on which the sick man was lying was turned over and they were lying under it. MRS. GRAY DAVIS, wife of the dead man, disappeared directly after the tornado and nothing had been heard of her late at night. ORVILLE DAVIS, son of the dead man, was also killed dur- ing the storm and was carried from the pile of ruins shortly before the remains of his father and grandmother were uncovered. A small daughter also was seriously injured and her life is in doubt. The Stafford and the Miller Hospitals were filled to over- flowing with injured within half an hour after the disaster and the Bundy House and other places were pressed into service as hospitals. A complete list of those injured in the cyclone could not be compiled last night and officials asserted that it would probably be several days before every one can be accounted for and the entire extent of the damage learned. The moans of dying and the screams of persons less injured, who were pinned under the ruins of their homes, were heard on every side. Most of the dead were taken from homes that were completely demolished. Many persons escaped injury by rushing into cellars as the storm struck the city. Many persons were away from home at the time of the tornado and it was declared that if it had not been for this the list of dead would probably have reached several hundred. The south side school house was wrecked. The west end of the brick struc- ture was blown in and the entire building was torn loose from it. School authorities asserted that fully 150 pupils would have been killed if the school had been in session. The heaviest in- dividual loss was sustained by the Indiana Rolling Mill Company. The huge two-story plant of the company covering a city block was razed to the ground. CHARLES MOUCH, president of the com- pany, was working in the offices of the plant at the time. He dashed into a steel vault as the plant began to tumble about him and he escaped unhurt. It was said that the loss to the plant would amount to $150,000 or more. Several hundred men were thrown out of work. The three Newcastle ambulances were supplemented a few hours after the catastrophe by three ambulances from Muncie. Mach- ines were rushed to the stricken city filled with doctors and medical supplies. In addition to the forty or more persons who are lying seriously injured at the hospitals, it is estimated that from 150 to 200 persons were less seriously injured. These people, many suffering much pain, refused to receive medical attention, insisting that the physicians and nurses direct their attention to the seriously injured. Physicians asserted that many of these will die. It is also believed that at least ten of the missing are lying dead in the ruins of their homes and offi- cials asserted at a late hour that the total death list may reach thirty-five. Mayor's Home Demolished The home of Mayor WATKINS was one that was demolished in the cyclone. The mayor was downtown at the time. His daughter and mother-in-law escaped injury by seeking refuge in the cel- lar. Rescuers had to cut a hole in the debris before they could be taken from the splintered ruins. Superintendent E. W. LAWRENCE of the city schools, with his wife, and 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 her from the ground, throw- ing her in the gutter and breaking her collar bone. BERNICE, the small daughter of CAL LAMB and wife, 924 Lin- coln avenue, was the only one seriously injured at the LAMB home. Refuge Found in Cellar The extent of her injuries is not known, but it is thought they will not prove fatal. The LAMB family took refuge in the cellar. The house was completely destroyed. STEPHEN ADAMS was sick in bed with pneumonia when his house, standing north of Grand avenue, was struck by the tornado. His wife, who was attending him, was seriously injured and may possibly die, and MR. ADAMS, who also received injuries, is in a very critical condition owing to the great amount of exposure he was forced to suffer, with but scant clothing to keep him warm. WILLIAM LOWERY was burned to death in the ruins of his home. He was last seen standing in the door of his home on Grand avenue near Twenty-fifth street by his brother a short time before the tornado. The house burned down and a search of the ruins by neighbors failed to disclose the body. The flames broke out later in the ruins and guards smelled the odor of burning flesh. They dug into the debris in the basement and found the remains of a man's body. The remainder of the LOWERY family were caught under the house but were rescued by neigh- bors a short time after the gale passed. OSCAR YOUNG, living on C avenue, between Thirteenth and Nineteenth streets, was at home with his two small children when the storm reached his home. The children received minor injuries. MR. YOUNG has one broken arm and an injured leg, but would not have his injuries dressed until some bystanders forced him to leave the ruins of his home where he was trying to gather things together. Two Girls Crushed BERNICE, 9, and JUNE, 12, the two daughter os PETER DAY, 1102 South Twenty-second street, met death when their home collapsed before the fury of the hurricane. The father, mother, a sister, 16, and brother RAY, 24, are at present in local hospitals and their chances for recovery are re- garded as being rather small. Perhaps the DAY family was one of the most unfortunate of these involved in the disaster, as it looks at present as though it would be exterminated. For hours after the cyclone laid their home low, the two young sisters could not be found. 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 pea fowl ring on the left hand that the body could be inden- tified. It was some time later before the other dead sister was found. The older sister, who is at the Miller Hospital, is in a critical condition and has not yet been informed of the death of the rest of the family as the shock would prob- ably prove fatal. The father is also at the Miller Hospital while the mother and son are both at the Stafford. Similar incidents are found in scores of other cases. MRS. CLYDE NICKOLSON, living on South Eighth street, was at home with MRS. NELSON NORDQUEST when the hurricane struck, the rest of the family being up town. MRS. NICKOLSON is at present at the home of her mother, MRS. TAYLOR, in the Jen- nings Building and is reported to be seriously injured. MRS. NORDQUEST was also injured but is not in a serious condition. CARL HARRISON, of Newport, Ky., a mail clerk, visiting here with J. W. LEWIS, was at home with his host when the tornado demolished the house. MR. HARRISON received a crushed shoulder and one of MR. LEWIS'S ears was torn almost from his head. Skull Crushed by Timbers CALVIN TODD, who lives on South Seventh street, was spend- ing Sunday visiting his mother, MRS. HENRY LYONS, whose home is in the direct path taken by the tornado. MR. TODD was caught under falling timbers, when the house collapsed and his skull was crushed. He is now at the Stafford Hospital and his con- dition is critical. His mother escaped uninjired. ERNEST WATERMAN, son of ACIE WATERMAN, living on the T. E. MILLIKAN farm, two miles east of town, was killed when the cyclone struck his barn while he was feeding the cattle. Heavy timbers fell on him. Twenty head of cattle and eight head of horses which were in the barn were also killed. A woman and child, whose names are not known and who were liv- ing in an old school house between New Lisbon and Hagerstown, were killed when the hurricane demolished the building. Other members of the family escaped uninjured. Three of the Newcastle greenhouses were in the path of the tornado and all of the plants were wrecked at a loss of thou- sands of dollars. Additional losses are expected by the com- panies from exposure of growing plants. The greenhouses dam- aged were those of the Lynch, Bentley and Heller companies. Hailstones Cause Damage The Indiana Village for Epileptics, north of the city, escaped the wind, but was damaged by hail that fell in great quantities at the time of the storm. An official at the vil- lage reported that hailstones the size of hen's eggs fell for more than five minutes. Glass in the buildings in colony No. 2, including the main building, a dormitory and the social hall was broken out. The loss was estimated at $200. Hail also fell in New- castle at the time of the cyclone and a heavy rain, almost amounting to a cloudburst in portions of the city, poured down as the twister hit the city. Old residents of Newcastle are recalling the excitement created here when Oakville, a nearby village, was wrecked by a cyclone April 1, 1883. At that time it was declared the fact that Newcastle is located on high ground and pro- tected by a deep valley on two sides made it almost immune from the ravages of a tornado. Experts pointed out that the valley of Blue River west and north of the city formed a "hog trough" that would protect the city from the wind. ===============================================================================