1913 Omaha Nebraska Tornado

The Commercial club desires to make it known that the path of the tornado was through the residential district only and affected no business institutions whatever; that there is no impairment of Omaha's business or its finances.

A local finance committee, consisting of C. T. Yost, president of the Bell Telephone company and vice president of the Commercial club, as chairman; J. L. Kennedy, attorney; C. M. Wilhelm, retailer; Sam Burns, Jr., stocks and bonds; W. D. Hosford, wholesaler; W. H. Bucholz, banker; H. A. Tukey, real estate, and C. C. Belden, retailer, was appointed at. a largely attended meeting held by the Commercial club to finance the entire relief work, both immediate and for the future. The work of this committee involves the complete restoration of the buildings in the path of the storm.

COMMERCIAL CLUB OF OMAHA

By GEORGE H. KELLY, President

C. E. YOST, Vice President

J. M. GUILD, Commissioner

        Twenty-five future Omaha men and women will claim the distinction of a mighty disturbance of the elements having heralded their birth.

     That many, according to Mrs. C. W. Pearsall in charge of the infants department at the Auditorium, were born during, or immediately following the storm. Complete outfits of clothing and supplies for the infants and their mothers were prepared and sent out in bundles by Mrs. Pearsall.

     The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Medlock, who lived at Twenty-ninth and Decatur streets just missed the distinction of being born in a hearse. Mrs. Medlock was lying in the unroofed house of a neighbor when her husband, his head bleeding from numerous wounds, induced the driver of a motor hearse to stop and get his wife, and take her to the house of a friend, who had escaped the tornado. The Medlock home was entirely demolished, and every member of the family more or less bruised. Mrs. Medlock had been lying under wet covers in a wrecked house for two hours when she was removed by the hearse driver to better quarters.

     "Cyclone Bill" was the name suggested for the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Yould, by the father. C. M. Yould is sporting editor of a local paper. His Son was born at the Swedish Mission hospital while the tornado was smashing the windows and otherwise making things unpleasant.

     A boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Saylor, Forty-eighth and Marcy just before the tornado struck. A young woman visiting the family shielded the infant from flying debris, and the father protected Mrs. Saylor with his body.

     The home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schopp, Forty-third and Farnam streets, was demolished by the storm. Mrs. Schopp was taken post-haste to the Wise Memorial hospital, where her baby was born.

     Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Macklin, colored, are parents of a boy born at Swedish Mission hospital while the storm was raging. The parents lived at 3010 North Twenty-fifth street.

     Mr. and Mrs. Samuel A. Robertson of 4324 Parker street, welcomed a baby girl the morning following the storm.

     A boy born at Clarkson hospital helped Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wakefield forget the troubles the storm brought them.

     Others whose memories of the tornado will be refreshed by the birthday anniversary of a son or daughter are: Mr. and Mrs. John Varian, 1312 South Twenty-fourth street; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Weldon 3816 Sherman avenue; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wirth, 2331 South Nineteenth; Mr. and Mrs. Harry J. Lindmier, 2439 Ellison avenue; Mr. and Mrs. J. Goldberger, 1823 North Twenty-third.

Fremont deeply deplores your great loss. If we have any facilities here that can be utilized, either factories or homes, we shall be glad to share them with you.

FREMONT COMMERCIAL CLUB

Please accept sincere sympathy of this association in reported damage to your magnificent city. Trust and hope early reports exaggerated. We know, however, that Omaha will rise a still greater city. No adversity can permanently affect a city spirit with the indomitable spirit that has built Omaha.

SHREVEPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

E. L. McGolgin, Secretary

The Business Men's league of St. Louis deeply sympathize with you in the disaster which has just befallen Omaha. We trust that the calamity may not prove to be serious as the press reports now indicate. If we can be of service in any way will be glad to have you promptly advise us.

A. L. SHAPLEIGH

President

W. F. SAUNDERS

Secretary and General Manager

The members of the Lincoln Commercial club and citizens of Lincoln express deepest sorrow over the terrible loss of life and property resulting from the tornado which swept through your beautiful city and its suburbs Sunday afternoon, and hereby tender you our heartfelt sympathy and assistance.

LINCOLN COMMERCIAL CLUB

Seattle Chamber of Commerce and all people of this city extend sympathy. Is damage as extensive as reported? Can we be of any service by contributing money for relief or in any other way?

C. B. YANDELL, Secretary

Salt Lake City sympathizes and wants to help you. Tell us what you most need, so we can get at work effectively at once.

COMMERCIAL CLUB

San Francisco chamber of commerce learns with most sincere regret of reported disaster to Omaha and vicinity. Hope reports are exaggerated. This chamber stands ready to assist in any way possible. Let us know what we can do to help you.

SAN FRANCISCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

C. F. Michaels, First Vice President

What kind of aid is needed in Omaha? People of Spokane extend sympathy and ask you to call on them.

CHARLES HEBBERD

President Chamber of Commerce

The following telegram was filed Monday morning, which can only in a vague way express the deep sorrow of not only the members of the Lincoln Commercial club, but all of our citizens, over the terrible disaster which fell upon Omaha Sunday afternoon:

"The members of the Lincoln Commercial club and citizens of Lincoln express deepest sorrow over the terrible loss of life and property resulting from the tornado which swept over your beautiful city and its suburbs, and hereby tender you our heartfelt sympathy and assistance."

Owing to the grief into which our sister city has been plunged, the board of directors very promptly decided to postpone action of this week's festivities in connection with the formal opening of the club.

W. S. WHITTEN

Secretary Lincoln Commercial Club

      Criticism of the business interests that caused reports to go to the world that Omaha was financially able to take care of itself in the storm crisis was made before the Real Estate exchange by W. H. Green. He charged that partly selfish motives at least, prompted those responsible for the reports that the city didn't need money.

     "What right has any man, though he be rich, to say whether a poor man shall accept money from another city rather than to go in debt for a new home or start to paying rent again--what good does it help the man for us to be sorry for him?" Mr. Green asked.

     Many members of the exchange indorsed Mr. Green's address.

     Another prominent business man--not a member of the Commercial club--said: "Ask the man who lost everything he has if he would be too proud to accept money from another city and see what he will say."

     The Real Estate exchange gave all the money in its treasury, something over $100. Members of the exchange contributed as individuals.