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OMAHA NEBRASKA TORNADO
ALBUM
GERMAN VERSION
25 March 1913
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The length of the tornado’s path through the settled district was approximately four miles long and five houses wide. Coming from the southwest, it came upon the flourishing suburb of Ralston with its industrial sites completely open to sacrifice. It was actually mowed over. In a Northeasterly direction it continued roaring, the Storm turned near the prosperous residential district at 45th and Farnum Street, where it caused awful destruction on substantially built, luxurious houses. None of the houses were spared, a few would be completely destroyed, and others were severely damaged. Not far from 42nd and Farnum Street, the houses were transformed into splinters. Dodge Street was strewed with rubble. Magnificent dwelling houses on 38th Street were twisted like cardboard. On towards Guming Street roared the storm. From Bemis Park turned the Tornado toward the heavily populated area of 24th and Lake Street, the area of working class people. Here was where the devastation was immense. Dwelling houses, businesses, telephone poles and wires became an inseparable mass thrown together. In this neighborhood was an appalling loss of life recorded. At least 60 people lost their lives. In the Idlewild Billiard Hall, a local black associated club, 17 people were found dead under the rubble. A large amount of lives was also lost at the collapse of the Diamond Picture changing theater (Movie Theater) in that region. But the most shocking tragedy was the death of a Polish baking family, the Krinstn’s, which consisted of the father, mother and five small children, through the collapse of their small bakery came the miserable end to their lives. From this heavily personally affected region ran the Tornado further towards the Northeast until it had reached 16th Street. From here it halted and began a more Eastwardly direction, roaring to the riverbank, it tore down the locomotive coach house of the M and D track, raised the bridge leading over Carter lake and tore its posts from its foundation, spinning it over the same body of water and setting it over the Missouri River, and continued its work of ruins in the State of Iowa. Such was this kind of storm from Easter Sunday. Only a few minutes duration, but in this time it had caused unbelievable devastation. Not enough with all this horror, at over twenty places was the outbreak of fires under the rubble as a result of thrown over ovens. Only the strong rain, which accompanied the devastating Tornado and the heroic efforts of the fire brigade, is to thank, that the fire didn’t break out of control.
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