The Ottawa Herald from Ottawa, Kansas • Page 3

Camera Records Tornado THE TORNADO FUNNEL, photographed east of Ottawa by 0. D. Garrett, who used a box camera. WE WERE FORTUNATE-That Is what Sherman A. Smith, of south of Ottawa said as he lurveyed the wreckage of his home.

"We left home 15 minutes before it hit, so we are alive." ONCE A HOME and motel, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Geiss and (heir daughter, Anne, 9, stand beside all that is left. High School And OU Students Help Students from Ottawa High School and Ottawa University swelled the ranks of volunteer workers after last night's tornado, according to Police Chief Eugene Flaherty. Chief Flaherty said 15 of the older high school boys and about 20 university students reported to the police station last night and were put to work at various jobs south of town.

He said they raised the number cf volunteer workers, working'out of police headquarters to over 100. He said this number was greatly increased by the neighbors of those hit by the storm who came to the aid of their friends. TRUCK Granger, left, and his son, Kent, look over what remains of the Granger Truck Stop southwest of Ot- Guard Plane First To Spot Twister A National Guard plane was first to spot the twister that struck Franklin County, Police Chief Eugene Flaherty said Tuesday morning. Flaherty said this report was followed by a report from Chuck Lemaster at the city airport and by one from Officer Max Bolton. Police cars immediately sounded sirens as warning to Ottawa residents and this was immediately followed by emergency signal at the city power plant.

The phone company went onto an emergency basis immediately and operators answered all calls with "tornado." Essential lines were kept open and later only emergency calls were routed. The emergency power unit at Ottawa Police Headquarters had to be pressed into service about 6:30 p. m. when the storm knocked out the police radio. Chief Flaherty said Dr.

W. D. Bemmels was called in to make the necessary repairs and had the regular unit back in operation in about a half Dr. Bemmels was also called upon to fix two prowl car radios damaged by the storm. Chief Flaherty said the biggest tawa.

Granger said, "We will rebuild." -Vj, fc 'j. 4 i 4 1 i SJ fn The Ottawa Herald Faff 3 May 21, 1957 Kansas Guard Called Out ROOFING METAL wrapped around limbs of hedge trees as the tornado went its destructive way. Ham Operators Assist Police Ham radio operators with mobile units in 10 automobiles reported to police headquarters shortly after the tornado struck last night and volunteered their Ride Out Storm In A Big Chair KANSAS CITY Like most of the modest homes in mushrooming Ruskin Heights, Kansas City subdivision, the R. B. Cook residence had no basement.

When Cook, his wife and their 14-year-old daughter, Linda, heard a "a snenilius U1 last night's tornado roaring to- the south end ward them, they sought refuge in the only shelter available, the wide arms of an overstuffed chair in their living room. Retelling the tale today, Cook pointed out how the twister ripped their home to bits, piling debris, including the refrigerator that was blown in from the kitchen, around the chair in which the three huddled tightly. Something banged Cook on the he.ad, inflicting a superficial gash. It was the only injury any of them suffered. problem was in rerouting traffic around downed electric wires and keeping the curious from the scenes of damage.

He said the department was greatly several cars of men from the Topeka sheriffs office and two cars from the Douglas County sheriff's office. Flaherty said off duty policemen were called to work and stayed on duty through the night. He said Roy Church of the K.B.I, was on hand to help. Members of the various police and sheriff's units directed traffic of town until after 10:30 last night. Mrs.

Frankie Flower, chief operator for the telephone company reports that the telephone circuits began to fail shortly after the first warning was sounded and the emergency service plan was put into operation. Mrs. Flower said they were left with only three Kansas City circuits open and even these had trouble when the tornado reached Kansas City. I services. Looting Reported In Kansas City KANSAS CITY W) "The looting was terrible." Such was the report of Joe Connors, a deputy coroner, among the first to reach the tornado damaged shopping center at Ruskin Heights last night.

"People were taking goods from the drug store and supermarket, all they could' lay their hands on," he said. "One man was carrying out a IP Lightning Fatal To Topeka Man TOPEKA Wallace, 29, father of seven children, was killed yesterday when struck by lightning. Wallace, employed by a nursery here, was working in a field when the lightning stuck him. He came to Topeka about three years ago from Porter, Okla. God's Hand Was On My Shoulder "God had his hand on my shoulder, that's all," said Roland Hind, 43, of Hartford, as he told how he tried to race a tornado last Police Chief Eugene Flaherty night in his semi-trailer stock reports they set up a unit Funds Allocated To Area In Oklahoma WASHINGTON iTi President Eisenhower today allocated one million dollars of disaster relief funds to Oklahoma.

The money is fnr areas hit by floods, hail and high winds. The White House notified Gov. Raymond Gary of Oklahoma of lhe federal hclp Headquarters Battery of 127th Field Artillery. Kansas Guard was called out last night on order of State Adjutant General Joe Nichols. Forty-three members of unit served through the night, directing traffic on US50 near the niins of Bob's Truck Stop and on US59 near Mulcahey Buick, doing guard duty at the Marsh home and patroling the disaster area for fallen wires and to prevent any looting.

This morning they are still on duty keeping the cars of -h curious moving on the and helping to clean up the debris. Lt. Jim Richardson said, "The boys have really put in a night's work. Every man was out there doing his job." The'request for mobilization of the Kansas Guard last night was a joint request of the Highway a i and Mayor Kenneth Andrews to the State Adjutant General Joe Nichols. Mayor Andrews said, "It was impossible at the time to tell the extent of damage and I felt we shouldn't wait to long to ask for assistance.

"It was amazing the amount of man-power offered the city and the disaster area. It certainly was appreciated. "The one mack mark on the evening was the congestion caused by curiosity seekers in the blocks from 15th street to the viaduct. "We would have been in better shape if we Had a more fully manned, trained Civil Defense unit. The auxiliary police, fire and first- aid personnel would have helped after the tornado and an operating Ground Observer Corps Post might have given us more warning before the storm.

"I would certainly encourage anyone who can contribute a little time to the program to do so. It will not only benefit Ottawa and Franklin County but the country as well. "I want to thank all those who have helped and are still helping and I hope I gst a chance to thank them all in person." The mayor and other city officials stayed on duty throughout the night. Genuine Leather Wallets A good gift for the Graduate 2.00 to 10.00 JOHN G. KAISER DRUG STORE The Rexall Store Pho.

105 Masonic Bldg. side police headquarters to relay messages to Larry Jones, the officer "operating the police radio at the time. The unit was necessary since the amateur radios are operated on a different frequency than the police unit'. The mobile units then began a house by house check along the route of the storm for injuries and possible fatalities. Most of the Lawrence with hams came from two from Ottawa and one from Baldwin.

Participating in the operation were Sam Weidner and David Lee of Ottawa, Woody Herman, Baldwin and the following Lawrence men: Red Fergus, Dick Shackcl- ford, Richard Smart, Tony Shirer, Jerry Hoeffecker, Carl Frazer, Lloyd Ericksson, George Berg, Bob Pringle, Fred Kloepper, anci the Lawrence Amateur Radio Club. Hind said he could the funnel coming when he was in Ot-j tawa and thought he could get past it. "It was due west of me and apparently traveling in a north' easterly direction, when all of a sudden it seemed to stop and back up. Then it came due east straight at me," he said. "I knew I could not miss it then." Just as the storm was goins; to strike his moving truck, Hind stopped the vehicle quickly, jumped out and dashed to the opposite side of the highway.

He lay face down in the ditch until the tornado passed. The demolished truck tractor was found west of the highway while the 40-foot trailer was found half a mile southwest of the spot. Hind escaped with minor cuts and bruises. CLEAN-UP was the word this morning. This Is Fred Frakes at his farm southeast of Ottawa, where damage was heavy- graduates for the going Available lit all wanted sites and colon.

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