Southern Illinoisan from Carbondale, Illinois • Page 1

Trim PUBLICATION OFFICES Ctrbondile, 227 W. Main Herrin, 212 N. I6tb MurphTtboro, 9 S. 12th i Vol. 65 299 5c a Copy 18 Pages FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1957 Carbondale Herrin Murpfiysboro, Illinois nnnn nnn Aft Aha I Ic5v0 TO I mS i5 iL: 1 difonviiie, Big Muddy Rises 8 Feet; Twister 'Refugee1 Dies I i I.

I ii A if I I 5 i t. I I It I- 1" i I 1 3 1 y. nraC's j-i fi fc -v -v i j- i I 1 I I I it-; 1 Y4 Hfj r-" fix it up "as best I can." The tornado twisted the house on the foundation and brolve out all the windows. Here, Grey nails tin strips on the wesr windows. was hit bv a twister Thurs-day night at Waltonville.

Some of the blocks were blown a OPEN DAIRY Members of the Howard Laird family clean up the wreckage of a concrete block milk shed which River Creeks Full rn mm 1 ment sponsored proiect to clear A 2J Mil Heavy Rains Slow Rescue, Repair Work some ot trie low-rental area damage to his home. He had A tornado-nervous Southern Illinois was flooded with rain and rumors of tornadoes Thursday night. More than an inch of rain fell over most of the area, with up to two inches recorded some places. But Dalias Price of the Southern Illinois University geography department said Thursday's storm did not have the violent potential of the Wednesday twisters. Greatest danger of the con FIXING UP Anthony Grey, 12 S.

3rd Murphysboro, begins the difficult job of rebuilding after tornado nearlv demolished his home. He said he is going to on no Repair and reconstruction cf tor- nado-damaed resi dential areas will depend primarih on extent of government aid, Mayor Joe Williams said todav. The mayor said agents of both the state and federal governments were expected in Murphvsboro today to survey tornado damage for classilication of Murphysboro as a disaster area. Mavor Williams said the federal government can make immediate arrangements to provide housing for homeless under a "crash provision" of civilian defense. In addition, according to Rep.

Kenneth J. Gray (D-West Frankfort), a federal representative was tj meet today with William Downey of Gov. William G. Stratton's office. Leo Hcogh of the Civil Defense Administration, Battle Creek, said his assistant would confer with Downey on declaring the tornado zone a major disaster area.

Murphysboro is housing over 100 storm victims in two areas, at St. Andrew's gymnasium and at Logan Junior High School. The Red Cross and local agencies are now caring for the homeless. The mayor said arrangements are being studied for a possible govern- 'We Were Lucky1 kville Hit In 2nd Round A second round of tornadoes hit Southern Illinois Thursday night. Property was damaged at Elk-ville and Waltonville but no injuries were reported.

Regarded 'as "babies" in comparison to Wednesday's destructive blows, the latest storms displayed freakish power. Six persons narrowly escaped injury at the Howard Laird farm near Waltonville as winds smashed a concrete block milkhouse and damaged the house. Laird said he, his wife and two sons were in the milkhouse when he saw the storm approaching. He told them to run to the house. He said he was die last one out of the block building and was hit in the head by a tree limb but not injured.

The winds smashed one side of the building, throv ing blocks a quarter of a mile across a field. Three cows in the other side of the building ere not hurt. 'The Laird house was moved off its foundation and the walls bulged out. Pieces of a farm waon were blown into the living room but Laird said neither he, his wife, the sons or two daughters who were in the house were injured. The twister left a littered path through the ede of Waltonville.

A garage at the home of Orland Decs was smashed, trapping the car inside. A tornado angled through Elk- ville at about 5:55 Thursday night. Residents said the twister pas sed over the main section of town but was too high to do much dam- ag. television aerials were torn down and several garages were smashed. No injuries or maior damage was reported.

Several houses were damaged when trees fell on them. Power-lines were also blown down. George Kopp, who runs a grocery in the center of town, said the towns people could hear the tornado coming from the southwest. It sounded like a train, according to Kopp, and then passed overhead coins northeast. Some tornado damage in Johnson County was caused by a twister which dropped twice about five miles south of Vienna about 7 p.

m. Wednesday, according to Sheriff Orlan Cox. No injuries were reported. A twister hit the small town of Pankeyville on Rt. 34 about two miles south of Harrisburg at 9 p.

m. Ihursday, but no iniunes or major damage was reported. Power lines, trees, three outhouses and four garages were blown down. ncsday. The stove and stovepipe inside remain intact.

Murphysboro, slammed by a million-dollar tornjtfo Wednesday, today faced the "possibility of floods. The. Big Muddv Rier at Mur-pbysboro rose an estimated eight feef from 7 a. m. Thursday to 7 a m.

today, as 2.25 inches of rain poured on the city. The rain hampered cleanup efforts and delayed repairs to the power system, leaving the city in darkness for a second nicht. The Big Muddv river was out of its banks at 1 m. today and further rise was expected. Beaucoup Creek, which feeds the river, was out of its banks before Thursday night's rain.

No serious flooding ha been reported vet. If the river floods seriously, tht tornado-swept area ill be one ol the first areas covered. It was flooded twice in April of this year. Insurance adjusters estimated damage in the Murphysboro area at more than one million dollars. City Engineer John Blankinship called the estimate "a little on the 1 side." The death toll remained at nine, wnn anotner ceatn canv loaay attributed indirectly to the tornado.

Norman Raines, 38, R. 1, Murphysboro, died at 7:55 a. m. today of a heart ailment in St. Andrew's I lospital, here he had been admitted at 8:55 p.

m. Thursday. Raines home was damaged bv the tornado and he had been staving at an emergency shelter in the Sand Ridce Baptist Church. A friend said Raines was upset over been under treatment for a heart condition. Tackson Countv officials said nearly all of the' 15 persons re ported missing Thursday have been accounted for.

Cleanup work continued todav and the Red Cross opened a disaster office in the Jackson Countv courthouse. Some of those injured were released from hospitals late Thursday and today. Deputy state fire marshals and Murphysboro firemen continued to check liquid propane gas outlets in the wrecked areas today to avoid a second disaster. A check for gas leaks has been made periodicals since the twister struck. Fire Chief Urba Hanson said live open outlets were found at one home Thursday.

Illinois Electric Gas Co. Supt. Ted Towers said today the company hopes to have some power lines open tonight. Six main line cables near the East Walnut street main distribution station were damaged. Water service was restored lliursdav.

Lack of power had prevented pumping water into the Of Day was nothing new to her for she grew up with them." She said, as did most other families, that the house, other than the "doing the best we can." "At night we heat up hot water bottles and put them in bed a few-minutes before we 20 to bed our- selves to warm sheets." she said up the icc-co Id Another family solved the cold hect problem by putting their dog in bed to arm the covers. Mrs. Grizcll said a very minor problem caused by lack of electricity is that she ill hae missed the plot of the daytime television serials. The averace Murphvsboro diet seems to be around soup and sand wkhes. Houeer, friends with as srovts usually puide jt Irasr one Lot meal a dav for those without looking facilities.

Shaving is no problem at all in Murphvsboro. Even though there is no power for electric razors and water must be heated for regular shaving, there is no prob iem. Most men just don't shave. ccner- ator was set up. More than 110 homeless victims sought shelter in Red Cross emergency quarters Thursday night.

More than 300 were reported homeless, with at least 100 homes destroyed or damaged. Eighty-two homeless were sheltered in St. Andrew's school oym-nasium and 42 were housed at Logan School. Many others stayed with relatives and friends. Facilities set up for Gorham tornado victims were not used, as B0ILWATER A boil water order issued by the Jackson County Health Department remained in effect in Murphysboro today as a precautionary measure.

Health Officer Dr. R. F. Sondag said spot checks are being made of the need for anti-tctnus and other medication, but no special clinic is planned unless a need is found. victims moved in with other Gorham families.

Gorham had 40 homes destroyed, according to Red Cross disaster Chairman Fred Will. Will said additional Red Cross units are expected today from the St. Louis area. Included will be staff members to start work on funds for rebuilding homes and getting shelter for the homeless. Red Cross workers and the Murphysboro fire department said clothing was coming in from area residents.

Clothing centers have been set up in the fire department and the courthouse basement. Car-hondale and other area cities have organized clothing drive. Red Cross Shelter Chairman Louis Wides said some of the homeless probably will have to be housed for several weeks, although present temporary might not be used. Carbondale National Guardsmen of Headquarters and Flead quarters 130th Infantry Regiment, were extended for duty for 24 more hours to patrol the damaged area. Maj.

O. L. Roberts, operations officer, said the 50 guardsmen would remain on duty until noon today and "if the sheriff deems it necessary we will stay longer." A total of six tornado victims had been released from hospitals at noon today. Etflcta, Ernestine and Albcrtha Shanklin, all of Murphysboro, were discharged Thursday from Holden Hospital, Carbon-dale. Released from St.

Andrew's Hospital to a first aid infirmary in the St. Andrew's gymnasium were Sandv Rogers, 9: Howard Gray 62, and Emma Mclntyre, 72, all of Murphysboro. Only two victims remained in critical condition. They are Glen-na Butcher, only survivor of five members of her family home when the tornado struck, and Wendy Irene Johnson. Both are in Carbondale Doctors Hospital.

Her father and one brother also survive. All St. Andrew patients are reported out of serious condition. Special Staff For Insurance Claims Slated A special office will be set up to handle insurance claims by Murphvsboro rornado victims. The Western Adiustment Co.

is sending a special adjusting force. It was expected to arrive todav and set up a storm office in Murphysbor The National Board of Fire Underwriters said policyholders can speed settlements by exam-ing their polities and reporting la-sses to local lire intranet? agents. If living temporarily away from his home, they should report the address tc the agent. Residents should make temporary pairs where ssihe to prevent futhcr damage and should keep record ol expenditures lor these repairs. tower until an emergency Telephone Progress Made Power Tonight Mayb quarter mile but three cows in the other side of the buildins were not hurt.

Marion reported a rising barometer todav, from a low reading of 29.29 at 8 a.m. today. Wind Thursday night was recorded at 17 miles per ur at the Williamson County Airport. Th; forecast calls for fair and colder tonight with Saturday fair with moderate temperatures. The low tonight will be in the mid-303 with the high Saturday in the mid-50s.

Saturday's low, will be in the mid-30s. WIRES OUT A digest of national and international news will be found on page 11 of today's Southern Illinoisan. Disruption of telephone circuits by tornado damage has cut off the Southern Illinoisan's reg- ular Associated Press wire scr- vice. Daily digests of state, national and international news will be obtained until regular service is restored. Telephone company officials today said they did not know when all damaze would be re- paired.

S. Third Murphysboro was blown off by the twister Wed- tinued rainfall, Price said, is flooding. With so much rain in a week, most of Thursday's water ran off into creeks and rivers. Carbondale received 1.3 inches cf rain. At times the downpour made visibility almost impossible.

The Marion Veterans Hospital recorded 2.01 inches, bringing December total so far to 2.88 inches. Rain has been recorded every day this week. 0 tion by noon today, Supt. Carl Fraley said. The tornado damaged a pump and the root of the pump-! ing station, "The water Fraley said, "and we have added extra chlorine to keep down the chances of contamination." The Illinois Central Railroad sent two 9,000 gallon water cars to 'Murphysboro Thursday when re- ports circulated tha the water sup- ply might be polluted.

OPEN FRONT The front of this house at 1 1 v-- 1m L.j I most heavily damaged, and "replace it with new- housing. hope we can turn the ill-1 fortune of tornado damage into a majar civic improvement, ii the government will go along with us," Mayor Williams said. Red Cross headquarters announced roday it will accept claims for financial assistance in repair and reconstruction, and also in partial payments for rent for new homes for storm victims. Blankinship said new reports of damage continue to come in from scattered sections of the county, and said the full damage report probably will not be known for several weeks. Two major centers of damage came to light Thursday, with the centers S.

20th Street near Lake and 20th, and in a section between New Rt. Band S. 8th Street. The tornado path missed St. An-drew's Hospital by less than 50 feet, and demolished a small stor- age shed behind the hospital.

The path also touched the cityV 135-foot water tower, and broke two large plate glass windows in a service station at the base of th; tower. People Say heating available was a one-burner gas plate on which the family cooked bacon and eggs and warm ed coffee. The only lights in the house are two "old caKoose coal oil lanterns." Mrs. Rosenburger said another problem was inactivi- tV at nioht. She S.lid h( nkrvl this problem by just sitting in the kitchen, "picking out pecans." At th? home of Mr.

and Mrs. Robert Morgan, 2013 Spruce, life rexolved around the fire place. Rather than be inconvenienced the lamilv made the most of the utilitx disruption last night by havin an old fashioned picnic, roasting hot fogs around the livingroom fireplace. Those families that have voung srnt iMem to Irirruk who 'Ue hc-at or yx SUTvc- for UdHTi ing u.tUc-s. All our Murphvtixjro ihtre is i general sharing atmosphere rhose who have facilities for cook ing share their kitchens with their neighbors.

Mrs. Charl es Gricll. 213 using a coal-oil lantern Soup, 5 O'Clock Shadow Order Some power and telephone serv- ice should be restored tonight or Saturday in Murphvsboro. Officials of power and telephone companies said repair work on tor-nado-damaoed lines was delayed bv Thursday's rain. Twisters left much of Jackson County without lights Wednesday and long distance telephone service was cut to a minimum over almost all of Southern Illinois.

In addition to General Tele- phont Co. circuits blown down, some Bell System and American Telephone and Telegraph Co. lines were broken. At Sunfield lunc-tion an estimated quarter of a mile of major telephone cable was reported knocked down. Illinois Electric Gas Co.

Supt. Ted Powers in Murphysboro said the company expects to have some i power on tonight Six main cables were damaged near the mam distribution station. Workmen have been working on repairs since Wednesday night. A General Telephone Co. official said non-cmerqenc service may be restored bv Saturday.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible, he said Only emergency long dis'ancc calls involving sickness or deaths are bring accepted foi most areas. Water service, halted bv the power failure, was restored to Murphysboro Thursday with an emer gency generator. The filter plan? was due to he back in full opera- L0CAL WEATHER vv yesterday 37; 7 a.m. today 48; 6 p.m. yesterday 61.

High yesterday 63; noon today 44. Precipitation 1.33 inches from 7 a.m. yesterday to 7 a.m. today. Crab Orchard Lake 9 inches above spillway.

hff- 1 t- 'a By Marshall Riggan Of 'I he Southern Illinoisan As a result of public utility disruption in Murplwsboro the five o'clock shadow is commonplace, soup and sandwiches are in vogue and candles are worth their weight in cold Southern Illinoisan repc ters in-j tcrviewing families in the undam-j acd areas of Murphvsboro were! mtt warmly by chilly people hca ilv scarved and carrying with than to the door a slight aroma ol coal oil and candle smoke. Evfrvone. 'interviewed was re- lufant to talk about inconvenien ces. "We are the lucky ones," and there are others not nearly as wrll off." and "we ate thankful to be alive," weic icnuks constantly hcaid. Tli main inconvenience seemed to be lack of heat.

This problem was solved in var ious wavs. jMrs. E. Roscnhurger, 1001 Chestnut, said her familv lived Huddled in the kitchen. The only i.