Mattoon, IL Tornado, May 1917 - Search for Bodies

DECATUR FIREMEN CALLED TO MATTOON

Will Help Search for Bodies in Ruins.

PLATT IS IN CHARGE

Decaur [sic] Men Will Help in Any Way Possible.

Decatur is helping Mattoon in another way. Wednesday morning MAYOR SWAN called upon CHIEF C. W. DEVORE of the fire department, asking if the latter could send some firemen to help. It seems there are still a number of bodies buried in the ruins that were not reported at first. Every available man in Mattoon is working at some sort of relief work and more are needed to relieve the men who have been working hours and hours without sleep.

IN ALL SERVICES

The local men may be used to relieve Mattoon firemen or to police the streets to help search for bodies. They go willing to do anything they can do to be of service and will probably remain there for some days. Seven in all made the trip and will be under the direction of CAPTAIN PLATT from No. 2 house.

The six others besides CAPTAIN PLATT were BILL BOWEN, DICK CARSON, SAMUEL MORTHLAND, JR., EARL SHENEY, FRED SMITH and BOB LUNSFORD. LUNSFORD, however, will probably not be gone over a day. He went down Wednesday to attend the funeral of his aunt, MRS. MULLINIX, who is one of the storm victims.

REBUILDING PLANS

Wednesday's issue of the Mattoon Commercial-Star says:

"Plans for rebuilding in charge of R. A. GABBERT and W. N. MCKAMY are being worked out as rapidly as possible, and already tangible arrangements have been made insuring an early beginning of actual work. Northing has been done in the way of clearing the area of wreckage and to this task the committee will give first attention, working in conjunction with those in charge of sanitation as the removal of the debris at the earliest possible moment is essential to both departments. In the meantime temporary homes have been obtained for all victims of the tornado.

The Daily Review, Decatur, Illinois 30 May 1917