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Zanesville, OH Tornado, Jun 1912 - page 2

Some idea of the velocity of the wind might be gained from looking at the flagstaff on top of the St. Thomas’ school. The staff is of iron and it was bent far out over the building.

Following the accident, after Father Roach made the following statement: “Architects and contractors will begin this afternoon to repair the damage and the church will be ready for occupancy on next Sunday. The steeple will probably not be rebuilt. The high school graduating exercises planned for Sunday evening have been postponed indefinitely.”

Inside the church, ruin is on all sides. The pipe organ, recently remodeled, was in the path of the falling stone and was splintered under its weight. It is a total loss.

A large hole was torn in the roof on the southwest corner and is extended to the extreme northeast corner of the tower. About one-fourth of the ceiling tumbled in, statuary was torn from the walls, holes were torn through the balcony floor and many pews were crushed to pieces.

The lofty tower that has proudly born the golden cross through many a hard storm for more than half a century is now a mass of ruins, partly lying inside the church and partly in the alley to the south. In falling it crashed through the roof of the feed store building adjoining, causing large damage.

Physicians and ambulance companies the police and firemen responded to the emergency call most graciously. All the rescue workers gave their time freely and the work was carried along systematically and within a short time the injured had been given temporary relief and were in ambulances or the patrol wagon enroute to the hospital.

Coroner Walters stated Sunday morning that no official investigation would be necessary in the loss of life. He stated that none would be made unless he was asked to sign the death certificates. He was present to help in the emergency work as a surgeon.

Harry Luby, although suffering a great affection was one of the heroes. He was attending mass with John Dempsay as aid. Young Dempsay in his eagerness to help Mr. Luby from the wreckage took hold of the wrong man and led him from the path of falling timbers and wreckage but he managed to find his way and stood against the wall.

He heard a cry of distress and reaching down he picked a stone off a dying man. When Dempsay returned to the church after his charge he found him standing against the wall.

Dempsay was struck four times in the back with boards, but escaped serious injury. Mrs. Luby, mother of Harry, was slightly bruised.

Thomas Rock, Maple avenue, was perhaps the most serious injured. He was taken to his home and later transferred to the Good Samaritan hospital for an immediate operation.

The bone of his right leg was horribly crushed and mangled and it was necessary to amputate it half way below the knee. The left leg was broken above the knee and was badly contused.

Mr. Rock tried to escape but was caught in the vestibule by a stone weighing a quarter of a ton. He was knocked down and practically buried under the debris.

Mrs. Mary F. Basehart West Muskingum avenue, searched for four sons among the panic stricken crowd, only to learn her youngest son, Edgar, had been injured and carried into the priest’s house. His right leg was broken at the ankle and the bone badly crushed. He was removed to the hospital.

Although he was badly stunned and cut about the head and on the hands, Edwin Sebaugh, 20, of Moxohala avenue, forgot the pain as he made sure other members of his family were safe from the church wreck. After escaping he rushed to a physician’s office to have a cut on his head dressed, and the returned to the church to search for his younger brother and sister. After locating them he accompanied them home.

Mrs. Charles Atherton, 395 North Sixth street, saved her three children from injury but was crushed and trampled in trying to save them in the dense crowd. She was slightly bruised scratched about the hands, and her eyeglasses were knocked off and broken. In falling they cut a slight gash in her cheek.

Another woman whose identity is unknown said she saved her daughter by pushing her ahead. One joint of her finger was bruised and was terribly swollen within a few minutes. Her wedding ring had to be sawed off her finger.

Charles Chapman, 15, Mead street, was knocked down when a board fell on him and was severely injured when a large stone fell on the board. He was taken home. He is suffering from a fractured elbow, sprained knee, several cuts on his face, bruises on the hip and back and a deep cut on the leg.

Continued on page 3 (below)
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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!

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