June 16, 1953
Damage to Beecher Water System set at $100,000

Repair Work May Take Year

Lynn Henderson. Head of Department. Injured in Tornado

Almost overlooked in the rush of outside rescue and rehabilitation agencies, officials and employees of the Beecher Metropolitan district are grimly and quietly going about the gigantic task of getting public utilities back in operation.

Working around the clock since last Monday night, they have left the radio talks about "our people" and tours for visiting VIPs to Flint Mayor Donald L. Riegle. None of them even bothered to point out to Riegle that his authority ends at Carpenter Road, a mile to the south.

They aren't much impressed with visiting "brass" from Washington either. After living through a tornado, titles don't seem important any more.

"We were practically counted out before we started." said Walter H, Brandt, vice-president of the Beecher board, yesterday.

"Our Water department superintendent, Lynn Henderson, was hurt when the tornado struck, and still isn't able to be on the job full time," he explained.

"But crews have been working day and night for almost a week now, and we've got things pretty well back in shape."

The Beecher district government must assume responsibility for the functioning of sanitation facilities, water services and fire protection, as well as normal traffic patrols. Damage to water mains and services is expected to reach $100,000. Also damaged was the district's newly completed sewage system.

Under the temporary direction of John Seltzer, Mt. Morris water superintendent, water service was restored in the district by last Wednesday.

"Most of the damage was to service lines from the street mains to the houses," Seltzer said. "When the houses blew down, the lines went with them."

He said full restoration of water and sewage facilities probably would take more than a year.

"We'll complete the job as people begin to build up their houses again," he said. "As soon as a house goes up, we'll make sure that it gets service.

Seltzer directs a crew of eight maintenance men from the Beecher department, and volunteers from the Beecher Fire department and Mt. Morris and Flushing Water departments.

"They've done everything humanly possible," Brandt said. "The cooperation we've received from everyone has been magnificent."

The district commissioner said that of the Beecher employes, only Henderson was injured in the tornado.

"We're lucky there," he said, "because our crews could get right to work.

Biggest worry to district officials was that the 125 foot Beecher water tower might be blown down in the tornado. The roof of the fire station was damaged, but has since been replaced, as has equipment damaged at the district's three water pumping stations.

"Some people who were watching said the water tower was weaving back and forth in the wind," Seltzer recalled. "If the tornado had really hit it, it would certainly have been brought down."

"As it was, the catwalk, 100 feet above ground, was littered with debris," he said. "We even found a doll lying up there."

Picture caption: No Headline Hunters among the hard-working employes of the Beecher district government, many of whom know first hand what it is like to be hit by a tornado. Walter H. Brandt (left), vice-president of the Beecher board, and John Seltzer, acting superintendent of the Water department, map progress on replacing water mains and services ripped up in the twister. (News-Advertiser photo by Art Mann).

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She will assist Stewart C. Campbell, director of the Cleveland regional office of civil defense, and will set up an office in the Northgate elementary school at Cornell and Summitt avenues.

Mrs. Pearl, a former Flint resident, will take up temporary residence with her daughter, Mrs. Ernest Malasky, 330 W. Hamilton.

Staff. Capt Lawrence Meehan, State Police, in command of operations headquarters, said last night that the clearing up of streets in the area is "rolling along nicely" and that Coldwater road should be entirely clear by Tonight. All remaining streets should be cleared of debris by Thursday, he said.

M. Bushnell Trembley, chairman of the Board of Supervisors and of the recently appointed Disaster committee, will head an open forum today in the Beecher town hall to seek permission from private owners to clean up Their properties, and to discuss other pertinent problems.

Capt. Meehan said that all streets except Coldwater road and Kurtz and Louis streets were opened yesterday morning to through traffic. He said traffic yesterday was good but described it last night as "terrific."

He explained that many Flint factory workers and their families, allowed entrance into the area with the opening of most streets were viewing the devastation for the first time.

Meehan also announced that with rehabilitation work well under way, and the easing of the emergency situation, the Michigan National Guard, which had been called in early Tuesday, will be relieved of its duties this afternoon.

State Police will remain for an indefinite period and will continue in command of activities in the area. He said a staff of 125 officers has been divided into two 12-hour shifts, with a greater number on duty during the daylight hours while work is in progress. These are augmented by Flint police and others who have been assigned chiefly to traffic duty.

Meehan urged area victims to identify and claim immediately the many personal items and important papers which have been found and turned in at the claims depot set up at N. Saginaw street and Coldwater road. He explained that many items have been claimed by owners, but that a huge pile consisting of every conceivable type of item still remains. The space is needed, he said, to make room for other things which will be turned in when residential properties are cleared.

The report from Water Department Superintendent Herschel Self was asked following charges by Ralph Wilson, 145 E. Foss, that power supply to the plant is ill conceived and that stand-by emergency equipment is obsolete and inadequate.

Commissioner Carl W. Delling took up Wilson's charges by saying that the city is in jeopardy from conditions at the plant and that the Commission was advised of the situation last year but took no action.

Wilson said that water service was cut off for 15 minutes following last Monday's tornado and that pressure was resumed with steam boilers which have been condemned by state inspectors.

He said that the plant's dual power lines come in from one pole which could easily be put out of commission.

The motion for a full report and public discussion was made by Marlon Butler and passed unanimously after attempts to have the matter referred to the city manager.

At a meeting of the Genesee County Medical society Sunday, it was decided that the medical men, many of whom worked around the clock in the days following the disaster, would donate all services to the stricken persons.

It also was decided that the Medical society would contribute $5,000 from its treasury to the Red Feather Tornado fund.

Finally, many of the doctors at the meeting said they would donate all fees paid by health and medical insurance companies for disaster victims to the Red Feather Tornado fund as personal contributions.

The action of the group won widespread public approval when it was announced yesterday. It will write off thousands of dollars in medical fees to persons injured in last week's twister.

Hundreds of persons were treated in hospitals and immediately released, but scores were hospitalized for longer periods. Some cases are expected to require medical and surgical care for several months, and services in such cases also will be donated by the doctors.

The resolution passed by the society read:

"The members unanimously and wholeheartedly state their desire that their services to tornado victims during the emergency be considered free of charge to the patient and a matter of service to the community.

"The members further authorize the Finance committee to donate $5,000 to the Red Feather Tornado fund.

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June 16, 1953
Failure to Use Available Beds Laid to Poor Planning

Keith Bowker, administrator of F1int Osteopathic hospital, said yesterday that overcrowding of Hurley hospital with tornado victims while other medical units stood ready was "an error in planning."

In a letter to city government and police officials he quashed rumors, "probably by cranks that is institution shirked its duties after Monday's holocaust.

"Calls were made to State Police, City Police and the Sheriff's office several times, as well as the ambulance companies and Hurley hospital to advise them of our capacity and willingness to help, with no results" Bowker wrote.

"Our staff of doctors was quite concerned that they could not do more, as the ambulances continued to flow to Hurley after it was taxed beyond its capacity," he said.

"This, we feel, was simply an error in planning, which must be rectified in any future such emergency, for the good of all."

Bowker assured the officials that "we were and are ever ready to do our share."

He pointed out that within an hour after the tornado, 20 persons had been treated at the hospital. In all he said, 41 beds were made available for victims. Three operating rooms were in operation, with 22 doctors treating the injured.

Osteopathic hospital also participated in the emergency blood donor program, receiving 58 pints Monday night and Tuesday after the tornado.

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The tenderness of those century-weathered glows fresh in the hearts of the hundreds of families who have offered homes to waifs of the tornado.

But civilization has pasteurized the milk of human kindness. The majority of persons who have sought to adopt orphans of the storm probably will not be given a child.

Probate Judge William Doran said that calls from persons wanting to adopt one or more of homeless children are multiplying daily. Requests by letter have been received from Detroit, Birmingham and Wyandotte

He advised, however, that waiting lists of hopeful families seeking children are on file at the Probate Court and offices of the Michigan Childrens' Aid society. These people will receive first priority on adoptions, he said.

"It has not been clearly established yet that we will have to consider adoptive placements for most of the children left without parents," Judge Doran added. In many cases, he said, relatives want to keep the children.

The judge said that some parentless children still may not have been located. He estimated that about 100 youngsters were left without as wards of the court by the tornado. Probate court officers have been scouring neighboring homes which might be sheltering unreported children.

The Board of Supervisors has petitioned Gov. G. Mennon Williams to ask the federal government for a $50,000 grant to finance Probate Court procedure for the orphans.

Every effort is being taken to prevent situations which arose following the Waco, Texas, tornado, the judge said. Several instances there showed persons identifying themselves as relatives and taking children home. In the urgency of the situation, authorities failed to make proper identification checks.

Some of these well-intentioned persons later took the children across state lines and were prosecuted under the federal government's kidnapping laws.

Judge Doran warned all families housing children made homeless by the storm to be sure the fact has been registered with the Probate court or one of its agencies.

"I have never seen such wonderful community spirit before," the Mayor said. "I want to thank everyone, individually and collectively, on the fine job they have done in helping to meet this terrible disaster.

With this as a benefit for the tornado victims, it is expected to attract even more persons than anticipated. So Mrs. Russell Foley, Auxiliary president, is making a special appeal to all members for sheet cakes to serve with ice cream. She asks that those be larger than originally planned and more of them.

The grounds of McLaren hospital where the event will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. will present a Japanese background. Music is planned. Ice cream and cake will be served. There will be snacks and entertainment for the children.

A large group of women will lend their services on the serving committee headed by Mrs. Robert M. Hamady as chairman with Mrs. David R. Larson as co-chairman.

Working with them will be Mrs. John Ackerman, Mrs. Thomas Bahle, Mrs. John Baker, Mrs. Russell Ballard. Others will be Mrs. Glen Bancroft, a captain, Mrs. Carl L. Barker, Mrs. Harold Batterson, Mrs. Robert M. Bradley, Mrs. Francis Breg, Mrs. Lowell Brevier, Mrs. Arthur Butterfield, Mrs. Lyle Church, Mrs. Edward Coss, Mrs Ted L. Cummings, Mrs. Peter F. Cuthbertson, Mrs. John W. Davis.

Mrs. C. P. DeRoo will be a captain aided by Mrs. Burt Drake, Mrs. John Freeman, Mrs. Grant Frielink, Mrs. Harry G. Gault, Mrs. Russell Gaw, Mrs. E. H. Hamlin.

Mrs. Harold Hardenbrook, another captain, will work with Mrs. Carl Hoehn, Mrs. Harold Inch, Mrs. R. R. Johnson, Mrs. Walker Johnson., Mrs. George Joseph, Mrs. Joe Joseph, Mrs. Willart Karsoe, Mrs. Robert G. Kennedy, Mrs. Frank L. Kortick, Mrs. Harry Leonard, Mrs. Lawrence Lundberg, Mrs. Roy I. MacArthur, Mrs. Joseph A. Macksood, Mrs. William H. McCormick, Mrs. Harold McKay.

Mrs. Leonard McKinnon will be another captain and the committee includes: Mrs. Robert Miller, Mrs. Norman Miller, Mrs. E. H. Moehrke, Mrs. Harold Moore, Mrs. Harold Mumby, Mrs. James Murray, Mrs. Roy Palmer, Mrs. Charles Patton, Mrs. Ray L. Phipps, Mrs. Tom W. Potter, Mrs. Richard J. Ralph, Mrs. Lloyd M. Rappley, Mrs. George Reed, Mrs. E. A. Rohlfing, Mrs. Clarence Ruess, Mrs. E. C Ryle, Mrs. Ernest Schnuck, Mrs. Eugene Smith, Mrs. George Spaulding, Mrs. Richard Stull, Mrs. Earl Trembert, Mrs. Clyde Walt, Mrs. Frank Ware and Mrs. Sten O. Youngquist.

Jessie Waterman of Bridgman, Mich., was elected to serve a two-year term as president of the association. Elected vice-president was Clyde Stevens, of Flint, who formerly served on the MSD faculty, for almost 50 years. Others elected were Henry Lehman of Detroit, secretary, and Carl Park, of Lansing treasurer.

Approximately 400 MSD alumni members attended the annual meeting, some from as far away as the Upper Peninsula.

Membership will depend entirely on physical condition, willingness to serve without remuneration and good character attested to by three reputable persons.

Applicants will be requested to list any past Police or military experience, and any physical defects. Greenlee said the recent tornado, where police reserves were among the first to be called and rendered yeoman service, indicated a great need for a larger staff. The present staff numbers 130.

Application forms may be obtained from Greenlee on the second floor of police headquarters.

More than $8,000 has been collected from Flint public schools for an Emergency Relief Fund to aid victims of the tornado with a few more schools still to be heard from in the collection.

Libraries, maintenance staffs, students and faculty have all given to make up the total. Student Councils have allocated money intended for various social affairs to the Relief fund while, 9-A students graduating from junior high have in many instances given the money set aside for a class gift.

Superintendent of Schools Spencer W. Myers announced that the response to the drive on the part of school personnel and pupils has been heart-warming to say the least."

The fund will be administered by a committee acting through the superintendent's office. A portion of the funds collected will be used for Beecher school personnel and students who are victims of the disaster.

The remainder will be turned over to the Red Feather Disaster Fund.

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H. T. McKinley, manager of local station WTAC which also carried the broadcast, said an additional $'2,000 had. been sent in by listeners here.

The executive committee of the Red Feather fund will meet at noon today to accept the benefit program donations, all of which, according to WJR, have not yet been received or counted.

Red Feather president Osmund Kelly said yesterday that the Executive committee may formulate a recommended policy on distribution or the funds to tornado victims at its meeting today.

"Should it do so," he added, "the Board of Trustees would act on it next week."

Donations and pledges to the Red Feather Disaster fund now total $454,792, of which $336,192 is in cash.
Red Feather payroll deduction cards will be sent to General Motors plants today, for distribution to workers beginning Monday. GM employes may make a single voluntary contribution through the deduction plan.

Though not highly publicized a Red Cross Disaster fund is in operation, and donations amounting to n$31,640 have been received.

Charles C. Goodwin, local executive secretary, said contributions are arriving from other Red Cross chapters throughout the state and nation, and from county branches of the local chapter.

Bay county chapter has donated $3,948, he said, and promises more.

Cpl. James Berardo, attached to the Flint State Police post told members of the East Side Optimist club that experiences gained by his organization from the Beecher tornado will be the guide for future emergency preparations.

M. Bushnell Trembley, addressing the Flint Exchange club, pointed to lessons taught by the twister to civilian disaster agencies and stressed the need for a centralized command post.

Berardo said the State Police have had a "battle plan" for such emergencies as tornadoes for many years. He added that he personally, had failed to visualize the type of disaster it was meant to handle. It was difficult, he said, since a storm as serious as that which swept Beecher never before had occurred in Michigan.

Berardo assured the Optimists that preparations are under way for revisions of disaster plans according to newly-gained knowledge. The new plans will be based on reports and recommendations of all command officers at the tornado disaster scene.

The trooper's chief criticism was leveled at makeshift ambulances, that carried casualties from the stricken area to Flint hospitals. He termed them a "menace.'

"I hate to say this," Berardo said, "but untrained hands transporting persons possible suffering from compound or multiple fractures might have punctured vital organs or aggravated injuries.

"I know that deep in their hearts the persons who volunteered their cars as ambulances did it as good Samaritans and it is hard to criticize them. But, I am sure that if they had waited for regular emergency vehicles to remove the victims, the time lag would not have been much greater. All of them were out about four hours after the storm struck."

Trembly told the Exchange-ites, "It's hard to arouse people to a potential disaster. Flint, however, did rise gallantly in the occasion and must now realize the need for better organization."

When June and Jack announced their engagement in January, they were sure all heartbreak lay behind them. Jack was recuperating in Percy Jones Hospital from wounds suffered while serving in Korea as Sgt. John D. Warby.

They proceeded with plans for a June wedding, never imagining that a twister might try to come between them. But try it did.

The couple was out for the evening when the home of June's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard H. Martin, G-5352 N. Genesee road, was levelled in last week's tornado.

Not only was the house destroyed, but 300 wedding invitations had been scattered to the four winds, and it looked as if the wedding gown and bridesmaids' dresses were a total loss.

"We never once thought of calling off the wedding," Jack says. "But we sure were stunned for a while."

On Saturday, the ceremony will proceed not quite as planned in the Richfield Nazarene church. Rev. C. L. Elston will officiate.

June's gown may not be her own, although she still has hopes that the one she had planned on may yet be repaired in time. The dresses for bridesmaids' and the flower girls have been borrowed from generous friends.

Following a reception at Huston hall In Davison, the couple will honeymoon for a few days Northern Michigan.

"We had counted on a honeymoon in Wyoming,". June sighs, "but now we have to get back to help the families rebuild." The Martins, now living in a borrowed trailer, already havd started to build a new home.

June and Jack had a new home of their own at G-9094 N Genesee all ready to live in after the wedding, but her family has been staying there nights since the tornado struck.

Mrs. Orville Burton will be matron-of-honor for her sister at the 8 p. m. rites, with Mabel Martin, June's cousin, and Helen Warby, Jack's sister, as bridesmaids'

Rita Mathews and Beverly Cole will light the candles, while Myrtle Warby, another of Jack's sisters, will be the flower girl. Gary Burton, June's nephew will be the ring bearer.

John Thome of Millington will be Jack's best man, and Richard Martin and Qrville Burton will usher. Mrs. Thome will provide piano music, and Fred Fortun of Davison will be the soloist.

Jaek is the son of Merton Warby of Mt. Morris, and the late Mrs. Warby.

As for the rehearsal dinner today, it alone has been cancelled. It was to have been held at the bride's home.

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