"The  destructive  tornado  which
     struck Poplar Bluff Monday afternoon wrecking  practically  every  business
     building, snuffing out scores of lives and  injuring  hundred's  of  others
     left the citizen, as is usual in such  calamities,  stunned  by  the  awful
     catastrophe. None could realize that the splendid business  buildings,  the
     prosperous mercantile establishments and other institutions,  which  go  to
     make up a beautiful and prosperous community, had been  wiped  out  in  the
     twinkle of an eye. Many of these places had been  years  in  the  building.
     Many of the citizens had spent the  better  part  of  their  lives  in  the
     directing the growth of their business and for a time there was a fear that
     the task of rebuilding would be a burden greater than the  community  could
     bear.

     But with the generous and timely help of our  neighboring  communities  the
     work of burying the dead and caring for the injured is under way and  today
     we see the spirit of Poplar Bluff in evidence. Streets are being cleared of
     the mass of wreckage, electric service is being restored, temporary repairs
     are being made and the citizenship of the city is carrying on.

     Communities are characteristic of the type of these individual citizens and
     we are proud to say that no where will there be  formed  a  high  class  of
     citizenship than that which has labored for  many  years  in  developing  a
     small backwood village to a city of beautiful homes, well paved and lighted
     streets, splendid schools and churches  and  prosperous  manufacturing  and
     mercantile establishments. To many of us this is the city of our choice. We
     came here because we were attracted by its natural advantage, all of  which
     were left untouched by the recent catastrophe.

     To be sure the task of rebuilding will not be an easy one. It will tax  our
     efforts and our ingenuity to the utmost. It means that  our  confidence  in
     our city, in our fellow man and in ourselves must remain unshaken  and  out
     of it all will emerge a greater and bigger and better Poplar Bluff.

     Are Poplar Bluffians down hearted?  Are  they  disgusted  with  efforts  to
     building the finest and best city in  Southeast  Missouri?  The  answer  is
     found on every hand - - a thousand times NO! Poplar Bluff will be  rebuilt,
     bigger and better than ever."

     -------------------
 POPLAR  BLUFF   WILL  REBUILD  
     MILER PLANS TO REBUILD ALL HIS BUILDINGS

     Charles Miller, probably the largest individual property  owner  and  well-
     known local merchant, returned to Poplar Bluff  yesterday  from  St.  Louis
     where he went Sunday to be at his wife's bedside during an  operation.  Mr.
     Miller this morning said Poplar Bluff could count on him to rebuild all his
     damaged buildings. "I'm really  puzzled,  yes,"  he  said,  "I  just  can't
     realize what has happened. It seems like a dream to leave  Poplar  Bluff  a
     good little city and to return only to find it in ruins." "I  am  going  to
     rebuild everything I own just as quickly as possible," said Miller.  "Labor
     is scarce and some of us will have to wait to get help to handle our  work,
     but just as quickly as I can arrange to do so, work will be started on  all
     my buildings. I will build  them  bigger  and  better  than  ever  before."
     Miller's large store building on South Main street was badly damaged by the
     storm. Other  buildings  of  his  were  also  wrecked.  -------------------

     WOMAN WAS UNDER DEBRIS MANY HOURS
     Red Cross workers yesterday morning found Mrs. B. Deen in a pile of  debris
     near her home in East Poplar Bluff. She had been pinned under the  wreckage
     Monday afternoon and remained there through the rain that  night.  She  was
     badly injured. She was taken to a hospital in a very serious condition. ---
     ----------------

 EAST SIDE SCHOOL ENDED FOR YEAR 
     Fine New Building to Replace One Damaged - School Not To  Be  Resumed  This
     Year.

     There will be no more school this year in  the  East  Side  school,  struck
     hardest by the tornado Monday afternoon.

     J. H. Woopers, president of the school board, said this morning, the  board
     has agreed to suspend school at once, since there are only a few more  days
     of school scheduled for this term.

     "Not long ago we revised all our insurance on school  building,"  he  said,
     "and we are well protected. We will plan  immediately  to  put  up  a  real
     building in East Poplar Bluff. We hope to have one of the finest schools in
     the city there."

     "Since one of our schools had to be hit by  the  terrible  tornado,  it  is
     probably well, form a standpoint of building conditions, that the East Side
     school was hit. Of course it is a terrible thing that the children  had  to
     suffer. Some of them were killed, which makes it the more  terrible.  Those
     distress parents and children certainly have the heartfelt sympathy of  the
     school board and the  people  generally."
 -------------------

LABOR BURAU AT THE  LYCEUM
     
     A labor bureau has been opened at Lyceum Theater building. This bureau will
     be a hearing house between labor and employes. Al people seeking  jobs  may
     apply at the labor bureau, and their applications will be  filed  in  their
     respective lines of work.

     People wanting labor may apply at the bureau. Frank  J.  Schweitzer  is  in
     charge of the bureau. He will  have  names  of  all  people  wanting  work,
     including carpenters, brick masons, shod  carriers  and  other  classes  of
     labor. This bureau is organized, he said, to aid in rehabilitation  of  the
     stricken area.

 -------------------

     The Frisco passenger train encountered the  tornado  which  visited  Poplar
     bluff at Hoxie Monday afternoon. Two coaches loaded with passenger(s)  were
     thrown off the track, and conductor Rice and Brakeman Steck  were  injured.
     It was considered miraculous  that  more  passengers  were  not  hurt.  The
     engineer cut his engine loose and came on to Poplar Bluff arriving here  at
     midnight.
   -------------------

      Grief Stricken Prepare to Bury Dead 
     Nearly a hundred grief stricken families today were preparing to bury their
     dead following the worst tornado that has ever struck Poplar Bluff.

     The death list continued to mount today, with discovery of other bodies  in
     the ruins of the old Riverside building and other collapsed structures. The
     list of dead now is ninety-one with possible other bodies to be found.

     Funeral services for some of the tornado victims  will  be  held  tomorrow.
     Other bodies have been shipped to various points for funeral rites.
  -------------------

        Child     Dies
     
     Little Harry Rexford, 12-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Rexford of  North
     B. street, and one of the victims of  the  East  Side  school  wreck,  died
     enroute to a hospital in St. Louis last evening. The body was  returned  to
     Poplar Bluff this afternoon for burial tomorrow.

     The body of Pat Barnett was taken from the ruins of the old Riverside  this
     afternoon. Other bodies are expected to be found there.

     The Board of Health this afternoon announced that free typhoid inoculations
     would be given  those  wishing  such  treatment,  beginning  at  2  o'clock
     Thursday afternoon and  continuing  for  a  week.  Three  "shots"  will  be
     requested, each patient being informed when to return.

           Many Injured
     The Red Cross estimates that between 350 and 400 were injured  to  such  an
     extent that treatment was necessary. Many others were less seriously hurt.

     Searching parties continued this afternoon to  prod  the  wreckage  of  the
     Melbourn hotel, the south Broadway pool room,  the  Riverside  and  various
     other buildings.

     Sixty-one people were being treated at the hospitals. Milton  Moore,  negro
     porter, and employed at Dalton's store, was the only employe (continued  on
     Page Two) [get rest of story ……]

     -------------------
Read the death list

 THE DEAD    
                -------------------
        EXPLANATION
     
     The Daily Republican has been seriously handicapped in its work during  the
     past two days because the press room was flooded with water,  damaging  the
     large motors used to drive the presses. The typesetting machines were  also
     damaged.

     A large crew has been at  work  yesterday  and  today  trying  to  get  the
     equipment in condition.

     Every effort will be made to issue a normal  newspaper  tomorrow,  although
     conditions are as yet questionable. The subscribers are asked to bear  with
     The Daily Republican until such time as normal operations of the  newspaper
     plant can be restored.

     The equipment of the Montgomery & Son job shop was in use today in  getting
     out this small paper. -------------------

     FUNERAL RITES FOR WM. BOYT TOMORROW 
     Funeral services for William O. Boyt, will be held at the Christian  church
     at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The Rev.  A.  L.  Wilkinson  will  have
     clergy.
 -------------------

     REBUILDING OF CITY IS IN PROGRESS
     Hundreds of men were busy today  clearing  the  wreckage  of  the  business
     district of the city laid  waste  by  the  tornado,  torrential  storm  and
     disaster, that wrought a two million dollar property  damage  here  Monday.
     The city has the appearance of renewed industry and the devastated area  of
     the business district is being removed with all possible haste.

     A hurry and scurry of busy workers on  every  wrecked  building,  with  the
     property owners directing and assisting the arduous tasks of  removing  the
     tangled inasses of ruins, shows signs that Poplar Bluff is to be rebuilt in
     record time.

 -------------------
Will Rebuild
     Property owners seen today state  that  all  the  building  damaged  beyond
     repair will be rebuilt from the ground  up  and  that  rebuilding  will  be
     started at once. The owners talked freely of their plans  and  a  check  up
     discloses that the entire devastated area will be made ready for occupation
     with all possible haste.

     A new Butler County courthouse will  be  built.  It  was  stated  in  court
     circles that the building was damaged beyond repair, though still  standing
     with its walls and roof, cracked and leaning,  shows  signs  of  danger  to
     those working inside to save the records of the  county.  The  building  is
     partly covered by insurance.

     -------------------
 Rebuild Club.
     The Elks Club, a tangled mass of ruins, is  to  be  rebuilt.  Removing  the
     wreckage started today. The building was fully covered by insurance.

     Property owners in the downtown section, who stated today  their  buildings
     would be built and repaired without delay, included W. N.  Barron,  Charles
     Miller, Mrs. W. W. Trner, Carl and Ed Abington, C. M. Ducam, Grover Dalton,
     Snider and Hamilton, Walker {need the 'rest of the story ….}

     -------------------

      The Daily Republican Poplar Bluff,
     MO   -   
Thursday Evening, May 12, 1927   -   pg 3
TORNADO  SIDELIGHTS
     Dr. Z. Lee Stokely was working on a patient at his office  when  the  storm
     stuck. Stokely turned to look at the flurry of wind and hail, and as he was
     standing in the window and before realizing anything else, he found himself
     standing amid a pile of brick and debris on  the  sidewalk  below.  Stokely
     said he looked up and the patient was still seated in the dentist chair. --
     -----------------

     Tricks of the wind when  recounted  today  brought  forth  one  of  unusual
     interest when it was found that the works from a wrist watch worn  by  Miss
     Lena Farnham were taken from the case and deposited on a counter across the
     room. The watch crystal and works were found together.
-------------------

     An iron lid for a coal hole on the sidewalk in front of the  Ducker  hotel,
     was lifted from its position and carried away. It has not been  found.  The
     lid weighs possibly 75 pounds.
-------------------

     Mrs. Sherman Ballard, who was the only member of  her  family  at  home  on
     Sixth street at the time of the tornado, narrowly escaped  death  when  her
     home was picked up and sailed in the air for several hundred feet and  then
     fell to the ground in shattered pieces when it  struck  a  telegraph  pole.
     Mrs. Ballard was pin- [need the 'rest of the story]
-------------------

     Many wild and thrilling stories were started on the streets  yesterday  and
     today. Reporters went scurrying about endeavoring to get  the  low-down  on
     such reports. However, in virtually every case it was found that the rumors
     were started by someone with a magnified imagination.
-------------------

     The speed with  which  streets  were  cleaned  following  the  tornado  was
     remarkable. Industry is on every hand. Men are cleaning streets,  searching
     debris, repairing buildings and doing other work of a substantial nature.
-------------------

     Thirteen must have been a "bad luck" number Monday  afternoon  because  the
     Western Union clocks stopped at 3:13 o'clock, indicating that was the  hour
     the storm struck. These clocks are electrically driven, and stopped as soon
     as the wires were broken.
-------------------

     Trainmen operating the special train from Poplar Bluff to  Dexter,  to  get
     doctors and guardsmen Monday afternoon, are to be  complimented  for  their
     efforts. They assumed charge of a local freight train when  it  was  turned
     over to a newspaper man, and did all possible for a stricken city. The crew
     was composed of W. M. Estes, conductor, J. F. Stewart, V.  Stewart  and  S.
     Louis, brakeman, Tom S. Blackwell, engineer, and Fireman Ward.
-------------------

     Eighteen hours after the tornado, Otto Christian and John Gorman heard  the
     cries of a baby from the debris, near the East Side School.  After  digging
     down through the timbers, they found the 4 month old  baby  girl  of  Henry
     Brown. The child had lived in the wreckage for 18 hours.
-------------------

     The Dalton Furniture  Store,  the  largest  furniture  store  in  Southeast
     Missouri, was piled in a heap on the ground with 14 people in the store and
     one one death. The colored porter, Milton Moore, is beneath the  ruins,  it
     is quite evident, although the body has not been found. Woodard Baldwin and
     Miss Gertrude Stokely remained in the office of the store,  on  the  second
     floor, John Casey  and  two  customers  on  the  third  floor  in  the  rug
     department, and the other employees of the store and three customers on the
     first floor and in the basement. The small space in which Miss Stokely  and
     Mr. Baldwin stood was the only place on that floor left hanging. After  the
     storm had passed they swung down a pole and went  on  down  to  an  opening
     which they could  see.  The  other  employees  and  customers  found  small
     openings from which they escaped. A traveling man in the  building  at  the
     time it collapsed cannot be accounted for,  and  it  is  not  known  if  he
     escaped.
-------------------

     Another Body Is Found in the New Melbourne 
     The body of a man believed to be Crit McCollum of Corning, Ark., was  taken
     from the ruins of the New Melbourne hotel  this  afternoon.  The  body  was
     horribly mashed, being located under tons  of  brick.  The  searching  crew
     believes other bodies will be found in that part of the building.

     Lack of help has caused considerable delay in  the  work  of  prodding  the
     ruins of various buildings, it was said today. Other people  are  asked  to
     assist in this work. Little work could be done last night  because  of  the
     lack of lights  and  shortage  of  labor.
-------------------
  Free  Wood  For  Those  Wanting  To  Haul   It
     Out  People  wanting  kindling  wood  may   help
     themselves to the portions of building wrecked and thrown into the streets,
     city police announced today. Anyone wanting to get loads of the old  lumber
     may drive into the city and load it on their wagons bring trucks  in  order
     that the debris may be cleared away as soon as possible.
     -------------------

 'Daily American Republican  Poplar  Bluff,
  Butler Co., MO  -  Wed., May  21, 1962, pg 11A:
     [Three photos of the devastation of building destroyed by the 1927  tornado
     … tried to scan the 'copied' images but they didn't turn out well enough to
     be viewable]

     Caption beneath the photos:

     IT HAS BEEN 35 YEARS since the Poplar Bluff tornado, but the memory lingers
     with many persons who were here at the time. John Burns, 939 Park, dug  out
     these pictures a few days ago --- grim reminders  of  the  storm.  The  top
     picture is the old Dalton-Baldwin building  (now  Woolworths);  the  middle
     picture looking south from in front of the post office on Broadway, the old
     Fraternal Building on immediate right, and lower picture is what  was  left
     of the three-story brick Melbourn hotel, just back of the Dunn. The tornado
     hit at shortly past 3 in the afternoon of May 9, 1927.