The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-03
TELEGRAPHIC.
RUSH OF THE WATERS.
Deadly Effect of Cloud-Burst in the
Far West.
Eleven Cowboys Swept to Eternity in
the Raging FleOd-A Water
spout I'm Texas and
its Ravages.

DENVER Col, June 3-A cattle roundup
camp on Frenchman creek, Nebraska, just
over the Colorado line, was entirely de-
stroyed last Wednesday by a food, and
eleven cowboys belonging in Colorado and
Nebraska were drowned. The food was
caused by a cloud-burst on the creek, which
runs through southwest Nebraska and
northeastern Colorado. The party, which
consisted of Charles Hall, W. J. Pei
ton, William Carson, William Fergu-
son, Lon Witherbee, John Smith, Pat
rick Lynch, Robert Fowler, Robert r. Eddy,
and j. Lindsey, with roundup camp outfit
from district No. 10, of Colorado, arrived at
Frenchman creek Wednesday. Meeting
other parties they joined forces and camped
near Cooper Camp" About two hours
after an awful rush of the waters in French
man creek occurred, but was unnoticed. 1t
gathered strength and violence and rose rap
idly until shortly after midnight when the
cloud burst occurred. This Swelled the little
creek to mighty torrent, which burst over
the banks and came rushing down on the
cowboys camp in wave which swept
away wagons, animals, and men. The camp
at once became a scene of indescribable ter
ror, the shouts for help from the tents, the
neighing of drowning horses, and the cries of
fleeing cattle filling the air. To increase the
terror of the moment rain began to fall in
torrents, accompanied by thunder and light
ming, making the night one of fearful horror
Two camps near the one upon which such
destruction was wrought had narrow escapes
from the flood. Although the water came
into the camps they were too far from the
creek to be seriously damaged.
When daylight came the banks of the
steam were seen to be srrewn for miles with
fragments of wagons tents, tent-poles, and
blankets, while here and there was body,
the face depicting the terrible agony under
gone in the struggle for life. Five bodies
were found some distance down the creek.
They were those of William Ferguson, Will.
lam Carson, Charles Hall, W. ]. Pelton, and
one which has not yet been recognized. The
six who are still missing, notwithstanding a
continued search has been made up to the
present time, are j. Lindsey. Lon Wither-
bee, John Smith, Robert Fowler and Patrick
Lynch.
The fall of the water where the cloud burst
occurred tore great holes in the ground, car
ried down tons of soil and rock to the creek,
the camp, which stood directly in the path
Of the slide The food came with such
rapidity that the mon in the other camps dc
not know whether the camp was destroyed
by the torrent from the cloud or whether the
water emptiei inself into the creek, swelling
it, and thus causing the flood.
Waco, Tex, June 5-Information is re
ceived from Shackelford county that Friday
night last a huge water-spout fell, covering
several hundred acres, and doing great dam
age. One ranchman lost $50 sheep out of {
flock of 900 On the same day waterspou
burst near Cisco, at the head Of Battle creek
and caused the creek to overflow in a few
minutes, covering the bottom lands, anC
drowning some cattle, and washing every
thing before it Several farms were ruined
but no lives were lost.