The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-04-28
DEATH IN A wATERspoUr.
Terrible fate in Dozen Families in
Kansas Town.

WicHITk, KAN, Ap'a % "A dispatch
from Medicine E.,dge tells OF tie fearful
|results OF wafer spout ST cloud burst,
Ito she residents of the Medicine River,
which seems to have been the same that
filled the Ninnescah to OVERT ,wing. The
water rolled down over the lowlands,
east of Medicine Lodge City, in wave
five TO twelve feet high, carrying death
in its wake. Several families are known
to be drowned Yesterday morning
parties who had gone out Co give refief
found men. women AMI children clineing
to trees with nothing but their right
clothes to protect them, and some with
out any clothing whatever, but still alive
Their cries could be heard as early as
4 o'clock in the morning, above the
waving waters. Three attempts were
made to rescee parties beyond tue river,
/ hut euch boat Ia turn was swamped, and
ktbe occupants only saved themselves by
swimming 10 trees.
Five bodies had b en- recovered up to
the hour OF the writing Of tae despatch,
which was cent over 10 the first rafirosd
lpoint by mnil Another body was in
sight, hat could not be reached. There
were eight movers wagons camping IN
sthe bottoms and one old man has recog-
snized the bodies OF three Of bgs fsmfly
IBIS wife aud two children. James
EGinbs ana li- daughter and niece were
Fwashed away wRh their home. A Mrs.
Harris and ler little girl of eleven years
sswere found drowned. G. w. Paddock
gand family, consisting of a wife and four
ichildren, are thought to be drowned
Frank shippher put his wife and child
on the roof, and his house went down
sF7e was Knocked Il by projecting limb
Aand swair ashore, several miles below
lint OF the fate OF bis wHe and child
nothing was isnown
The tewn Is situated between the
Medicine River and T. NJ Creek Early
Tuesday morning the Il ,oi came down
Ethe streams quickly, over Swing their
hottom lands to q depth OF about ten
Fleet. IN the Elm Creek bottomss east
.of the town, dcz,n houses were en-
stMely destroyed and many of the occu-
Flpants drowned or saved Only by cling
fling to the BRANCHES of trees In .camps
| in the bottoms were ten OF fffteen emf
grant wagons @led With families, and
mot half OF these have yet beer found
North Of here entire families were dr. 1D
ed, Others made niraguloss escapes. All
of yesterday and last night the streams
were so high that no communication
could be bad with The East, and to-day
the first dispatches we're sent ont. The
stores in town were clos d Yesterday and
every citizen was engaged n The work Of
Irescuing people by boats and RATS from
their perilous posi- Inc in trees and on
Ehouae,ops This work was extremely
Hazardous. and bv nightfall there were
still come isolated prisoners. A relfe
! party was out oil night picking up these
Funforsunases. The people in Medicine
River bottoms had earlier warning, ant
! all escaped with their lives. Hundred.
OF cattle we're drowned and great field.
OF ciops rniaad.. Hundreds Of deaG
animals also line the hanks OF Elm Creek
The Use started at dark on Monda,
nieat and rain poured steadily TOR s1
hours, wbl b was followed by a grea
cloud hurst north OF The town..
}, Among those known to be los. are ,h
following
! CIV Paddock. wife and four chit
dren; bodies Of wife and three of tn
ichiidren recovered.
Jerry Gibbs and daughter.
, Mrs. Harris and daughter; bodies o
latter two recovered. :.
Wife and four children OF Samue
; Maddox; bodies Of the woman and tw'
children recovered,
Fne four wagons containing "movers
have NOT been heard from and 1t i
thought all the occupants have persisted
-Four steerage passengers from Ant
werp are held in New York upon tn
] charge preferred by the KOigh's Of Z,
/ L.. Al, "a L., II.