The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1885-04-29
DROWNED IN THEIR BEDS
lgaud- Burst in Kansas at Night
Submerging Houses III the
LoWlanCs.
Great Sacrifice Of Life at Medicine
Lodge and Thereabou's

reached here to-day OF water spout
iast night near Medicine Lodge, in
the Spring Creek valley, doing great
damage to life and property. 1t
struck a party OF immigrants who
were camped near the river, and over
ifty people are reported drowned.
This forenoon eIght per Ja5 were
found clinging to the branches OF
rees where they had caught while
being borne away by the raging flood.
They were still alive. One, a wom-
an, with her babe only ) months old,
was found in the branches OF tree,
where she had clung for over SIX
hours. and was we'll nigh dead with
exhaustion.
q damaging wash-out occurred
on the ANTHONY extensions Of the Ft.
Scott & Wichita railroad, between
Anthony and Argon1a last night,
causing a frcrgh train 10 become de
rallied, wrecking several cars.
ADDITIONAL. ACCOUNT.
Wichita, kas. April IA spec
ial from Medicine Lodge recounts
fearful results of the water spout, or
cloud-burst, to the residents Of Med
iclne river. which seems to have been
the same that filled the Ninnescah TO
overflowing. The SPECIAL says the
water rolled down over the low lands
east of Medicine Lodge city : to II
feet. perpendicular, carrying death
in its wake. Several whole families
are known TO be drowned. Icster-
laf morning parties who had gone
out 10 give relict, found men, women
aud children clinging to trees. with
nothing but their night clothes %
protect them, and some without any
clothing whatever, but still alive.
Their cries could be heard as early
as 4 O'Clock III the morning above
the waving waters. Three attempts
were made to rescue parties beyond
the river, but each boat in turn was
swamped and the occupants only
saved themselves nv swimming TO
trees. FIVE bodies had been recos-
cred up 10 the hour of the writing of
the dispatch, which was sent over to
the first railroad point by mail. An
other body was IN sight but could not
DC reached. There were eight NOV
ers' wagons camping in the bottoms.
One old man has recognized the
bodies OF three of his family, his wife
and two children, bows respectfully :
and 7 years of age. Jas. Gibbs and
ms daughter and niece were washed
away with their home. Mrs.
Harris and her little girl Of II wears
We're found drowned. @. w. Pad
aock and family, consisting of wife
and tour children, are thought 70 be
ID drowned. Frank Shippler put his
"lte and child on the roof OF his
house. The house went down. He
was knocked off by projecting limb
aud swami ashore several miles he
low, but Of the tate OF his wife and
Child nothing was known.
HOUSES SUBMERGED AND DESTROYED
Medicine Lodge, Ka>.. Aprll =.
This town is situated between
Medicine river and Elm creek. Ear
y Tuesday morning the fool came
eown the streams. quickly overflow
ias the bottom lands to the depth al
ABOUT 10 feet. In the Elm creek
soooms, east Of town.a a dozen houses
were entirely destroyed and many oI
'ae Occupants drowned. or saved by
sansing to the branches OF trees. II
lamps IN the bottoms were 10 or :
immigrant wagons filed with fauil
g and not half Of these persons have
ss' oeen found. North O; here en-
are families were drowned. Will,
'.aers made miraculous escapes. Al
y Yesterday and last night the stream
we're SO high that no communication
seaio De had with the East. and to-