The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-01
ANOTHER KANSAS FLOOD.

The Town of Medicine Lodge Overwhelmed,
Involving Great Loss Of Life and Prop.
erty.
MEDICINE LODGE, VIA HARPED, KAN,
April 23.-Tuesday morning terrible rain
fall visited Barber County swelling the
Medicine River and Elm Greek, streams
that pass on two sides of the city, far be-
yond anything ever heard in this county.
Elm Greek is In the northwest part of the
county and is fed by numerous small
streams and these were all filled to their
banks in less than one hours time. AT
this place, where the stream Is usually
confined to shallow channel sixty feet wide,
it spread over the first and second bottoms
distance of from half mile to mile
and was fifteen feet deep. In the bottom
directly east Of town were fifty houses, all
occupied, and no less than dozen of these
were entirely destroyed and in many cases
THEIR OCCUPANTS EITHER DROWNED
or were only saved by cIinging to the
branches of trees. Camped in this bottom
were ten or fifteen emigrant wagons filled
with families, and not half the occupants
have yet been found. North of here entire
families were drowned while others made
miraculous escapes. All of yesterday and
last night the streams were 80 high that no
communication could be had with the East
and to-day the first mail matter and dis
patches were sent out The business
houses Of this city were closed yesterday,
ms in fI,n foyar uaI
in the work of constructing boats and
RATS to aid in rescuing the people who
wsTe clinging to the trees, who had found
Judgment on the tops Of remaining houses
or who had taken refuge on the high points
of ground. Many of these were without
clothes and were cold and stiff when res
cued. Their appeals for help were heart
rending. Many parties who attempted to
rescue them in the frail boats were them
selves dashed into the water and barely
saved. Before noon 10 less than dozen
citizens who had attempted to help the un-
fortunate were
THEMSELVES CRYING FOR HELP
from the tops of trees. Horses could not
live in the strong current, and so the people
had to wait until the flood subsidized before
any substantial relief could be given. By
night nearly all Of the living had been
rescued from their perilOus positions, though
few could not be rescued. A party was
out all night endeavoring to rescue those
remaining. The Medicine River was eight
feet higher than ever known, but SO far as
known no lives were lost on this stream,
the people not having dared at any time to
live or come too near its banks. However
hundreds of cattle were drowned by tht
Medicine River, and great fields of crops
were ruined and fences torn away. Much
stock was also lost on Elm Creek and hun
dreds of dead animals line its banks. The
flood started at dark Monday night, north
west Of here. Witnesses say that for six
hours the rain actually poured, and then a
great water spout burst and sudden rise |
here of ten feet occurred i'm less than ten |
minutes. The severe storm appears not |
to have extended west of Sun City or far |
north of Elm Mills. G. w. Paddock, wife |
and four children, living ten miles north on |
Elm Creek were overwhelmed by the flood |
which completely destroyed their house. |
The bodies of the wife and three of the |
children have been recovered. The wife |
and child of Frank Simpler of this town
were on top of their house and can not be |
heard of. Simpler was carried two miles in |
the water and escaped barely alive. Jerry
Gibbs. his daughter, Mrs. Harris and her
daughter were I'LL drowned.
THE BODIES OF THE TWO WOMEN
have been recovered. Charlie Smith, Of
Cowley County, mover, has not been
found. Samuel Maddox, of Cnautauqua
County, with his wife and seven children
and brOther-n-law, Robert Soag, of Clinton
County, Mo-, were camped near Elm Creek.
The wife and four children were drowned.
Her body and those of two children were
Maddox lost his team but re-
covered trunk containing nearly $4,000.
One daughter and son remained in the tree
tops eight hours. Four wagons containing
movers are unheard of yet, and it is sup
posed they were all drowned and that their
bodies will be found below here. No
news has been received from below here
OH Medicine River further than ten miles,
but the superstition Is that the loss of liie
will be great. The city council has organ
lied relief association and thousands of
dollars have already been subscribed. All
dead bodies recovered up to to-day will be
buried this afternoon. The district court
has adjourned until the excitement is over,
and the court room has been turned into
morgue. Judge Omer Is out with search
ing parties. Sun City and Lake City. west
were not seriously damaged, though In
undated. Elm Mills was also covered with
water, but no loss Of life occurred.
nann,Nr a~ara, |