Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-06-20
FLOODGATEs OPENl
Miraculous Escapes From Death at the Water
Ditch Camp.
The Flood Oflsss Repeated in Miniature Last
Night

Barber county had been needing rain
for two weeks and last night it came
like thousand of brick. The win
dows OF Heaven were opened and tor
rent of water was poured out, the north
ern and northwestern part of tbs ceun-
ty being visited by continuous rain
fall lasting five hours solid.
The result of this wonderful outpour
was noticeable here al 2 o'clock this.
Wednesday, morning, when the roar of
the Medicine river and Elm creek called
the people from their beds. reminding
them that the food of April 1885 was
likely 10 be repeated.
People flOcked TO the raging torrents
that were washing the eastern and
western sides of this city, many with
ropes and others with hastily made
boats ready to rescue any that might
be swept down the swift current. For
tunately no opportunity offered these
willing hands, for when daylight came
1t was discovered that the flood mark
of 1885 had not been reached by either
stream by four feet.
The bottom land east of town was
nearly covered, and several houses sur
rounded, butno great damage was done.
At J. NJ. Sherpy's place. the sylvan
Retreat" now occupied by S. l.. Over
street, p. ID. Cunningham and other
bachelors, the beautiful garden and or
cnard was considerably damaged and
the shrubbery twisted in a terrible
manner.
But the worst damage was at the
camp of Cole q Simpson, the contract
ors who are grading the water ditch,
two miles north of town on Elm creek.
Camped there were about 40 men in
tents and wagons and surrounding them
were 20 teams of horses and mules.
The camp was directly on the bank of
the stream, on low place, a slough or
ravine dividing the camp. At2 O'Clock
+. 5. Brock, the time-keeper, felt the
water under him and awoke his bed
fellow, Burt Aber, the two being
OF the ground asleep.
They alarmed the camp and Aber
jumped on horse and rode over the ra-
vine and rescued several men who were
then i'm water waist deep. Z. b. Cole as
captain directed the men to tie every
wagon fast to the trees and then climb
trees themselves. There orders were
obeyed, Mr.. Cole proving the best climb
er in the outfit. The family of Jim.
Daniels was carried out to high ground
Lon Pinkerton and his folks who were
In tent took refuge in the bluffs ad
jacent to his abode.
In the meantime Burt Aber's horse
had become ungoYernable and dashed
with him out into the swiftest current
and the two, rider and horse, were car
ried down the stream 200 yards when
Burt was knocked off, fortunately near
the bank to which he chung and was
saved. The horse escaped to the east
side of the creek and was found this
morning.
Noic ~ olnpSOu IOSJ TWO wagons,
several tents, all of their feed and sup
plies, several sets of harness and a good
portion of their camping outfit. They
will not be able TO resume work until
tomorrow at noon. Fortunately none
of their grading or filling was dis
turbed.
The eastern approaches TO both of
the bridges over Elm creek, south and
east of town are washed out, rendering
them impossible. The approach to the
bridge oyer Spring creek, at Macey's,
is unsafe. The bridges over the Medi-
cine river west of town are safe so far
as known.
Three bridges over the sloughs in
bursts grove were washed out and it is
thought the bridges north of here were
damaged.
The Medicine river is very high this
morning, but so far we have heard of
no loss of life.
The entire county was visited by the
rain and the corn crop was greatly ben
Gifted.