The oasis., 1896-10-10
THE BENSON FLOOD.
4 FaiI Account Of the FrixhifaI Disaster
 at that Place.

Last week IHR OASIS gave q snort account of the frightful disaster which Oefeu tie town OI Benson on the last day of September, which, while in- complete, was correct in the main, nat was gathered fragmentarily from various persons who bad theirown in- formation by hearsay. It was impOs- sible to get anything more complete or accurate, for, at the time of going Co press, communication with the stricken town had not been restored.
 The rain poured in torrents. and was accompanied by hailstOrrn Of housual severity. Many bt the hail. stones were nearly an inch in diameter and they covered the ground to a depth uf tRD feet on u level, save where tho How Of the rushing waters served to carry them away, and where tlse water did move them 1t lodged them at salient points in great banks four to six feet in depth. Water was knee deep in all the streets, and in many Of them 1t ran so deep and swiftly that to attempt to cross would result In loss Of life.
 Thu dwelling of MT. w. M. Zeek was the only one completely de-
 mOlished, but many others were seri- ously damaged, and many more were invaded by water. and furniture. goods aud other contents seriously damaged hy mud and water. A warehouse which was generally known as the
 hide house. some distance west of tho depot, with It's contents some 1900 bales of hay was swept down in the course Of tue awful flood, striking Wells, Fargo x Co.'S office building, forcing that from its foundation and against the depot building that part occupied by Agent r. $. Webster as q residence. The force of the water burst open the doors of the building, flooding all tiie rooms bO depth Of three feet and ruinlng carpets, furni- ture, etc. Mrs. Webster escaped to the main building, forcing her way through water waist deep to do sO The office was also inundated, but in the higher floor Of the freight house and platform all the occupants found safety. While there they saw with agonized eyes the women who were drowned, Mrs. Xeek and Mrs. Ash burn, swept by in the raging torrent. They were yet alive and screaming for help, which was impossible to give Herbert Wood. the express agent, cut his way out of his office with hat chet, and joined the others at the freight house.
 The house occupied by Mr. Christie not, the yardmaster, which is located about midway between the lower end of the depot and the water tank, seemed threatened wlUil demolition. l It was surrounded by water on all sides, flowing so deeply and swiftly that sure death awaited an attempt to cross. A strong rope was thrown across the street, from higher ground l the other side, secured at both ends, ! and with that as fife line MT. Christi 1 enot crossed his family in safety
 The drug store of H. Walker was flooded, and great deal of stock in | the cellar badly damaged by mud and ] water.
 Mrs. AshbuTn and her two children, Della and Ruby, were at the house of | Mrs. Zeek, who had with her Edgar and Clyde, her two little boys. Mir. | Zeek had been at home about time the storm commenced and had re- | turned to his shop, while MT. Ash burn was out of town. The cloud | Duiob Juou doVNc MT. Leek \ mousse, | swept it out to the corner of the yard | and down against the express office lsome 400 feet away where it went to pieces, under the very eyes of Mir. Zeek, whose shop was but little dis tance away. Mrs. Ashburn was ahead of the house-some think she was out on the porch when the house was struck by the rush of water.
 Thursday the remains of the two ladies were found Mrs. Ashburn had caught upon a barbed wire fence, and as her arms were clasped tightly around post it is supposed she lived intil after she lodged there, and died either from exposure or from injuries. Mrs zeek was found with her head in !