Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-07-29
A CLOUDBURsT.
The Families Of James Bradley and
Mrs. Bryant. Tollgate Keeper.
with Their DIV eiiings. swept Down stream
IL n. Bridge, Conway Mill and
Other Property wrecked-Jim
Sudduth Hero.


from Franklin county state that a
cloudburst Tuesday morning at four
o'clock on Benson's creek, four miles
from Frankfort, resulted in the drown
ing OF at least ten people. Tho
drowned are:
James bradley, n farmer, his wife
and Ave children and Mrs. Bryant, n
widow and two small children. Other
bodies may also be found. The Louis
vile and Nashville bridge was swept
away and great damage was done to
property in the county.
Benson's creek comes out of the west
ern portion of the county, crosses the
various turnpikes six or eight miles
from town, then crosses the railroad
four miles from town and comes down
alongside the railroad till il empties
into the river in the middle of the town.
Mrs. Bryant kept n tollgate near the
bridge, the little toll house was right
on the creek and just across from
James Bradley's, and not far from her
fathers, Squire Moore. The Conway
mill, just above, was the first to go.
Its timbers must have swept
away the Bryant and Brad
ley houses. These houses them
selves must have hit the railroad
bridge two miles below. The bridge
was swept away with terrible force.
Everything about it, iron and all, ex-
cept the main abutments, are gone.
The cloudburst struck near the mill,
swept the latter away, and the mill
timbers are supposed to have carried
away the little Bradley and Bryant
homes, while all together were swept
down against the railroad bridge All
railroad trains from Frankfort, Lex
ington and intermediate points are cut
off from Louisville.
The c. q o. train from Lexington
found it impossible TO go TO Louisville
over the Louisville Southern, and after
trying to come to Frankfort, went
back to Lexington TO remain.
In ten minutes after the cloudburst
Benson's creek, which empties into the
Kentucky river Immediately below
town, was Il mad, swollen river, cover
ing the valley on either bank and
sweeping everything before it.
The first thing 10 go was the L. & n.
bridge across the creek, about three
miles from town. 1t was a new bridge,
on new masonry, but the superb struc-
ture was not fastened down, and il was
carried away like chaff before
the wind. The first train out
Of Frankfort Tuesday morning.
the o'clock accommodation. was
warned before il reached the danger
Gus gap and returned to town with its
passengers. The other l.. & n. and C.
Il o. trains from Lexington and the
east are being held here till some ar
engagements for transferring passcn-
gers and baggage can be made. II is
believed that this will be possible
Tuesday afternoon when, if the creek
has fallen sufficiently, a farm wagon
and the wagon road below will be used
as transfers.
Inc biggest property damage was
probably at Fences saw mills. The
supply of logs were tied up in great
RATS on the river just below where
Benson empties, every log represents
ing more than $4,000 feet of lumber.
were swept away. The iron rails for
90 feet back of the abutment of the
Louisville and Nashville BRIDGE
were twisted in two and drap-
ged down stream with the bridge
Right below the boarding on this side
was where Jim Suddutk lived. He is n
hero to-day. His rescue of his wife
and children was brave and darino
one. The railroad embankment NEXT
the pier kept back the floods at That
point higher than the roof of his little
home. The water and boarding. tim
bers broke open his little stable and
let out his horse. When he swan ont
OF the house to his stable through ) feet
OF water his horse was gone. He swan
TO the higher railroad track. climbed n
hillside at an angle of 10 degrees and
brought down neighbor's horse. On
ms back through the torrent at the
hrst streaks of daylight Sudduth made
ms way TO his little home. His wife
had cllmbe with the children to the
roof. lie took his wife first. and
placing her on the railway tract, be-
tween the two streams, went back ON
the horse and got all three of his little
children
Dispatches from all points in the
east central portion of the state rcnort
great loss Bridges on the Louisville
and Nashville railroad east Of here |
were washed out and traffic is nj a /
standstiil. Farmers in this sectior
suffered very heavy loss. entire |
fields of wheat and corn bci,o, |
swept away. The loss to lumbernen |
along the Kentucky river will be onor- |
nous several mills and thousands Of |
logs having been swept away. A. |
ShcIbyville Clear creek Overlooked tho /
lower portion of the town and mt ont |
inc fires in the gas works. At Hardins- !
burg the water stoD6 Ave feet dcep in
the baptist and Met,sdist churches.
In Louisville over e4o inchc. Of rain
mas fallen during he past % hours
hoooing cellars and abroad tracks and
breaking huge sewers The Louisville
ana Nashville is the greatest sufferer
1ne tracks which connects Cincinnati
with the main division being under wa.