The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-30
THE FLOOD At GUTHRIE
First Reports Exaggerated the
Probable Loss Of Life.
DEATH LIST NOT OVER TWENTY.
Fifteen Hundred People Homeless.
and Many ofThem Utterly Destitute.
Guthrie Promptly Furnishes Relief
For the Victims OF the Great Flood.


Guthrie Promptly Furnishes Relief
For the Victims of the Great Flood.
Guthrie, o. T.. April 3O.-In the flood
stricken valley of the Cottonwood river
yesterday was one Of heroic effort to-
wards the rescue of those unfortunates
whose lives were still endangered, and
for the relief Of the hundreds of desti-
tute and hungry. Today 1t seems a
certainty that the loss of life in We'd
nesday's deluge will not exceed 90
Persons supposed to have been drown
ed were found clinging to bushes or
driftwood down the stream, on the
west of the bluffs or scattered in
farmhouses for miles. During the
greater part Of Wednesday the torrent
cut off communication with the sub
merged district, and in the excitement
the death list was swelled to hundreds.
Daylight found dozens of persons
still clinging to trees, overturned
houses or timbers In perilous positions.
For miles along the scene Of de-
vastation 1900 people, homeless, half
ill from exposure and hunger. passed
miserable night. and morning found
selves or give assistance to others. The
scene in the flood swept districts yes
terday morning was one Of desola-
tion. The river fell rapidly during the
night, and while 1t Is still bank full
the water has receded from most OF
the inundated districts. There is con-
fused mass Of debris and overturned
and demolished houses scattered over
the valley where Wednesday night was
sea of water. The banks are Uttered
with the caroasses of farm animals.
Whole blocks where stood home in
nearly every lot were stripped, and
huge trees torn up by the roots arc
scattered everywhere.
There were thrilling incidents by the
score. John Nelson, a negro 30 years
o. age, cut a hole in the roof of his
house and pulled his family up, all
floating to safety. Henry Wilson, CIV
ell up to die of consumption, waded
into the water and saved four people.
He is getting we'll.
ny. Sargent floated Is miles on
kitchen roof. George Ruffin saved three
children, and was swept away while
trying to reach his mother. John Metz
saved many lives. and nearly perished.
Two printers who could not swim a
stroke manned raft to rescue people,
but were swept away and had to be
rescued. Persons were saved by firing
rockets with lines to them. Thieves
attempted to loot houses all night, but
were driven away. The Santa Fe had
900 men working on its tracks Trains
went north yesterday, but it will be
several days yet before traffic opens
south.
With Che first ray Of daylight the
work of rescue and relief was begun
with a will. and kept up with tireless
energy. During Wednesday night men
had been put to work in lumberyards
constructing boats, and dawn yester-
day witnessed dozen craft starting
out from all directions to the rescue
Of the unfortunates. The work Of the
raftsmen proved most effective, and
one by one persons were transported
from their perilous positions TO places
of safety Every house. drift pile and |
tree was closely examined In search |
of the dead The family of Wesley |
McGill. reported yesterday as drowned, |
was found safe. The only bodies |
found during the day were those of
Mrs. Fannie Ruffin and five children,
all lodged in pile of driftwood. These,
with George Owen, drowned while res
cutng others, Frank Meyers, Mrs. Jane
Watt, Mrs. Francis Moore, Mrs Drum
mcnd, Mrs. Dennis ana child and Mrs.
Watson, are the only identified dead,
though many are still missing. =
During the day Systematic relief was
perfected and carried on. Ferries Piled
across the river, carrying provisions
and clothing, and returning with in
jured. Such were carefully cared for
In private homes in Guthrie. BY night
fall ample arrangements had been
made for the immediate care of the
homeless, and there was an assurance
of no further suffering, at least for the
time being.
Five hundred homes were swept
away. $50 houses were wrecked and 20
stores devastated. leaving 1,G0O people
homeless and half as many destitute.
The work of supplying shelter and food
for all these was by no means a small
But the Guthrieites were
equal to the task, and thousands Of
dollars have been subscribed to aid
he afflicted.
The damage along the Cimarron
river east is very extensive, and hun
lreds Of farms have been devastated
along Deep Fork, in Lincoln county.
Gangs Of men worked all day rebuild
ng houses along the stream.
The damage to property will be in
he neighborhood of s100O00, while that
sustained In crops may equal, or per-
laps double that amount.
The receding flood has left an i'm
nense pile of wreokage at the rail-
Dad bridge, six miles below the city.
search for the dead has begun at that
'oint. Last evening, when darkness
,ut stop to the work. the bodies Of
white man and a colored baby had
jecn recovered. 1t is claimed that
everal other bodies have been sighted
n the debris there.
An attempt was made to poll the
esidents Of West Guthrie yesterday
fternoon, but the count taken is not
onsdered at all accurate. 1t shows
persons missing, most of them being
egroes.