The herald., 1897-05-01
Five More Bodies Found
in the Debris
THE cIMARRoN ouIcKsANDs
ARE BELIEVED TO COVER MANY
VICTIMS
The River ooing Down, But Thou
sands Of People Are Home
less and Almost Naked

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, April S0.-A
special to the Times from Guthrie. o. T.,
says: Five more bodies were recovered
today from the debris left by wednes-
days cataclysm In West Guthrie. The
bodies Of George Owens and Mrs.
Charles Ruff1ns were found on the west
bank Of the river. The bodies Of Henry
simmons and Mrs. Watson and children
were found under pile of hay near the
Cimarron. Mrs. Watson had her child
closely clutched to her breast, in which
position both met death. Scores of or
ganized searching parties are at work,
but progress Is slow, since tons of debris
must be dug over in the search. 1t Is
believed that the rushing waters of the
Cimarron conceal many corpses. The
Cimarron is two miles north Of the city,
and when the flood came the waters Of
the Cottonwood Joined 1t. The Cimarron
bottom contains Quicksand, and 1t is one
of the most treacherous streams In the
country. 1t flows into the Arkansas In
the east end Of Pawnee, and 1t is likely
that several bodies, II not buried in the
sand. have been carried on to the Ar
kansas, which is also very high The.
bodies Of the dead Will be buried to-
morrow.
The Cimarron river Is literally jammed
with wreckage and the bodies of dead
animals The farmers are fishing out
and carrying Off the wreckage by car
loads. The rear portion OF the Helm
brewing plant, containing $4,000 worth
of machinery. caved into the Cotton
wood river this morning.
Over 1900 homeless people are being
cared for by the city.
Division Superintendent Dolan of the
Sante Fe increased his force of track
men to 500 today. and now has that num-
ber. Of men at work on the tracks south
Of Guthrie. He states that the road will
be open to the gouth by tomorrow morn
ing. Over four miles of Sante Fe roadbed
was washed out. The Sante Fe will lose
$4,000. The loss to this city and county.
by carful estimate. reaches $20O, 900. Sew
eral costly bridges were destroyed.
Twelve persons are yet missing.
LYNCH LAW FOR THIEVES
GUTHRIE, o. T., April 30.-The Cot.
tonwood and Cimarron rivers are now
within their banks. Searching parties
have gone out in boats and RATS to coast
both banks for six miles from Guthrie
or farther, In search for dead bodies.
Pillagers looted the wreckage last night
entering many dismantled houses in the
absence of their owners. Guards were
placed everywhere possible Threats Of
lynching the thieves were made, but
none were caught. No additional bod
les have been recovered since last even
ing in the vicinity of Guthrie. A man
was reported to be floating down the
Cimarron last night on log. A party
has gone out to intercept him II possible.
The destitute are being cared for.
BUT LITTLE LEEWAY
ST. LOUIS, April 30.-The river con-
tinues to rise. The noon stage was 3O.2
feet. One-half foot more will cause the
water to flow over the top of the levee
The river is so high that some boats can
not pass neneath the bridge.
MORE COMING
NEW ORLEANS. April s0.-The river
is at 149 feet and the highest water is
still far off. Engineers predict twenty
one feet will be reached. The railroad
forces and residents Of the lowlands are
working on levees.