New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-01
STORMS FEARFUL WORK.
TWENTY PEOPLE KILLED AN HUN
pRED AND SEVENTY INJURED.

CHANDLER. OKLA. DEMOLISHED BY A TORNADO
FLAMES BURST OFT N THE WRECK AND
MANY ARE RURNED TO DEATH.
Guthrie Okla. March 31.-Chaos regns In
Chandler Last nights tornado has turned the
neaceful town OF 100 inhabitants into a veri-
table morgue. Its business buildings and resi-
dences are wrecked in all directions. The death
lis, will reach twenty and 10 were injured, Of
whom ten will probably die.
The night in Chandler was terrible With
scores Of It's inhabitants dead or dying. and the
remainder too panic-stricken 10 render assist
ance In the darkness the rain poured down
upon he wreck and the homeless population
al during the weary hours Of the night. and
added horror to the situation. Many injured
cried unavailingly for help and lay in the wrecks
o,their houses till daylight made 1t possible for
hem 10 help themselves or when aid from sur
rounding towns arrived.
MaW Of the wrecks took fire and burned them
selves out. Several were still smoulderlng when
morning broke over the town. From the fires
work may finally come the worst realizat atoms Of
the disaster for it is believed that many Of the
missing are burned 70 death.
The storm struck Chandler without warning
about G o'clock last evening Its work began be-
fore the inhabitants realized what was upon
them. and hardly any means Of escape was left
onen Tearing through the business district,
houses were hurled right and left, lifted high into
the air. and tossed in every direction The
courthouse in which Chief Justice Dale was
holding court. was taken off its foundation and
the building nearly crushed. Passing on into
the residence district, the wind continued its
havoc and rushing into the open country finally
spent itself The trail left was one Of complete
wreck and ruin Houses rested on their tops and
streets were piled high with wreckage. soon fire
followed the storms work. and here and there
flames fared against the dark sky. In a very
short time a heavy rainstorm came up. As night
wore on Il developed into a deluge.
With the first realization Of their predcament.
the uninjured were too terror-stTicken 10 ala
their more unfortunate neighbors Finally
when an effort 10 send for help was made
IL was found that all communication win me
or.eide world had been cut of. The telephone
office was among the buildings destroyed IL
vas several hours before communication Win
Guthrie was secured by tapping the line Hlie
and a half out OF Chandler But orle1 STATE
rnent Of the nature OF the devastauon WrousnI,
together with an appeal for aid had been sent 10
me naiChboring cities when the wires shappvt
and Chandler was again cut OH IN the HIeal;
time however. train bearing pIN slC 1.i aau
o.he- halpers started for the scene Inc wire
came m IL and further appeals Tor ald met
r,~or,rt response and additional rescuing parties
were sent out 49, ,,.... 49,
=, ono building II is reported five injured peo-
- v.ara burned 70 death. and at another place
fhe bodies or three uilNllo"i ~ii''' a. 49,
al the physicians of the town save one met
a-o+b in the storm. Nearly all the PHYSICIANS Vi
Cntbrie have gone 70 the scene OF the disaster