Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-04-29
WORK OF A CLOUDBURST
1t is Now Known That the Great Dis
aster at Guthrie Was Due to
ClOudburst 20 Miles Up the
Valley-Rescue Work.
Five Hundred Homes Swept Away, A
Thousand People Homeless and
Half AS Many More
Destitute.

Deacon from 0utnrle says: Ine scene a
the flooded district thism orning is one O
desolation. The river went down rapidly
last night, and when the sun arose tn,
awful extent of damage could be seen
The river is still bank full, but the water
has receded over most of the inundated
district.
This morning many missing people
have beon iouna ciinging to bushes o,
drift wood, down the stream, on the Yves.
bluffs, or scattered in farm houses. 1t is
believed that the death list will not exceed
25, most of them being seen to drown in
the main channels during the first rush of
water. Many bodies we're carried away.
The only bodies found this morning
were there of Mrs. Fannie Rafflin, and
children, all lodged in pile of drift
wood. These with George Owen a
butcher drowned while rescuing others,
Frank Myers, Mrs. Ella Dumas, Mrs Jane
Watt, Mrs. Francis Moore, Mrs. Drum
mond, Mrs. Dennis and child, and Mrs.
Watson, are the only ones known to have
drowned though fifty or more are still
missing.
Five hundred home were swept away
and their contents ruined. One hundred
and fifty houses were wrecked, and 20
streets devastated. One thousand people
are homeless, and half az many more
destitute. The property damaged ex.
ceeds 100000. Systematic relief is be-
ing carried on, and ferries are working
across the river, 80 supplies and clothing
can be sent to all. Many are being
brought to the unharmed part of the city,
to be cared for in private homes. 1t is
now certain that the food was caused by
a cloudburst 20 miles up the valley.
Everything was swept before it. Had it
come two hours earlier, 1000 people
would have perished.
TRANPoRTATION INTERRUPTED.
Wichita. Trains on the Santa Fe, in
Oklahoma run only as far as Mullhall, the
first station north of Guthrie, from the
south all trains stop at Seward, the first
station north of Edmond. There are no
through connections. The tracks are all
washed out between Seward and Mullhall.
Some parts of the the track were washed
half a mile from the company's right-of-
way. The road is refusing shipments Of
live stock or perishable freight. Superin
tendent Dolan is at Guthrie, looking after
the reconstruction of the Choctaw rail
road. Seven miles west of Oklahoma City
there is a bad washout, which renders con-
nection between the Santa Fe and Rock
Island impossible.
AFTERMATH OF DISASTER.
Guthrie, @. T., April 29.-Daylight in
Cottonwood valley, found doseHs of pees
pie still clinging in the trees. Over.
turned houses OF timbers are in the posi-
tions, which they sustained during the
weary night. Here and there, positions
known to have been occupied when dark
ness came on last night, were empty this
morning. The luckless victims had
dropped into the river, drowned, and their
bodies had been swept down stream. For
miles along the scene of devastation, 1000
people, homeless, half i'll from exposure
and hunger, passed a m iserable night, and
this morning found them unable to help
themselves or others. During the night
the water receeded rapidly, and the work
of rescue was more easy this morning.
When darkness stopped further rescue
last evening, every man available went to
work to construct RATS for use today.
At the break of day parties began trans
porting the people from periIous posi-
tions to land. The water was not 30 high
or swift as yesterday, and the rescuers
made rapid progress. During the Eight
organized relief, under the direction of
Guthrie people was pushed, and renewed
efforts were put forth this morning. No
more reliable estimate of the dead, or
property damage, could be compiled this
morning. Hourly, bodies left on land by
the receeding waters, are found, pocketed
in houses, or in piles Of debris, within
few miles Of Guthrie. The damage
further ont il the country will only be
known when wire and railway communi-
cation is resumed.