Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-29
AN AWFUL FLOOD.
TheEottonwood River Becomes Rag
Ing Torrent and mandates Guthrie.
MANY LIVES THOUGHT LOST.
Mouse After House Lifted from Their
Foundations and swept Away-The
Tracks Of the Santa Fe Rail-
road Submerged.

GUTHRIE, Ok, April 9s.-In less than
half an hour shortly after sunrise this
morning the Cottonwood river, ordi-
narily small stream that winds be-
tween steep banks in West Guthrie,
became a great raging torrent, which
inundated that portion of this place,
caused the deaths of probably score
of people, drove hundreds from their
homes and swept away many houses.
The Cottonwood was bank full from q
heavy rain yesterday afternoon and
last night, but no alarm had been felt,
as the river had been rising gradually
during the night. About six O'clock,
however, waters from cloudburst
above were added to those already
nearly up to the level of the high banks,
and before seven o'clock the stream had
gone over its banks and was sweeping
through West Guthrie, a section pop
ulated mostly by colored people.
Many had already begun carrying
their household goods to places of
safety, but few had made more than
one trip when they were forced to fee
for their lives before a raging torrent
half mile wide, which swept across
the valley, carrying houses, barns and
fences before it. The main supply
pipe of the waterworks system burst
where it crossed the Cottonwood in
the south part of the city, and all the
water in the reservoirs poured into
the river.
In the southwest part of the city a
long arm of land is formed by the
winding of the river On this land
lived hundreds of negroes. During
the night the bridge leading across the
river to the main section had been
swept away. The people were abb
sorbed in watching the rising waters
this morning when the food from the
reservoirs came down in a solid wall
and cut across the arm Of land near
the mainland, cutting off the people
from escape. They fled from their
homes to the higher parts of the new
~ formed island.
The river by nine o'clock was 30 feet
higher than its usual level. 1t is be-
lieved that there was much loss of life
in that part of the city. Owing to the
intense excitement and lack of boats
nothing can be verified at present
House after house was lifted from its
foundations and swept away. The de-
bris jammed against the strong bridge
near the Helms ice plant The bridge
was torn from its moorings and carried
away. Horses, COWS and chickens
dotted the river in all directions, and
men and women could be seen in
houses or in trees reckoning for help.
In many instances the water had
reached the caves of the houses. An
old negro women was seen on float
ing house. The house was overturned
and she sank from sight.
Men started 90 construct, RATS, but
the swiftness of the current made it
apparently impossible to manage the
RATS. The Guthrie club quickly Or
ganized rescuing party, and began
the construction of boats.
Three daring men sought to rescue
an old man from tree. The raft, as
it rushed down the river, was watched
with breathless excitement. 1t struck
the overhanging limbs and the raft
men were knocked from their feet, but
managed to stay on the raft, which
went whirling toward the Cimarron.
Nothing has since been heard of them.
Many overturned houses can be seen
far out in the flood, but it cannot be
learned whether their occupants es-
capped. There are many persons who
claim to have seen persons drowned,
but it will be almost impossible to find
the bodies for weeks, as everything is
swept into the Cimarron river two
miles away. The Cimarron river Is
from one to two miles wide. The large
wagon bridge has gone out, and it is
feared that the newly-completed steel
bridge of the Santa Fe railway is
weakened. The tracks Of the Santa
Fe are submerged and traffic has been
Small railway bridges In
all directions have been washed out
AT Perry, Ok, bridge was washed
away and the streets we're filed with
water All the streams of the country
are out of banks and much damage to
the low lands is reported.
A BLOW CAUSES DEATH
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