The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-05-06
BODIES ARE FOUND.
Victims of the Guthrie Flood are
Found In the Cottonwood.
FIFTEEN HUNDRED ARE HOMELESS
There are Twelve Persons Yet MIssinc-
Ihousrnd, OF Tons of wreckaxs
in the River Search
nor the Dead.

/
hris left by Wednesdays cataclysm In
West Guthrie. The bodies of George
Owens and Mrs. Charles Rufins were
found on the west bank OF the river.
The bodies " Henry Simmons and Mrs.
Watson and child were found under a
pile OF hay near the Cimarron. Mrs.
Watson had her child closely clutche1 to
her breast, in which position both met
death. Scores OF organized 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 con-
ceal many corpscs. The Cimarron is
two miles north Of the city, and when
the Hood came, the waters of the Cotton
wood Joined II. The Clmarron's bot
toms contain 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 it is likely
that several bodies not buried in the
sand have been carried on to the Arlxan-
sas, which is also very high. The bodies
OF the dead viii be hurried tomorrow.
The Clmarron river is literally jammed
with wreckage and the bodies of dead
animals. 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 ma
cnlnery, caved into the Cottonwood
river this morning.
over fifteen hundred homeless people
are being cared for by the city
Division Superintendent Dolan. of the
Santa Fe increased his force of track
men to 500 today, and now has that
number OF men at work on the tracks
south OF Guthrie. He states that traffic
VIII be open to the south by tomorrow
morning. over four miles of Santa Fe
roadbed was washed out. The Santa Fe
Will lose $4,000 The loss to this city
and county, by careful estimate reaches
100000. Seven costly bridges were de-
sIroyej. Twelve persons are yet missing.
NO oUSIDE AID ASKED
Guthrie, O. T., May l. The follow
| Ing notice is given to the public by
President Horner, of the Guthrie club.
and Mayor Berkeley:
"A thorough investigation has been
made of the losses resulting from the
recent flood. The proper relief commit
tees have been organized and the needy
and destitute are being cared for sys-
temdtically. In order to anticipate the
general impulses of neighboring towns
and the puollc generally it has been
deemed proper to give notice though the
press that. while the loss has been
AZ C,,t ria ~
care of the situation without outside as
stance, and IN permanent relief COM
mttee held at the Guthrie club rooms
TINS Soth day of April 1897, the notice as
above specified is hereby duly given"
GUTHRIE LEADERS STORY.
Guthrie. o. T., May This morn
!ng's issue of the Leader contains the
following flood news:
The Cottonwood river is moi only
treacherous, but agonlzlngly evaslve as
well. 1t refuses 10 give up its secrets
and will not tell the number OF lives it
carried on its surging bosom to the rag
ing Cimarron, which, in turn, perhaps,
transferred them TO the Arkansas.
Despite the fact that the food has re-
ceded and the scene OF destruction in
West Guthrie valley is laid bare, M
more is known az this writing of the
number OF people who perished than at
the time the cataclysm was making Its
grandest sortie. Only three bodies were
recovered yesterday. The others VINO
perished are either buried in the quick
sands Of the Cimarron, or have fioated
TO the waters OF the Arkansas Time can
only tell how many perished.
hria
scene OF desolation. Pretty dwellings
had given place to mounds of mud: trees
were uprooted; gardens obllterated: and
streets were merely yawning gulles. All
was ruin.
II is estimated that $50 dwellings, to
say nothing OF stables and outhouses.
were destroyed or washed away At
least 20 We're askew.
Searching parties were busy all day
yesterday. but little hope was the portion
Of those who have missing ones.
THE CIMARRON's wRECKAGE.
J, ]. Boles and Fred. Milliken rowed
to the Cimarron yesterday with their
wives to survey flood scenes. They say
between the railroad bridge and the Ci-
marron wagon bridge there Is a perfect
jam Of wreckage. At the Clmarron rail-
road bridge there Is S feet of water and
half mile of debris They believe ma
ny bodies Will be found at that place. |
Several trunks ami chests We're in the
wreckage. Mr.. Millken phoned the
Leader last night and said some action |
should be taken by the authorities TO
stop the stealing OF wreckage. He de-
clares that men hovered over the debris |
like vutures yesterday. picking up and |
hauling away whatever Of value they |
could find.
THE SEARCH FOR OWENS.
The A. o. L. w. Lodge held a meeting
last night and decided TO institute a
search for the body of George Owens,
member Of the order. A committee COM
posed OF j. j. Boles, chairman; T.. X. |
Tlngle, Lee Homsher. Frank Getchell, |
and c. j. Tuohey was appointed to take
charge Of the search, and also to relieve |
the sufferlngs Of all members of the or
der and their families.
+. +. Brown, OF the Tlmes-Journal and |
Telephone Manager Wilson came up
from Oklahoma City as far as Seward |
ON the train yesterday. From Seward |
they walked 70 Guthrie. Wilson says
the scenes about Seward are appalling.
The destruction is immense. Fourmiles |
OF Santa Fe track was washed away ana |
a half mile OF track cannot be found. In |
some places the rails were twisted ana
turned over. A big force of men is a.
work repairing the tracks.
TIl, t~IDS,, M, N-RN--,,-