The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-29

fects began to drift down stream, each
freghted with one or more human beings.
boats or RATS shot out here and there from
the short and desperate efforts We're made
to rescue the people. Improvised RATS
were quickly thrown together and started
out into the mad stream. Before many of
them had been propelled q couple of yards
from the shore they were twisted and
broken by the waters, and the would-be
rescuers thrown into the stream. Half
dozen rescuers were drowned even before
those they had tried TO save had been
reached. Gus Platt, business manager of
the Guthrie Leader. and George Willis, a
merchant tailor, swan the river at the risk
of their lives and secured a boat, by which
a number of persons were saved.
a negro woman with babe in her arms
desperately tried to steady herself in a tree
top. calling the while for help. She grew
weak and the baby slipped into the water
and was drowned. She was finally rescued,
and said her family of six had been lost.
A woman wading from home with her
baby on her head to go under and
man swimming the channel TO reach four
women and a baby in a tree was carried
down stream. Two women and a child
were carried away on a bridge further
down stream, and one man and two
women, in plain sight of shore, were on a
house roof when 1t went to pieces They
all perished. An old negro woman was seen
clinging to house top. The building soon
turned over and she drowned.
Three men, Walter Olds, John Vandusen
and Eugene Gills, sought to rescue an old
man from tree. The raft struck over
hanging tree and they barely saved them
SeIx-aS nv cliY1hino into another traa They
were finally rescued on a rope sent TO them
by means OF a shotgun and cord.
DOZEN TAKEN FROM a TREE.
Two men secured a small stern-wheel
pleasure boat and started to the rescue of a
dozen men and women lodged in a tree
They were rescued amid the cheers of the
spectators. The cable holding the craft
finally broke and ii was carried down
stream, but ultimately landed safely.
Adjutant General jameson, of the Terri
torial militia, narrowly escaped with his
family. He forced to wade and lead
his horse with his family in the buggy.
John Metz. aged fifty-fve. was capsized
while trying to save woman. who sank
before he reached her. Metz himself was
barely rescued. George Owens, Attorney
league Bay and Dick Parson were precipi-
tated into the water while trying to save
some people and Owens was drowned. The
wife and five children of Wesley McGill
colored, were drowned in their home.
Tonight forty fifty people could be
seen clinging to trees and roofs Of build
ings, but could not be reached, and will
have to spend the night where they are
The strength of many may fail them be-
fore morning. The fate of many Others
who are known to have been carried down
perhaps not then.
1t is impossible TO get any definite news
from the hundreds OF rescued people on the
bluffs west OF the city. Those who escaped
are rushing frantically about 81 search of
missing ones. The river is going down rap
idly tonight.
When darkness settled over the city to-
night the widest stories were afioat. Many
were claiming that fifty lives had been lost
and not infrequently men were heard claim
ing that fully two hundred had perished.
These wild estimates were unquestionably
exaggerated, but lives were lost in the flood
in every direction in plain view of the few
who were heroicaIly carrying on the work
OF rescue and Of many who stood helpless
at the edge Of the raging waters. Men,
women and children struggled in the tor
rent side by side with horses. cattle and
swine, one perishing here, another there.
and In other places several disappearing
together beneath the flood.
1t is believed that loss of life has also
occurred south Of Guthrie along the Cot
tonwood river. Many farmhouses in that
district are reported to have been swept
away. Seven miles south of here, at Sew
ard, Hunts store and the postoffice were
swept away.
Four thousand dollars was raised in
Guthrie this afternoon for the relief of the
sufferers.