The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-29
SWEPT TO DEATH.
Continued From First Page.

period. over two inches falling in thirty
minutes. All day the river had been ris-
ing at a frightfui rate. reaching the sleep
era OF the railroad bridge and moving 1t
out OF line. The wagon bridge went out
when the water reached Its floor, and the
bridge and drift. serving as an obstruc-
ton. forced the water over the bottoms.
washing out crops, moving houses and
drowning stock.
A dam on thu Ellison ranch gave way to
the torrent and carried out a bridge on the
Fort Reno road, swept the grounds clean
and flooded the yards OF the Choctaw rail-
road. The water rose to the houses of the
bottom, and farmers were obliged to de-
sert their places and alone endeavor 10
save their lives.
The rescue of many families was made
at great danger 20 the rescuers Hives.
party composed OF A. Il. Woodlieff. Pete
Carr, Henry SchseTer, Charles Justin.
James Tompkins, Rev. Father Hall and
others Immediately set 70 work 10 rescue
the unfortunates. At the home of Thomas
Palmer. the latters wife and several chill
dren were rescued from the tops OF hu-
reaus Just as the water was creeping up TO
their feet They had been screa ming for
help for sorne time. and tt was with great
difficulty that they were removed 10 the
improvlsed RATS Of the rescuers and taken
70 dry land. The families of Mrs. Hall
Tom Potter Col. eevery and Mrs. Black
were rescued from their homes In a sim
liar manner. In each instance the water
had swept through the windows, and was
gradually rising. During the trip q raft
OF railroad ties went 10 pieces on a sub
merged wire fence. and the entire party
was thrown into the water. They were
ell miraculcusiy saved.
A little child OF Frank Holman fell into
a washes-out crossing and was drowned.
Mr.. Bedford. a malkman. nearly lost his
life In trying 20 save the little one.
Eon >fS 81 60 -
four feet, and Harry Bradford was awalx-
sred about / o'clock this morning 10 ind
himself sleeping I'm a floating bed. This
bed turned when he tried 20 rise. covered
him with wet blankets. sank and nearly
drowned him.
lightning played havoc, striking the
spire Of the Presbyterian church and to-
tally wrecking n. Mrs AcGreth, wife OF
the cashier OF the Stock Exchangs bank,
seated in her home across the street, was
knocked from her chair and badly hurt
The school house for colored children
was struck at o'clock In the afternoon,
the structure shattered and about fifty
pupils more or less seriously hurt Among
the more badly injured are Eva Clauston,
Bertha Turner, Charles Waters and Beu-
Ian Clauston- The latter Was psraiyz~d.
Several other houses were struck by
lightning, but no one else was hurt. Fur
Their west the lightning killed much stock.
The electric light wires went down, and
the town was In darkness last night.
Reports from surroundings towns ars
m@ager. as telegraph wires are down and
trains have all been stopped on account OF
the washouts. II is known. however. that
many homes have been washed out in
towns adjacent 70 II Reno and n - fear
I'd many lives have been lost West OF
here Frank Thompson and the is-year-oId
son or Hiram Aciri1en were drowned