The Butler weekly times., 1897-04-08
STORM DID ITS WORT.
List of Dead at Chandler, Okla
homa Reaches Twenty-six
OTHERS BURIED IN THE RUINS.


the List.-flames Added to the Horror.
Guthrie, Ok, March 31.-The cy.
clone which swept down upon the
little town of Chandler last evening
at dusk swept it completely of the
face Of the earth. The storm came
from the southwest and swept
across the town, leaving scarcely a
building of any Importance stand
ing. Everything in the town was a
mass of ruins in a few moments.
The groans and cries of the unded
and shrieks for help could be heard
even before the storms roar had
died away.
To night twerty-six dead bodies
have been recovered from the ruins.
How many more are buried under
the debris only more careful search
will reveal. From the number who
are missing it is feared that last
nights estimate, forty. five, was not
exaggerated.
SUFFERING AFTER THE STORM.
The wrecks of many of the build.
ings took fire and in a short time an
awful holocaust was in progress,
many of those injured and buried in
the ruins being burned to death.
Fire broke out first in the ruins of
the New York store and Lincoln
county bank and spread to many
other buildings, making it necessary
to fight the flames as we'll as rescue
the injured. In addition to the peo
pie burned to death, large number
of the injured are badly burned and
suffering intensely.
Between the fire. the wind and tho
rain, the provisions, medicine, cloth
ing, etc, in the stores were all de.
stroyed, or 30 badly damaged as to
be worthless, and unless new sup
plies arrive there will be much
suffering even among those who
have money.
The storm broke upon the city
suddenly. The sky was clear an hour
before. The clouds started southeast
and then whirled north. It soon
developed into afunnel shaped mass.
1t touched the ground and tore up
trees like twigs. The roar was deaf
ening. A cloudburst preceded it.
The funnel split as it struck the
southwest part of the town, which
is on hill overlooking the Cow
creek valley, and half went through
the town and the other turned north.
Darkness came on, and in the
awful chaos of death and destruction
the work OF rescue was begun. It
WAS nearly 10 o'clock before tele.
phone connection could he secured
with Guthrie, and l O'Clock this
morning before definite news
could he obtained At that time the
fire was under control and about
twenty dead bodies had been recov.
cred and seventy.fve or more of the
injured cared for. But one ply sician
in Chandler had escaped, and physi-
clans were sent from this city at
midnight, and also from Saltwater,
arriving there soon after daybreak
aud assisting in the care of the
injured.
There are not half enough cofins
to bury the dead. The town is a
vast mass Of demolition. Ten trees
have house roof hanging on each.
Clothing and household goods are
scattered in the streets. Dead COWS.
horses and other animals are every
where. One pile of ruins has a piano
on top OF it. The town is a mass of
debris. About half million dollars
worth OF property is DESTROYED.
TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE ON THE Gsorxn
Ten thousand people are On the
ground from the surrounding towns
and country. From this city four
wagon loads of clothing, bedding
and provisions have been sent and
the Guthrie club has raised 81. 500
in cash to send to morrow.
The PRESBYTERIAN church M;toha,,