The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-31

Guthrie, Ok, March 3i.-Ihe latest de-
tails from Chandler states that forty-fyo
persons were killed and 200 badly hurt by
the cyclone which struck that place last
evening. At 2.30 this morning message
was received here from Chandler asking
for more help. The surrounding towns
were notified and rescuing parties have
started for the scene of disaster The en-
tire business portions of the town were
burned after being wrecked. IL is now
thought that twenty-five or thirty more
dead bodies in the burned ruins will be
found. James Woodyard and wife of
Eldorado, Kansas, visiting there were in
stantly killed. Their little daughter was
fatally crushed and their son badly hurt.
James Dawson OF Lincoln, Neb., "a law
yer, was burned 10 death. The scene is
awful and several of the injured are raw
ing crazy. The main street OF the town Is
mass of dead and injured people and
the teams, wagons buggies, trees and
debris from the buildings. Chief Justice
Dale, who was holding court, ran with his
wife to "A hollow and held her behind
large bowlder and both We're unhurt.
Every building but one on the main street
was wrecked and burned, including the
court house. post Office, News and Demo
crat offices, the Lincoln county bank,
New York store and several hotels
A Night of Horror.
As yet there is no way of getting at the
number of dead and wounded so great is
the confusion that prevails. The death
list is variously estimated ut from % TO 30
with the injured numbering from 40 TO
150 Already twenty dead bodies have
been recovered.
The night i'm Chandler was terrible,
with scores of its inhabitants dead or dy-
ing and the remairder too utterly panic
stricken 10 render assistance in the dark
ness. The rain poured down upon the home
less population all through the weary
hours of the night and added horror to
the situation. Many injured cried una
vailingly for help and lay in the wreck Of
their houses until daylight made 1t possible
for them to help themselves or until aid
from surrounding towns arrived.
Many Burned to Death.
Many of the wrecks took fire and burned
themselves out but several were still
smouldering when morning broke over
the town. From the fires work may
finally come the worst realiZations of the
disaster for il is believed that many of
the miss ing are burned to death. The
cyclone struck Chandler without warning
about Il o'clock last evening tearing
through the business district and stores
were lifted high in the air and tossed in
every direction. The court house in
which Chief Justice Dale was holding
court was taken of its foundation and
the building nearly crushed. Passing g
into the residence district the wind con-
tinued its havoc and rushing into the
open country finally spent its force The
trail left was one OF complete wreck and
ruin. Houses rested on their tops and
streets were piled high with debris.
Soon fire followed tine cyclOne'S work
and here and there flames flared agaist
the dark sky. In very short time
heavy rain storm came up As night
wore on IL developed into deluge which
probably proved the salvation of the town
for in many instances it put out the fires.
In the first realization of their prcdica
ment the uninjurcd were too terror
stricken To aid their less fortunate neigh
bOrs. When an effort to send for outside
help was made it was found that all COM
munication had been cut OIL, the tclc-
phone Office being among the buildings
destroyed It was several hours before
communication with Guthrie was secured
by tapping the line mile and half out
OF Chandler Only brief statement of
the nature of the devastation wrought
together with an appeal for aid had been
sent to the neighboring cities when the
wires snapped and Chandler was again
cut off.
Succor Promptly Sent.
In the meantime, however, II train
bearing physicians and other helpers left
for the scene. The wire came up later and
further appeals for aid mot prompt re-
sponse and additional rcscuing parties
were sent out. Temporary hospitals were
ere ted and the untortunatcs cared for as
tenderly as possible. AT ] O'Clock this
morning 81 dead bodies had been taken
from the ruins, while dozens of injured
had been removed 10 places of safety. In
addition IL il known that others whom IL
has been unable 10 reach or who, perhaps,
had been incineratcd before the delugc
came To quench tho fire I'm their homes,
would swell the list Of fatalities. The list
of dead and injured AZ far rs known at
daylight this morning Is as follows:
The Dead.
John Dawson of Lincoln, Neb., n
lawyer burned TO death.
James woodward and wife OF Eldorado,
Kas., visiting in Chandler.
Mrs. Henry Mitchell.
Mrs Thomas Smith
T. Dolnoff
Emma Drcssingcr
H. G.. johnson and wife
Mrs Philip johnson and child.
Mrs DR. Ice.
A. Weller and wife
Unknown woman and boy.
Five unknown children.
Fatally Injureo