The herald., 1897-04-29
The Storm Came, the Flood
Descended
OKLAHOMA ALL AFLOAT
People Dead or Fleeing for
Their Lives
IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE
HUNDREDS OF HOUSES ARE
WRECKED BY WATER
The Canadian Valley Visited by a
Tremendous Storm Causing Many
Deaths and Millions of Dol
lars Damage
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
GUTHRIE, o. T., April 2s.-For miles
tonight the Canadian valley is dreary
waste and her people are overcast with
gloom At sunrise this morning mighty
wall of water from six to eight feet high
and mile wide, broke upon West Guth-
rie without warning, crushing houses,
sweeping away property and drowning
people by the score. Every movable
thing was swept away before the wave
which passed on into the valley with re-
sietless force wreaking terrible destruc-
ton to life and property wherever it
reached. Dozens of human life are
known to have been sacrificed, how many
may not be known for weeks; hundreds
of an eye; for miles farms were COM
pletely ruined, bridges and tracks were
washed out and railway traffic in every
direction Is left at a standstill. The most
The efforts of rescuing parties have in
many cases proved in vain. Many people
floated down streah before they could be
reached and their fate Is unknown. Others
will pass the night in trees in midetrearh
or perched on house tops. 1t is impossible
to estimate the dead. The property loss
is placed at something near a million
dollars.
Fully two-thirds of the victims were
colored people. Business has been sus-
pended all day in Guthrie, the stores and
banks are being closed. AS thorough or
ganization for relief as is possible has
been made, but all aid has been heces-
sarily retarded by the confused condi-
tion of things. 1t will be impossible to
explore the houses until the water shall
subside as many of them are submerged.
AS darkness gathered over the scene
many overturned houses could be seen
far out inthe flood but it could not be
learned whether their occupants es-
capped. The river is thirty feet above it's
ordinary level.
A heavy rain began falling this after
noon. A threatening bank of clouds
came up from the northwest and many
persons fled to their tornado cellars, fear
ing that another wind disaster was upon
them. Luckily, however, the damage
was slight.
A CLOUDBURST.
The flood is supposed to have been
caused by a cloudburst, supplemented
by heavy raire.
The Cottonwood river, ordinarily a
small stream, that winds between steep
banks in West Guthrie, was bank full
from a heavy rain yesterday and last
night but no alarm had been felt as the
river had been rising gradually during
the night. About o'clock, however, wa
ters from a cloudburst above had added
to those already nearly up to the level
of the high banks, and the flood was
sweeping through West Guthrie, a sec
ton populated mostly by colored people
Persons who saw the first wall of water
said that it was about eighteen inches
high, spreading entirely across the val
ley. There was no water in front of it
save that in the rivers channel. The
first wave was followed by others in
quick succession until the whole swelled
to bank of water from six to eight feet
high. Many had alreadylbegun carry
ing their household goods to places of
safety, but few had made more than one
trip when they were forced to flee for
their lives before a raging, resistless tor
rent that no power of man could houe to
stop.
The main supply pipe of water works
system burst where it crossed the Cot
tonwood, in the southern prt of the city
and all the water in the reservoirs pour
ed into the river.
In the southwestern part of the city &
long arm of land is formed by the wind
ing the river On this land lived hun
dreds of negroes. During the night the
bridge leading across the river to the
main section had been swept away. The
people were absorbed in watching the
rising waters when the flood from the
reservoirs came down in solid wall and
cut across the arm of land near the
mainland, cutting off the people from
escape. They fled from their homes to
the higher portions of the newly formed
island.
QUICKLY OVER
In half an hour the mountain of water
had done it's work and practically spent
itself. The air became hideous with the
crashing of houses and the cries for help
of the unfortunates. When the first
shock of the disaster was over the more
fortunate on the island Immediately be-
gan to help those nearest them, while
across in Guthrie proper prompt steps
were taken at rescue.
The houses, barns and other effects
began to drift down stream, each freight.
ed with one or more human beings;
boats or RATS shot out here and there
from the shore and desperate efforts