The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-04-30
RESCUiNG THE STRICKEN
RELIEF PARTIES AT GUTHRIE
hEEPiNg The HELPLESS.
Thought That Death List Did Not Ex.
ceed TwentY--Scene of Disorder
and Devastation.

GutHrle, ~. l., April Z9.-ln the HOOu
stricken valley Of the Cottonwood river,
to-day has been one of heroic efforts to-
wards the rescue Of those unfortunates
whose lives were still endangered, and for
the relief of the hundreds of destitute
and hungry. Tonight it seems a certain
ty that the loss Of life in yesterdays
deluge will not exceed twenty.
All day missing people, supposed yes
terday to have been drowned, have been
found clinging to bushes or drift-wood
down the stream of the west bluffs, or
scattered in farm houses for miles.
Daylight found dozens of people still
clinging to trees, overturned houses or
timbers in perilous positions, which they
had sustained all during the night. For
miles along the scene of devastation, 1,0OO
people homeless, half i'll from exposure
and hunger, passed miserable night,
and morning found them too weak to
give much assistance, either to them
selves or others. The scene in the flood
swept district this morning was one of
desolation. The river fell rapidly dur
ing the night, and when the sun rose the
extent of the damage done to property
could be seen. The river is still full but
the water had receded from most of the
inundated districts.
There was confused mass of debris
and overturned and demolished houses
scattered fover the valley where last
night was Il sea of water. The banks
were Uttered with the carcasses of farm
animals. Whole blocks, where yester
day stood a home in every lot, were
stripped. and huge trees torn up by their
roots, were scattered everywhere.
With the first ray of daylight, the
work of rescuing and relief was taken
up with will, and kept up with tireless
energy. During last night men had been
put to work in lumber yards constructing
boats, and dawn to-day witnessed a
dozen craft. darting out from all direc-
tions to the rescue of the unfortunates
The work of the raftsmen proved most
effective, and one by one the people were
transported from their perilOus positions
to places of safety on land. Every house
drift-pile and tree was closely examined
in search of the dead. The family Of
Wesley McGill, reported yesterday as
drowned, was found safe The only bod
les found during the day were those of
Mrs. Fannie Rufin and five children, all
lodged in pile of driftwood. These,
with George Owen. the butcher drowned
while rescuing others. Frank Meyers,
AIRS. Jane Watt, Mrs. Francis Moore,
Mrs. Drummond, Mrs. Dennis and child.
and Mrs. Watson, are the only identified
dead. though many are still missing.
During the day systematic relief was
perfected and carried on. Ferries piled
across the river, carrying provisions and
clothing every where and returning with
the injured. who were carefully cared for
in private houses in Guthrie. BY night
fall ample arrangements had been made
for the immediate care of the homeless
and there was an assurance of no further
suffering, ut least for the time being.
Five hundred homes We're swept away;
80 houses We're wrecked and twenty
stores devastated, leaving 1000 people
homeless and half as many destitute.
The work of supplying shelter and food
| for all these was by no means a small
| undertaking. But the Guthreites were
| equal to the task, and tonight thousands
Of dollars have been subscribed to aid the
afflicted.
The damage along the Cimarron river
| east is very extensive, and hundreds of
| farms have been devastated along Deep
| Fork, in Lincoln county. Hundreds of
men worked all night rebuilding houses
along the stream.
The damage to property will be in the
neighborhood of 100000, while that sus-
| tanned in crops may equal, or perhaps
| double that amount.