Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-01
WIND AND FIRE
A Tornado Lays Vast e the Town Of
Chandler, Ok.
FIRE ADDS TO THE HORROR.
TRenty Three DGaS Bodies Removed from
ahe Debris and Many Persons Missing
A Dozen Others VIII Undoubtedly
succumb to Their Injuries

GUTHRIE, Ok, March 3L-A tornado
swept through the very center of Chand-
Ter, thriving town of l,5OO people,
about six o'clock last night, causing
the death of at least. 80 and possibly 80
people, and injuries to about l25 others,
wrecking the best business houses and
generally laying waste the place. Fires
broke out IN various places in the de-
bris and it is feared that many of the
victims of the wind were burned to
ashes before the succeeding heavy rain
fall quenehed the flames. Twenty
three dead bodies had been re
moved frum the debris this morning,
and as many are unaccOunted for 1T Is
feared that the death list will aggre-
gate 80, while at least dozen of the
injured will undoubtedly succumb. In
one wrecked building five injured peo-
pie were burned to death. and at an
other place the charred bodies of three
children were recovered. Only two
buildings in the town were not dam
aged-the Mitchell hotel and the Rock
Island store. Fully three-fourths of
the structures were destroyed, causing
losses placed at hundreds of thousands
of dollars.
At ten o'clock last night the first
news of the disaster was received here
by telephone, and many physicians
and other citizens left at once for the
scene. At one o'clock this morning APP
peals were made for more help, and
rescue parties were formed in all sur
rounding towns.
The night in Chandler was one OF
indescribable terror. With many of
its inhabitants dead or dying, and the
remainder too badly injured or UNI
able from fright, or because. OF the
darkness TO render assistance, no ordsr
prevailed. Rain poured down in a tor
rent The injured in many cases I'M
availingly cried for help and lay in the
wrecks of their homes till daylight
made it possible for them to help thenf-
selves, or when aid from surrounding
towns arrived. The fires in many of
the wrecks burned themselves out, and
several were still smoldering when
morning broke. The heavy rain, how
ever, quenched many of the fires.
The tornado struck Chandler without
warning about six o'clock last even
ing, and its work of carnage began be-
fore the inhabitants realized what was
upon them, and hardly any means of
escape was left open. Tearing through
the business district, stores were
hurled right and left, lifted high into
the air and tossed in every direction.
The courthouse in which Chief Justice
Dale was holding court was taken off
its foundation and the building nearly
crushed. Passing on into the resi-
dence district, the wind swept away
dwelling after dwelling, and rushing
into the open country finally spent
itself. The trail the storm left was
one of wreck and ruin most compile. .
Houses rested on their tops and streets
were made unacceptable by having
them piled high with debris. Then
came the fires from overturned stoves
and finally the downpour of rain.
by midnight some show of systematic
rescue had been perfected and the dead
and dying were being released from
the ruins. Improvised hospitals were
erected and the unfortunates cared for
as best as was possible.
When the tornado appeared Chief
Justice Dale, of the Oklahoma supreme
court, was holding court in the court
house, which was crowded. He ran
with his wife to a hollow and the two
were protected by large bowlder and
were unhurt. Others in the courthouse
did not fare so well, one being killed
and a dozen injured.