Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1897-05-01
AN IMMENSE WALL OF WATER.
Wave Eighteen Feet High Lays
Waste the Entire Cana
dian Valley.
Everything Movable Swept
Away by the Force of
the Flood.

GUTHRIE, o. t., April 29.-For miles
the Canadian valley is dreary waste
and her people are overcast with
gloom. At sunrise mighty wall Of
water from six to eight feet high and a
mile wide broke upon West Guthrie
without warning, crushing houses,
sweeping away property and drowning
people by the score. Every movable
thing was swept before the wave,
which passed on into the valley with
resistless force.
The most complete chaos has pre-
vailed all day. The efforts of rescuing
parties have in many cases proved in
vain. Many people fioated down
stream before they could be reached
and their fate is unknown; others will
Pass the Night in Trees
in midstream or perched on house.
tops. 1t is impossible to estimate the
number of the dead. The property
loss is placed at something near ST.
100000.
Business has been suspended all day
in Guthrie, the stores and banks being
closed. AS thorough an organization
for relief as is possible has been made,
but all aid has been necessarily re-
tarded by the confused condition OF
things. 1t will be impossible to ex-
plore the houses until the water shall
subside, as many of them are sub
merged. AS darkness gathered over
the scene many overturned houses
could be seen far out in the flood, but
it could not be learned whether their
occupants escaped. The river is 30
feet above its ordinary level.
Caused by Cloudburst.
The food is supposed to have been
caused by cloudburst, supplemented
by heavy rains. The Cottonwood
river, ordinarily small stream that
winds between steep banks in West
Guthrie, was bank full from heavy
rain, but no alarm had been felt, as the
river had been rising gradually during
the night. About a. M, however,
waters from cloudburst above added
to the already high water, and the
food was sweeping through West
Guthrie, a section populated mostly by
colored people. Persons who saw the
first wall of water said that it was
about l8 feet high,
Ar
The first wave was followed by others
in quick succession until the whole set
tied into bank of water from six to
eight feet high. The main supply pipe
of the waterworks system burst where
it crossed the Cottonwood and all the
water in the reservoirs poured into the
river. In the southwestern part of the
city a long arm of land is formed by
the winding of the river. On the
island lived hundreds of negroes. Dur
ing 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 floods from
the reservoirs came down Ill solid
wall and cut across the arm of land
near the main land, cutting Oft the
people from escape. They fled from
their homes to the higher portions of
the newly formed island, but the
mountain of water carried many away.
The air became hideous with the crash.
ing 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 began to help those
nearest them, while across In Guthrie
proper prompt steps were taken at res
cue. AS the houses, barns and other
effects began to drift down stream, each
Freightsd With Human Beings,
boats or RATS shot out here and there
from the shore and desperate efforts