Evening star., 1897-03-31
CHAOS AT CHANDLER
Awful Effect Of Last Nights Terrible
Cyclone.
FROM Is TO 50 PERSONS KILLED
Fire and Rain Added to the
Horror.
Z Fl E TOW n DEL e G ED
I Is TO 50 PERSONS KILLED
T II E TOWN DELU ED

GUTHRIE, o. T., March 31-Chaos
reigps in the town of Chandler Last
nights terrible cyclone has turned the
peaceful town of 1900 inhabitants into
morgue, and its principal business build
ings and dwellings lay wrecked in all direc-
tons.
AS yet there is no way of getting at the
actual number of dead and wounded, so
intense is the confusion that prevails The
death list is variously estimated at from
twenty-five to fifty, with the injured num-
bering from seventy-five to twice that
number. Already twenty-one dead bodies
have been recovered.
A Night of Terror.
The night in Chandler was one of inde-
scribable terror. With better part of its
inhabitants dead or dying and the re-
malnder too badly injured or unable from
fright or because of the darkness to render
assistance, little better order than bedlam
prevailed. Rain poured down upon the
disconsolate Inhabitants all during the
weary hours and added horror to the situa-
ton. The injured in many cases unavail-
ing cried for help and lay in the wrecks
OF their houses. till daylight made 1t pos
sible for them to help themselves or when
aid from surrounding towns arrived. Many
OF the wrecks took fire and burned them
selves out, several still smodering when
morning broke over the town.
From the fires work may finally come the
worst realizations of the disaster, for it is
believed that many of the missing were
burned to death. This phase of the situa-
ton will not be cleared away till perfect
order has again been restored, and a care
full summing up of the storms doings are
made possible.
Came Without Warning.
The pvrlopa Chandler u-itb
warning about o'clock last evening. Its
work of carnage began before the inhabi-
tants realized what was upon them and
hardly any means of escape was left open.
Tearing through the business district
stores were buried right and left, lifted
nigh into the air and tossed in every drec-
ton.
The court house, in which Chief Justice
Dale holding court was taken off it's
foundation and the building nearly crush
ed. PassiI & on into the residence district,
the wind created devastation there and
itself. The trail left was one of wreck
and ruin most complete Houses rested
on their tops, streets were made uprecog-
nizable by having been piled high with
debris. Soon fire followed the cyclones
work, and here and there bright flames
famed up into the sky. Overturned stoves
had caught and Unhampered the fire be-
gan its part in the work of destruction.
In a very short time a heavy rain storm
came up. As night wore on it developed
into deluge, and while it succeeded in
completing the dismal scene, probably
proved the savior of the town. for in
many spots it quenehed the fires and
stemmed a conflagration that Chandler's
citizens could never have hoped to stay.
Communication Cut or.
With the first realization of their pre-
die ament the uninjured and able bodied
found themselves from frightened con-
fusion well nigh as helpless to render aid
as their more unfortunate Ieishbors
Finally, when effort to send for outside
aiG was made. it was found that all COM
munication with the outside world had
been cut eff
The telephone office was among those
buildings destroyed. 1t several hours
before communication with Guthrie was
secured, mile and half out of Chandler
But a brief idea of the nature of the de-
vastation wrought, together with an appeal
for aid had been sent the neighboring
cities when the wires snapped and Chan
dler was again shut-of.
The Work of Rescue.
In the meantime. however, a train bear
ing physicians and others left for the
scene. The wire came up later and fur
ther appeals for aid met prompt response
and additional rescuirg parties were sent
out as the extent of the damage became
known.
By smidnight some show Of system had
been perfected, and the dead and dyin,
were being released from the grimy prisons
into which their own homes mad been
trar sformed. Improvised hospitals were
erected. and the unfortunates cared for
as best as was possible. Eager hands
piled here and there among pits Of wet
or charred timbers. probably in search of
a mother, child or a wife. Quietly they
worked on fearful at each step that they
Lar
terms darted in and out in response to cries
of the injured, who pleaded for help.
AT l O. clock twenty-one dead bodies had
been taken from the ruins, while dozens,
more or less badly injured, had been re-
moved to places of safety. In addition, it
was known that others, whom IL had been
unable to reach. or who. perhaps. had been
incinerated before the denge came to
quench the fire in their homes. would swell |
the list Of fatalities The list Of dead and |
injured far ascertained at daylight
this morning follows:
The Dead.
John Dawson of Lincoln, Neb lawyer.
burned to death: James woodward and |
wife OF Eldorado, Kansas, visiting in |
Chandler instantly killed; Mrs. Henry |
Mitchell, Mrs. Tom Smith. F. Demon,
Emma Dressinger. D. c. Johnson and wife,
Mrs. Philip johnson ana child, Mrs. DR..
Lee, A. w. Keller and wife, unknown wo- |
man and baby, hve unknown children.
Fatally Injured.
Arthur Jewett. Peggy Johnson, Mrs. |
Frank Mccall, D. c. Gooding, Maggie |
Reaves. Andrew Asher and wife, Mrs Cul- |
lom, Jennie Wordsworth, young daughter |
Of Mr.. and Mrs. James Wordsworth boy |
named woodward, badly hurt; Mrs Emery |
Foster and baby, thought to be fatally |
hurt.
The following are among the more Or
less hurt: John Mccartney, brother-in-law
of United States Marshal Nagle; F. n Nj
black John Foster, Sampel Winthrop, |
George McHenry, two daughters of County |
Treasurer Ulam.
Hourly the above lists are being aug
mented. 1t will be day or two before a /
complete list OF the casualties will be had.