Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-29

ldlt. cutting Ol INC pNppAC LANlA4 'p~'
They fled from their homes TO the
higher portions Of the newly formed
island. In half an hour the mountain
of water had done its work and prac-
ucally 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 ones on
the island Immediately began to help
those nearest them while across in
Guthrie proper steps were taken at
rescue.
The houses, barns and other effects
began TO drift down stream, each
freighted with one or more human
beings. Boats and RATS shot here and
there from the shore and desperate ef-
forts were made to rescue the people.
Improvised RATS were quickly thrown
together and started out into the mad
stream. Before many of them had been
propelled a couple Of yards from the
shore they were twisted and broken by
the waters. and the wouId-be rescuers
we're thrown into the stream. Half a
dozen
RESCUERS WERE DROWNED
even before those they had tried to save
had been reached.
Gus Platt. business manager Of the
Guthrie Leader. and George Willis, a
merchant tailor. swan the river at the
risk of their lives and secured a boat
by which a number of persons were
saved.
A negro woman with a babe in her
arms desperately tried to steady herself
i'm "a tree top. calling the while for help
She was finally rescued amt said ner
family of six had been lost.
A woman wading from her home with
her baby on her head was seen to go un-
der and a man swimming the channel to
reach four women and baby in a tree
WAS carried down stream. Two wOm5n
and q child were carried away on a bridge
further down stream. one man and two
women in plain sight of shore were on a
house roof when it went to pieces.
They an perished.
An ola negro woman was seen clinginG
TO a house TOP. The building soon turned
over and She was drowned.
Three men. Walter Olds. John Nandusen
and Eugene Gula. sought TO rescue an Old
man from a tree. Their raft struck an
ovarhaugjng tree and they barely saved
themselves by clambering into another
tree They were finally rescued on a rope
sent 20 them 10y means of a shot gun and
cord
Two men secured small stern wheel
pleasure boat and started 10 the rescure
of half dozen men and women lodged i'm
"a tree. The persons were rescued amid
the cheers of the spectators. The cable
holding the craft finally broke and it was
carried down stream but ultimately land
ed safely.
Adjutaut General Jameson. of the Ter
ritorial Militia. narrowly escaped with his
family He was forced TO wade and lead
his horse with his family i'm the buggy;
John Mztz. aged -. was capsized while
trying 20 save q woman who sank before
me- reached her Metz himself was barely
rescued
George Owens. Attorney league Ray and
Dick Pearson were precipitated into the
water while trying to save some people
and Owens was drowned. The wife and
i've children of Wesley McGiu. colored,
were drowned in their home.
Tonight forty or fifty people could be
seen
CLINGING TO TREES
and roofs of buildings but could not be
reached and will have 70 spend the night
where they are.
The strength of many may fail them be-
fore morning.
The fate Of many others who are known
.o have been carried down stream viii
not be known till Gaybreak, and perhaps
not then.
II is impossible 20 get any definite news
from the hundreds of rescued people on
the bluffs west of the city. Those who
escapei are rushing frantically about in
search Of missing ones. The river is so
ing down rapidly tonight.
When darkness settled over the city to-
right the widest stories were ahoat.
Many were claiming that fifty lives had
been lost. and not nfreQuently men were
heard claiming that fully 2o0 mad per-
isbed. These wild estimates We're unques-
tfarablv exacserated. but lives wer5 lost
I'm the flood i'm every direction IN plain
view OF the few who were heroically car
rvfns on the work OF rescue ana or the
many who stood helpless Mt the edse OF
+be raging waters. Men. women ana O.. ..-
drsn struggled i'm the torrent side by s'd3
with horses. cattle and swine. one pef'sn-
ing here. another there. and in places Se'-
eraI disappeared together beneath the
flood
At dark tonight but two bodies had
been recovered. The bodies recovered are
those Of the following:
anna KAISER. a teacher.
FANK MAYERS.
Others known to have been drowned are;
GEORGE OWENS.