New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-30
RESCUE WORK IN GUTHRIE.
NOT MORE THAN TWENTY LIVES LOST
IN THE FLOOD

THE PEOPLE TURN IN WITH WILL TO HELP
THEIR UNFORTUNATE NEIGnBoRs-TH
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY LARGE.
Guthrie. Okla. April 29.-In the flood stricken
valley Of the Cottonwood River heroic efforts
have been made all day to rescue the unfortu-
mates whose lives were still endangered, and
for the relief Of the hundreds Of destitute and
hungry. Tonight 1t seems a certainty that the
loss Of life In yesterdays deluge will not exceed
twenty. All day persons supposed yesterday to
have been drowned have been found clinging to
bushes or driftwood down the stream, on the
west bluffs. scattered in farmhouses for miles.
For the greater part Of yesterday the torrent
cut off communication with the submerged dis
trict and in the excitement the death list was
swolled by hundreds.
Daylight found dozens OF persons still clinging
to trees, overturned houses timbers In peri
lous positions. For miles along the scene Of
devastation 100 people, homeless and half-ill
from exposure and hunger passed miserable
night. and morning found most of them too weak
to help themselves or give assistance to others.
The scene in the flood swept district this morn
ing was one of desolatiop. The river fell rapidly
during the night and while it is still bankfull,
the water has receded from most Of the mum
dated districts
With the first ray Of daylight the work OF res
cue and relief was begun with will. and kept
up with tireless energy. During last night men
had been put to work in lumber yards construct
iray boats and dawn to-day witnessed dozen
RATS starting out from all directions to the res
cue of the unfortunates. The work of the RATS
men proved most effective. and one by one per-
were transported from their perilous posi-
tons to places of safety Every house. drift pile
and tree was closely examined in search Of the
dead. By nightfall ample arrangements had
been made for the immediate care Of the home
less. and there was an assurance Of no further
suffering at least for the present.
Five hundred homes were swept away, $50
houses wrecked and twenty stores were
devastated. leaving thousand people homeless
and half as many destitute The work OF sup
plying shelter and food for all these was by no
means small undertaking. But the Guthrie
ties equal to the task and tonight thou
sands of dollars have been subscribed to aid
the afflicted.
The damage along the Cmarron River east is
extensive, and hundreds Of farms have been
devastated along the Deep Fork in Lincoln
County. Gangs Of men worked all day rebuild
ing houses along the stream The damage 10
property will be in the neighborhood OF SloV.VU'
while that sustained In crops may equal or per-
haps double that amount
THE MISSISSIPPI BREAKS ITS RECORD.
AT THE HIGHEST POINT EVER KNOWN AT
NArCHEz AND STILL. RISING.
Natchez Miss April 29.-Thc river rose another
half-tenth inch to-day and now stands at 1915.
one and quarter feet above the highest record or
any previous year No breaks have been re-
ported. but the threatening weather conditions
keep people in the lowlands in state OF apprehen-
sion The Tensas River continues to rise at the
rate of half an inch hour, and within thirty-six
hours will begin TO spread over many miles OF
plantations between Vidalia and Sicily Island. The
care Of the flood sufferers which has been looked
after by the local authorities. will tomorrow be
turned over to Lieutenant Crowley of the United
States Engineers who has been detailed for this
service.
New-Orleans, April 2s.-The river Is 1874 and ris-
ing Mass meetings calling upon employers TO
stop trying TO make crops and put all hands on the
leyees while the levce boards are asked for ma
terial with which to build the barriers higher.
Captain Derby the Government engineer In this
district not content with simply sounding the
warning has announced that he VIII raise % miles
Of levee once. and this example mas given SO
much confidence that entertainments everywhere
will find defenders
Hannibal Mo. April CIT has been raining here
all day. and as a result the levee Is in grea. dan
ger A large force of men is acting as patrol, and
sacks are being filed with sand to use in emer-
gcncy. In the Missouri bottoms few mes nortn
of This city the farms all submerged and the
people have abandoned their homes Inc people on
Snv Island are getting their stock ana goods on as
fast as poss be for they fear the levee may break
at any hour.