The Butler weekly times., 1897-05-06
LOSS OF LIFE BY FLOOD
Guthrie Visited by a Second
Johnstown Disaster--PeOple
CIinging to Trees Waiting
to be Rescued.
PART or THECITY WIPED OUT.
4 Cloudburst Followed by the Break Of the
Water-Works Supply Pipe Plays Ruin
at the Metropolis Of Oklahoma.

at the Metropolis OF oklahoma.
Guthrie, Okla, April 29.-At 6
s'clock this morning, a mighty wave
,i water, six feet deep and mile
vide swept down Cottonwood Valley
striking this city with a tremendous
roar, crushing houses and driving
people screaming from their homes.
At the first rush every bridge and
svery boat went down the stream.
Probably over SO persons were
drowned. The food was caused by
\ cloudburst at point unknown.
All West Guthrie is inundated. In
10 business houses water is 10 feet
ieep. The river is 30 feet above its
usual level, and is four feet deep on
The railroad tracks, which are giving
way. The telegraph is likely to fall
lt any moment.
Hundreds of people are in trees,
but can not yet be helped. Men try
ng to swim the channel to reach
four women and a baby in tree
we're carried away.
People are floating off on houses.
One woman wading from her home
with her baby on her head was seen
10 go under. The air is hideous with
the screams of dying animals.
It is believed that score or more
Of negroes were drowned In the col.
ored settlement. There is absolutely
no way of helping people, as no
bridges and no boats are left
At 10 o'clock the flood was station
ary. Nine people are known to have
been drowned. Two women and q
child were carried away on bridge.
One man and two women were on q
house roof when it went to pieces
and all perished.
1t is as yet absolutely impossible
10 get names. Scores are missing
Many buildings are still going. A
girl who has been in sight in a peach
tree fer hours just gave up and fell
in the water.
Gus Platt and George Willis swan
Me main current, cut fat boat from
nOorings and saved seven people,
making landing miles below the
city.
It is believed that many were
saught in bed in small houses and
drowned. The big Cimarron bridge
Has gone. Immense damage was
done in the country. Skeleton Greek
washed away scores of farm houses
and several persons were drowned.
CITY KEsERvoIas BREAK.
In the southwestern part of the
city long arm of land is formed by
the widening OF the river. On this
land lived hundreds of negroes.
During the night the bridge leading
across the river to the city had been
swept away The people were ab.
sorbed in watching the rising waters
shis morning when the reservoirs
suddenly burst and the added food
same down in solid wall, cutting
OF the people from escape.
Three daring raftsmen sought tc
rescue an old man from tree. The
raft as it rushed down the river wa,
watched with breatEless excitement
II struck the overhanging limbs anc
ihe raftsmen were knocked off theil
feet. They managed to stay on tn,
raft, no wever, and it went whirlins
toward the Cimarron. Nothing ha
since been heard of the men.
The tracks OF the Santa Fe ar
submerged and traffic has been aban
doned. Small railway bridges in al
directions have been washed out
The disaster equals the Chandls
tornado for it's terrible suddennes.
An unknown man, his wife an
shild have just fioated down on
house, which had toppled over an
drowned them all. An old colore
woman stood on the roof of a sms
house, while the water slowly ro.
about her, and carried under, pray
ing and singing hymn.
OF six boats that have attempte
so cross the channel to the inundate
districts four have capsized. Twel'
more boats are being built. n.