Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-30
Ell RENO GETS FULL FORCE.
The Cyclone and CIoudturst Does Terrible
Work in That Section.

Eel Reno, o. r., April 2S.-For the first
time since the white man settled in the
Canadian valley. 20 years ago, this
| mornings sun sent its rays over al
Oklahoma sea. The dry spell was
broken, Saturday, with a fierce storm
that turned the streets into torrents
washed away the crossings, tore out
sewers and moved small buildings
broke up the town. Saturday at mid
night, the situation was intensified by
hurricane blowing 46 miles an hour
| which drove binding sheets Of water
| through the rows Of already damaged
houses. Persons were driven in terror
to storm-cellars and caves and spent
| the night in momentary expectation q
being born away by the food.
Sunday morning shone bright and
clear and the gauge showed a fall Of
| 81 inches since Saturday noon The
streets had been plowed with gullies
small buildings toppled over, and here
and there bits Of furniture and Other
household effects noated about. Tn
valley of the canadian. Sunday dis
played a net work Of lakes and islands
dotted with half-nooded houses and
horses and cattle struggling for places
of safety.
Yesterday noon. a heavy cloud swept
IN from the west and another deluge de-
scended upon the town. The water fell
in sheets and by O'Clock In the evening
the rainfall amounted to over inches.
About O'Clock. an intensely black cloud
moved toward the city from the west.
1t was typical tornado, indicated by
whistling wind which universally accom-
panics "tWistcr.' and the streets were
soon filed with running. shouting people
seeking caves or cellars.
stores and homes were deserted and the
people huddled together awaiting the
blow. The center OF the storm passed
over the southeastern corner Of the town.
striking the bills across the valley,
wrecking all it touched.
With the tornado came the heaviest
fall Of water ever recorded here in
like period over two inches falling IN 80
minutes. All day the river had been ris-
ing at "A frightful rate The wagon
bridges went out when the water reached
the floors. and the bridges drifted and
serving as an obstruction, forced the
water out over the bottom washing out
crops moving houses and drowning
stock. A dam on the Ellison ranch gave
away and carried out a bridge on the
Fort Reno road. swept the fair grounds
clean and Hooded the yards Of the thoc-
taw Railroad. Rising into the houses OF
the bottom land farmers. it compelled the
farmers TO desert their homes. The res
cue Of many families were made at great
danger 10 the lives Of the rcscuers. y
party Immediately started out on RATS
rescuing the unfortunates.
In the home Of Thomas Palmer, the
iatter's wife ana several children were
rescued from the tops Of bureaus just as
the water was creeping M to their rect.
The families of Mrs. Hail Tom Potter
Col. Sevcry and Mrs Black were rescued
from their homes. In each instance the
water had swept through and was grad
ually rising During the trip a raft of
railroad ties went TO pieces on sub
merged wire fence and the entire party
was thrown into the water. They We're
All saved a little child Of Frank ilol-
man fell into a washed-out crossing and
was drowned NJ. a. Bckford milk
man. nearly lost his own life in trying
20 save the little one.
Lightning played havoc, striking the
spire of the Presbyterian church and to-
tally wrecking il. The schoolhouse Tor
colored children was struck AT , o clock
in the afternoon. The structure was shat
tered and about 80 pupils more or less
seriously hurt.
Several other houses were struck by
lightning Further west the lightning
killed much stock The electric light
wires went down and the town was in
darkness. last night.
Reports from surrounding towns are
meagre. as the telegraph wires are down
tnd trains have ali been stopped on ac-
ever that many homes have been washed
out in towns adjacent To III Reno and it
is feared that many lives have been lost.
West of here. Frank Thomson and the
16-year-old son of Herman McGreEgin
were drowned.