The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-14
CHANDELIERS R'SAWFULFAFB
A Thriving Oklahoma Town Wiped
Out by a Tornado.
CYCLONE LEFT DEATH AND RUIN.

More Than n Score Killed and Only a
Few Buildings sStanding---Houses Were
Wrecked by the Storm aud Then Took
Fire---Many of the I'M ured Were Eurped
to Death--.Other Towns Also Suffer.
GUTHRIE, Oklahoma peciaD-What was
once the beautiful. thriving little city Of
Chandler, situated on finely timbered hill
near the centre Of Lincoln County, Is now a
shapeless mass OF ruins, q barren, devastated
waste. peopled by homeless, stricken, suf-
fering, hopeless people.
The few homer that are left have been
turned into hospitals. The remnant OF the
leading hotels morgue. Court had just
convened and the city was filled With scrang-
ers from all parts OF the county and court at
taches and attorneys from Guthrie.
About the middle OF the afternoon bright
sky quickly gave way to dark and lowering
clouds. A few people from the country
started for home. but tho majority decided
to wait until the shower was over.
Later the sky lighted for time, but at 5
o'clock the wind suddenly changed to the
west and north, and then went back TO the
south. and an onlinous looking cloud piled
up in the southwest and moved slowly
toward the town.
There was a stiffness and oppressiyeness
in the air which caused people to feel that
something was going to happen, and first
women and children and then strong men
began hunting the shelter Of caves and tor
uado cellars.
At $50 o. m. the clouds formed into q
funnel-shaped mass and began bearing down
upon the city. Five minutes later the awful
roar was heard, and at $50 o'clock the
storm leaped upon the city, enveloped. 1t In
blackness and all was chaos. inside OF three
minutes the entire town was mass of rrins
and ten minutes later the wind had passed
on.
The towns business portion lay north and
south along four squares Of Marvel avenue,
and in all its business area but two buildings
were left intact Hoffman 4 Charles's store
and Schlagel's saloon, which, together with
a few scattering residences and the Presby-
terian Church was what was left OF the pros
porous city. For short time there was a
deluge OF rain and beating Of hail, while
above the noise arose screams OF terror and
groans OF agony.
Down the centre Of the main street was q
struggling mass of wounded human beings
and horses, piles Of wreckage, buggies,
wagons and merchandise, with CHASTITY dead
faces here and there, sight awful to behold.
Soon the terror at the fire flend was added
TO the devastation OF the storm, as flames be
gan to leap upon the wreck Of the New York
store and Lincoln County Bank Next to the
bank was little restaurant, where five
people were eating supper.
The bank toppled over on II, ,pinning tho five
down and holding them prisoners to meet an
agonizing death by fire. At several other
points the flames burst out, and 1t was hard
1ght with fire until after midnight, many OF
the injured being badly burned and several
meeting death in the flames. In addition to
the five who perished In the restaurant.
A large majority of the people are left
homeless and penniless, with scarcely clothes
to cover their backs, and many are already
suffering. The night turned very cold and
the women and children exposed to the ele-
ments suffered severely.
There are not coflns enough to bury the
dead, and carpenters are making boxes from
the wreckage Of the buildings. Never has q
town been more completely wiped out, and
the majority OF the business men are wholly
ruined.
A messenger from southwest Of Chandler
says tina. many farm houses were demol-
ished there, number Of people injured and
two killed. The little village OF Parkland Is
reported completely destroyed with many
injured.
The list OF dead at Chandler Is twenty
three, as follows: Attorney John, burned to
death; Edgar Demoss, burned to death; Miss
Emma Dressinger burned to death; Mrs.
Thomas Smith. crushed; Mrs. Phillip john
son and child. Mrs. DR.. b. D. Lee, James N.
Woodyar1 and wife, OF Eldorado. Kan.
James Kyle and two children, Mrs. Demont,
Miss Eta Rittenstein, George Bemar, A. W.
Keller and wife, Mr.. and Mrs. D. Q. john
son and two children, Andrew Asher and
wife. The Injured number 10o or more.