The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-29

GUTHRIE. o. T.. April S.-For miles
tonight the Canadian valley Is a dreary
waste and the people are overcast with
gloom. At sunrise this morning mighty
wall of water. from six To eight feet high
and mile wide. broke upon West Guth-
rie without warning. crushing houses.
sweeping away property and drowning
people by the score. Every movable thing
was swept before the wave. which passed
on into the valley with resistlesS force.
wreaking terrible destruction to lie and
property wherever IL reached. Dozens OF
human lives are known to have been sac
rifced. how many may not be known for
weeks. Hundreds of houses were wrecked
in the twinkiing of an eye. for miles farms
were completely ruined. bridges and
tracks were washed cut and railway traf-
nc In every direction is left at a stand
still.
The most complete chaos has prevailed
all day The efforts OF resoulng parties
have in many cases proved in vain. Many
people floated down stream before they
could be reached and their fate Is I'M
known: others will pass the night III trees
In midstream or perched on housetops.
II is impossible 10 estimate the dead. The
property loss Is placed AT something near
a million dollars. Fully two-thirds OF
the victims were colored people.
Business has been suspended all day in
Guthrie. the stores and banks being closed.
As thorough organization for relief as
is possible has been made, but all aid
has been necessarily retarded by the con-
fused condition OF things. II will be i'm
possible 10 explore the houses until the
water shall subside. as many OF them are
submerged.
As darkness gathered over the scene
many overturned houses could be seen far
out In the food. but Il could not be learned
whether their occupants escaped The
river is thirty feet above its ordinary
level
a heavy rain began falling this after
noon A threatening bank Of clouds came
up from the northwest and many persons
fed 20 their tornado cellars fearing that
another wind disaster was upon them.
Luckily. however. the damage was slight.
The food is supposed 20 have been
caused by a cloudhurst, supplemented by
heavy rains.
The Cottonwood river. ordinarily small
stream that winds between steep banks
IN West Guthrie. was bank fun from a
heavy rain yesterday and last night. bat
10 alarm had been felt as the river had
been rising gradually during the night.
About 5 o'clock. however. waters from
a clou3burst above had added 70 those
already nearly up 30 the level of the high
banks and the food was sweeping through
West Guthrie. a section populated most
lv by coiored people. Persons who saw
the first wall OF water said that II was
about eighteen inches high. spreading en-
tlreIy across the valley. There was no
water IN front Of II save that In the rivers
channel The FIRST wave was followed BY
others in quick succession until the whole
swelled into bank 81 water from SIX 20
eight feet high Many had already begun
carrying their household goods 20 places
Of safety. but few had made more than
one trip when they were forced n Zee
for their lives before raging. resissIess
torrent that no power of man could hope
% stay.
The main supply pipe q the waterw ks
system burst where il crossed the Cotton
wood. IN the southern part of the city
and az the water IN the reservoirs poured
into the river.
In the southwestern part of the city =
long arru q land is formed br the wind
ing q ths river. or THIS land lived hun
4refs - negroes DurluE the night the
bridge lenainE across the river 10 the
main section had been swept away Tne
people we're absorbed 81 watching tne
rising waters when re food from the
reservoirs came down n a solid VAL ard
cat across ths arm - Land near the main
land cutting o1 fhe people from escape
They ed from thelT hoEaes 80 ths higher
portions of the newly formed ISLAND
Ia hafF an hour the mountain u wafer
had doas SIS work. and practically had
spsut itself The air beams bi3eous With
tre crashing - houses ard the cries f0r
help - the unfortunate
Whea the first anocE % ths disaster was
over tire more fortunate on fne island
began % he}p these nearest them. ahtla
asToss n GafhTse proper sg@ps were taken
"a Fescus As hlases barns ard osaef
Elects began 20 ersfr Gevru stream. each
frelxFte8 wEfn ore or more human beings
eoArs or RATS shot cut here aua there
from sne shore. ard desperate Efforts wers
made 20 rescue tEe r1opA@ frnurav3s@d
~afts zere quickly EaTgwu together ard
started ous tEio tas aaad streaEu- EkefoFs
many - tHsGa hEat heen propelled q rospis
= vzr3s frura shore t8ey EEre tEss1ess and
BROKEN ~ the waters aar the N0ul8- -
rasrNsrw thrown knfa tbe stream. haB ?
Gorez rsscuexs weFe drowned even Before