The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-05
YEARS PRIZE DOWNFALL.
What the Cloud-Burst at Woodward
Did.

What the CIoud-Burst at Woodward
Did.
Guthrie, o. T, May "details Of the
exceptional storm at Woodward are
given in the Woodward News which
says: a two-inch rain. Immediately fol-
lowed by a cloud-burst, gave Woodward
the worst food it has ever experienced in
its history, and the damage resulting
from same win reach a large amount.
About $50 o'clock a heavy wind and
dust storm came from the west, which
was followed by a perfect deluge of rain
accompanied by thunder and lightning.
1t rained for about thirty minutes and
then stopped for about twenty more.
About 9;l5 the rain began falling and
came down in torrents. Somewhere on
the hill southwest Of town, the bottom
dropped out of things generally and by
10 o'clock woodward was flooded. Water
poured through Main street equal to a
river The street in front of the News
Office appeared TO be the main channel.
as several large holes were washed out.
One in front of the Office was about
twenty feet long, six TO ten feet wide and
all the way from two to four feet deep.
Just at the corner of the Race Track
saloon, another big hole was washed out
and in this Mr.. Nixon received a cold
bath. He was rescued by his son. Sid
Nixon In addition TO the water being
deep at this point. il was also quite
swift, which made pretty dangerous
place for anyone to get into. The build
ings on the east side of Main street were
damaged to some extent; in some in
stances the water poured in the back
door and on through the building and
on out of the front. w. A. Heorick & Co.
lost about $50 worth of sugar. The cellar
under the Woodward Grocery Cos. store
was level fun of water and the bottom
layer of sacks in their -four house was
completely lost The harness shop of the
Woodward Mfg. Co. was washed from
its foundation and carried almost to the
railroad track, where it lodged against
some trees. The restaurant adjoining
the harness shop suffered the same fate.
The houses on the low lands were flooded
with water.
Traffic was delayed for TWO days No
trains left Woodward Saturday and no
mail was received until O'Clock Sun
day evening. In West Woodward on per
fectly level ground. the railroad track
for over hundred yards was washed
out and east of Woodward by the stock
yards. six hundred feet of track was
destroyed. A heavy force of men were
put at work at both places. but it was
impossible to get the track into shape
for trains TO run until Sunday even
ing
While. IN one way. the damage from
the food viii amount 70 a large sum,
yet the benefits derived from the wash
out are great The rubbish in the back
yards and alleys that superintendent Of
the board Of health was ordering cleaned
up is gone. as in almost every instance
the alleys were washed clean.
one or two runaways occurred during
the height Of the storm. adding 70 the
excitement which was already at a high
pitch
The stores did not close until II o'clock,
as 1t IVES useless to Try TO get home be-
fore. ana even at that hour everyone
had to wade water. some of our merch-
ants. who probably had not gone bare
footed for years. pulled of their shoes.
rolled up their trousers and waded in
Woodward was not the only place that
was damaged, as fences southwest Of
Woodward along Indian creek were
washed out. and other damage done.