The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-08
TOOK TO TREE Tops
Floods at Anadarko Worst Known in
Over Forty Years,

over Fcfty Years.
| AnadarIlo. June This weeks issue Of
the Caddo County Times gives some in
| teresting descriptions OF the high waters
a. that point. It says:
The heavy rains which fell during the
/ last ten days eliminated in a food the
| Ike of which has not been remembered
by the oldest white settlers. many of
whom have lived in this vicinity during
the past thirty years But once before.
So the Oldest Indians say, has the river
been higher than it was Friday night:
that was over forty years ago, when it
reached perhaps, a foot higher than at
present, but even that is problematical
For week before the rush of waters
came the river ran bank full. and anxious
watchers watched for it to break its
bounds and food the low lands on either
side; but not until Friday morning did
positive word reach Anadarko that it had
actually broken over and was sweeping
everything before it.
A settler living six miles west of
town jumped out OF bed Friday morning
into six inches of water. The rest of
the family We're quickly awakened and
prepared for flight. Mounting the mules
which had been left tied to the wagon
over night. the father and mother rode TO
high land. The father then returned and
rescued his only child. One more trip was
necessary, this time to save his mother
ir-law. During this time the water had
been getting deeper and deeper, and the
mules had TO swim at least 200 yards in
water ten feet deep.
Once safe from the angry waters. the /
family made their way as quickly as pos
s'ble to Anadarko. where they found food
and shelter. The families living in the !
flar the west end of town were notified I
Of what was coming, and were warned TO /
move to higher ground. At the same time /
Indian runners were sent out, both up (
and down the river. TO warn the people I
Irving on low land to move out. Some I
needed the warning, while others thought I
themselves secure and remained only
10 resret their folly later on
Those living in the west bottom felt
secure, and remained where they were.
AT 10 O'Clock the river began 10 rise
slowly and several men undertook 70
throw up an embankment south of the
railroad bridge 10 keep the water from |
backing up the right of way where the
soil had been scooped out to build the
Grade. While thus engaged the waters
above broke over the banks and came
-ushing down along the bench of ground
which marks the division between the
irst and second bottom. Abandoning
heir useless task they rushed home ana
iayed what they could from their rapidly
sling houses
While the water crept slowly down
,
and Cor several minutes Il rose an-inch Il
minute. This was between and o'clock
, M By o'clock the water was from,
10 I5 feet deep an over the low land {
Tcst OF town Tor mile andsa half BY !
o'clock the water reached half way up (
he roof Of T, c. Coups house. in the
sest dat. The rest of The houses there
ere either floating OF submerged. Tents I
'uHed cheir anchorage and drifted of S
With the tide.
In the meantime word reached town {
hat Uncle Johnny Resnor and wife. 5
barrie Lewis and family, and Mr.. cay [
'or living west OF the river. had been
aught and had climbed trees for safety.
Parker & Coffee who were bundng a a
oot for their own amusement. finished 5
as quickly SIS POSSIBLE and went 10 fha q
escue, The boat was launched west or L
hc railroad bridge, end CoEce went after
tr and AIRS Resncr. whom he brought Il
Sfay 90 shore. one II "a time. In ths 2
ao1ntine larger and safer boat was h
REQUIRED and two Mexicans went in It I
iter Charlie Lewis ana family. TIE fam
81 consisted Of Chariie Mrs. Lewis. y
-ri 70 and 2 boy years old, and baby p
months oli- Mr- Gaynor was also res b
ned" b