The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-27
CLOUD BURST IN OKLAHOMA.
OKLAHOMA CITY AND VICINITY
UNDER WATER.
Three Feet Deep in the First
Floors and Ten Feet Deep in
the Cellars.
Women and Children Moved in Boats to
Higher Land.

Dallas, Texas, May PA special
to the News from Oklahoma City, O..
T., says:
Oklahoma City and vicinity we're
visited on Saturday night and Sunday
morning by the heaviest rainfall and
most severe electrical storm known in
the history of the city. Many persons
thought that the city would expert
ence tornado, and they spent the
night In the caves. All today and to-
night more than half the city has been
under water, and in some instances
water is three feet deep in houses. 1t
requires boats to transport the women
and children through the streets ITO
higher and dryer land. The basement
under many of the big wholesale hous-
es are flooded, the water in some cases
being ten feet deep.
It is estimated that the total los loss
from the food will reach $100, 600.
Traffic on the electric railway is sus-
pended on account of the power house
being under water. All trains into
this city, except the Santa Fe, are
water-bound, and many washouts are
reported west on the Choctaw. The
Canadian River at this point is over a
quarter of mile wide, with a four
foot rise in sight. It is reported that
several people in the bottoms could
not escape the food and were drowned.
This report, however, cannot be
verified.
ENID DELUGED-Loss $500, 900.
Enid, Oklahoma, May M.-Hun-
dreds of persons were rendered home
less and property damage to the ex-
tent of $500, 600 was done in the Enid
bottoms alone by cloudburst that
struck west of this city at midnight
last night. The aggregate damage
probably will be much higher on &C.
count of losses sustained between Enid
and the seat of the storm. A bank OF
water three feet high and two hundred
feet wide, swept down through the
bottoms at midnight, carrying houses
and everything before it. 1t came
upon Enid without warning, while
most of its inhabitants were asleep.
Within few minutes hundred hous.
es were completely submerged. Many
persons lost everything they possessed.
The means for relieving distress are
inadequate. The rainfall the past ter
days has been the heaviest in the his.
tory of Oklahoma and the indications
are that more will follow. Reports Of
losses in the country west Of Enid are
meagre, but it is believed that heavy
damage was done.
"a DAYS OF RAIN IN GUTHRIE.
Guthrie, Oklahoma, May 24.-EarlJ
today this vicinity was visited by
another deluge, making the Oath con.
secutive day of rain.
STORMS IN INDIAN TERRITORY.
Chickasha. I. T., May PA severe
rain and wind storm passed Over
Chickasha and through the Washits
Valley last night. The damage wa:
confined mostly to the Rocky lslane
and Frisco railroads. Two Rock Isl
and bridges over the Canadian ano
Washita rivers were washed out, carry
ing more than 800 feet of track with
them, and efectually blocking traffic
A orth-bound Rock Island passengel
train ran into washout, five mile:
north of Chickasha and left the track
There was no loss of life. Anothe!
Rock Island passenger train, on the
Mangum branch, arrived here afte,
passing through terrific hail storm
during which almost every window il
the train was broken. Two bridge!
on the Frisco Railway, between
Chickasha and Oklahoma City were
washed out.