The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-13
Graves Are Full Of Water and
Bodies Cannot be Buried,
Injured Arc Soaked
ROOSEVELT'S GUIDE SAW
BEGINNING OF TORNADO
J. r. Abernathy Describes the Fatal
Wind as He Watched 1t From
the Crest of the Wichita
Mountains.

Snyder. Okla, May 12.-Snyder tonight
is still paralyzed. Early this morning a
cloud of cyclonic hue passed over the
devastated village, following the course
of the former one of Wednesday. This
cloud threw the stricken people into a
panic, but nothing except a deluge accom-
panied the passing of the cloud.
Snyder is located in a basin formed
by the foothills of the Wichita noun
tains. The drainage is exceedingly poor
and water is standing in large pools all
over the town. Excessive rains have made
the country roads almost impossible, and
as a consequence the relief parties sent
to the country districts have not yet
fully reported the results of their investi-
CATION. The relief committee is thorough
ly organized, and is working under an
admirable system.
Condition Known.
The population of Snyder prior to the
tornado is estimated to have been some-
Ting over one thousand people. The con-
dition Of every family stricken is known
personally to the members of the relief
committee The hospital arrangements are
be DONE A rather high wind prevailed
just prior to the heavy precipitation to-
day. During this wind storm it was fear
ed that one of the buildings being used
as a hospital would blow down, and the
attendants started to move the twenty
patients confined in the building While
sonle of these Injured were being con-
veyed on stfctchers to various places
7. - h.
rain began falling furiously, and as a
result the wounded people, many dam
gerously, were drencheo with rain. The
wind subsidized and the injured were re-
turned to the building from which they
were taken. This building had a portion
of the roof blown away, and all sorts of
devices including portions of tin roofs,
comforts and the like were placed over
the injured to keep the water that leak
ed through the roof off them. The cries,
groans and means of the eight or ten
seriously injured inmates We're agonizing.
Water Fills Graves.
All the graves dug yesterday afternoon
and last night for the interment of the
victims of the tornado, are filled with
water and this water is being bailed out
before the bodies can be buried. The in
terment of the bodies Is one of the most
pressing needs of the hour.
X. A
of Frederick, who accompanied President
Roosevelt on his bear hunt, is here as
sisting in the relief work. Alternately saw
the tornado when 1t first formed.
"At first there were three tunnels" says
Abernathy and they first licked down to
the earth about thirty miles southwest of
SNYDER They Travelled in a northeasterly
direction from the first at a slow speed.
but the whirlng noise of the cyclonic
movement could be heard where | then
was. about seven miles away. I was then
on a high promontory of the Wichita
mountains, and these tunnels until
neared Snyder. The three tunnels swept
everything clean. The Ralston homestead
was the only one in their path Several
orchards were destroyed not a tree re-
naming The center funnel did the heav-
lest damage. The funnel south of the
main funnel merged with the center fun
mel as the north fork of the Red river
was crossed.
Gained Velocity.
LAS soon as these two tunnels merged
the two tunnels remaining appeared to
gain in velocity. and moved in a due
northeasterly direction at a rapid rate.
About three or four miles due southwest
of Vernon the two remaining tunnels
Joined. and as soon as the one big funnel
had the field to itself, it fairly shot for
ward and 1t was this funnel that passed
over Snyder When there were three fun
nels the forward movement was exceed
ingly slow I have ridden over the path
of the storm. counted 1fty-eight head of
stock that was ..illed by wind. I did not
see single dead coyote. but dead birds
are scattered all along the path of the
tornado
The Oklahoma Funeral Directors asso-
cation was in session at Oklahoma City
at the time of the disaster. 1t adjourned
Immediately, and eighteen members of the
association came here to assist in burying
the dead. Early tonight twenty-eight
bodies were still in the morgue waiting
to be inferred. Just as rapidly as the pre-
pared graves can be emptied of water,
n burial is observed