Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-09

scores of men started to the rescue on
horseback in wagons and by any other
means of transportation at hand. 1t was
impossible for many to cross the gwollen
streams. but several managed to overcome
all obstacles and reach Gradyville. where n
scene of utter ruin and black despair pre-
scented itself.
No Communication.
The wind and rain of the early night
quickly paralyzed the telephone se~vice of
the town; there was no means of commune
cation left. There was not a railroad in
Adair county. and but for the horseback
messengers there is no means of learning
full details. The messenger gave vivid
description of the catastrophe as he learned
from some of the survivors.
He said that no one had felt any par
ticular fear from the storm. although all
know that terrible transforms were in prog
ress: Few people were out of their beds,
and it was not until nearly midnight that a
few of the more apprehensive persons.
called from their beds by the magnificent
electrical display. saw coming huge wall
Of water down the low banks of Big Creek
Their knowledge came too late for, with
a mad rush and an enormous rumble the
tremendous force was upon them, and they
were afforded no possible avenue of escape.
All Effort Fruitless.
Powerless before the mountain of water
the houses rapidly gave way and passed
IF ut debris into
the rushing current Effort of any kind
was fruitless. and when the crest OF the
food came in a few short moments the
destruction was wrought, and score or
more of lives had been snuffed out. The
survivors made heroic efforts at rescue and
many brave deeds will be recorded of those
who. escaping themselves, went to the in
slant aid of their more unfortunate fellow
villagers. Several persons were saved, but
in few instances did those who were caught
in the terrible rush of water have oppor-
tunty to reach shore alive.
The bodies of the dead were carried into
the village where all have been identified.
Grief stricken relatives of the victims are
gathered in little groups sadly discussing
the awful disaster that came SO quickly
and wrought such horrible results. Couriers
who left here for Greenburg also reached
that place after encounterng and over
coming great difficulties, and scores of
people from there have come to GradyVille
to assist in caring for the injured and CIV
ing such other relief as possible The full
extent of the storm damage probably will
not be known until tomorrow, as search
ers have left for the headquarters and the
mounts of Big creek. which is only dozen
miles in length. in further hunt LOT
bodies which may have been swept further
down stream Until these men return and
report it will be impossible to give exactly
the total of deaths.
Twenty-one Dead at Gradyville, Ky.
The dead:
Mrs. l.. c. Nell, wife of State Senator
Nell, and her four children.
Mrs Lum Hill and one child
Mrs. Carl Wilmore, her daughter and her
granddaughter
Paul Wilson.
Mrs. fairfield Moss and her six children.
Mrs. ]. w. Keltner and one child.
Miss Mary Moss.
The disaster was due to the erratc be-
havior of Big creek, which was already
swollen by recent rains. When the cloud
burst preciptated three inches of rain in
an hour on Gradyville and vicinity the
creek leaped from its bed and took
course with the force of tidal wave.
Inhabitants in Bed.
Inhabitants of Gradyville were nearly all
in bed when the foamng waters struck the
town, carrying away six residences a mill
and a number of small houses. Nearly all
fba -ioti lrnu h,,f fn,,
crushed by the collapse of dwellings.
State Senator Nell, who is a physician,
owes his escape from the fate that over
took his family to the fact that he was
several miles away in the hills, sitting up
with a patient When the news of the dis
aster reached Columbia, KY, the nearest
town of any size, several hundred citizens
departed for the scene with wrecking ap-
planes, food and clothing. All the physi-
clans available went along. They found
the residents Of the devastated village
dazed and helpless but by nightfall all the
relief possible had been afforded. Several
persons were injured, but none of these
will die
Gradyville is a village OF 175 inhabitants
in Adair county six miles from Columbia
and eighteen miles from the nearest rail-
road station.
Families Buried in Ruins.
The storm broke while most York people
were at supper. Entire families were bur
led in ruins of houses. The storm lasted
less than four minutes. All outside commu-
nication cut off until today.
The Methodist Protestant Church was
demolished. The proprietor of saloon
was hurled through the door into hedge
fifty feet away. Many horses and cattle
were blown into the Wabash river and
washed away.
Heavy damage was caused at Graysville,
Ind, just east of York. The home of James
Layton was demolished. Mr. Layton was
tlor,r ont of bjc bouca and brr;a,3 ,,,1or