Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-10-01

How many men there We're in the
shops, / cannot say, but there was no
way to help them. They We're probably
burned TO death. haven't seen any OF
them since.
Il don't know how the fire started
but It seemed as though IL began in
a score of places at once. | looked foi
the bank of Austin, but it was gone:
swept away, / guess, because | didn't
see it burn,
Shrieks of Women Pititful.
but the worst Of all were the cries
of the women and children. Most all
the men were at work, and the wo-
men and children were at home alone.
Many had heard the warning sent out
by the telephone girl. The fire bell
was rung, and others thought il was
a fire. Some of them rushed to the
business section and were caught in
the water. Those not drowned were
crushed in the crumbling buildings,
and others were caught in the flames.
1t was frightful. J can't begin to tell
1t all.
Little children playing in yards at
home were caught up by the water
and tossed about on the flood like
playthings. Cattle and horses were
swept off, and even the side walks
we're torn up. And over and above il
all were the shrieks of the hundreds
of poor people who could not cape.
l did not know how any OF us got
away.
MANY were caught in burning
buildings and II will be days before
the real extent Of the calamity will
he known"
II is estimated tonight that a thous-
and buildings have been torn from
their foundations and crushed in the
flood or have been destroyed by fire.
The water made its way through the
business section of the town, and left
only four buildings standing. The val
ley of F'reemans Run is narrow, and
the town was built along its banks.
al Ailt IA liAC iOhti paw OA
the valley We're swept clear of their
by the torrents, and many
of these which remained quickly fell
a prey to the flames.
Survivors See Awful Sight.
There was no one to attempt to stop
the fire, and it was allowed to burn
itca1f out tho curuivnrs of tho flnod
standing idly on the hllsdes, stunned
by awful sight and without the power
to act. A feeble effort was made in
the lower part Of the town whsre the
flood soon spent its force to save
property and lives, but ii was spas
motto. 1t is reported that some lives
were saved at this point, but If they
were the names of the persons haven't
been obtained.
The scene in the village tonight is
Here and there can be
seen the light of some torch or Ian
tern, as q distracted father searches
for some svidepce of his family and
home. Men who day ago were
among the most level headed in the
know not what to do. The
few who are trying to bring some
order out Of chaos are handicapped
by the cries Of the bereaved and un-
fortunate. The extent of the destruc-
lion will not be known for hours,
Mothers Calls Are I'm Vain.
Scenes of indescribably sadness
marked the village during the early
part of the night, Many women who
had lost their children wandered in
the darkness crying their names in
The vain hope they would answer,
while here and there a worn and bro
ken man stood at the ruins of his
home. dazed wondering when the
bodies of his family would be found.
But II is the general belief some OF
them will never be recovered. Many
were burned in the fire, and others
we're ground to pieces by the masses
IF timbers and stone swept down by
The flood.
The terrible force of the water Is
shown in the story of one man, who.
standing in the street, tonight de-
clared he had seen a two-story brick
crumble like a house of
cards. Residences suffered because
" their construction. and while no
accurate estimate OF the real damage
can be made until tomorrow, 1t is
stated that there are not enough
houses left in the village to house the
survivors.
The railroad shops which at first
resisted the flood will prove to be a
death chamber. A resculng party at
to reach the interior ruins
Of the railroad shops. but was driven
back by the smell Of burned flesh.
Strong men became towards. and un-
lii help comes from the outside, little
can be done to ascertain the loss or
succor the injured.
The food supply. was soon exhausted
as every grocery store. except one
small store. was swept away. Many
went without their evening meal, and
unless help comes they will have NO
breakfast tomorrow.