The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-04-22
Raging Canadian River Carries
Away Large Section Of Santa
Fe Track at Purcell and
Stops Traffic
STRANDED CROWD
FLOOD The TOWN
People Eager to Get to Auto Races
Hope to Foot 1t Over Bridge
Only One Sure Route
to Go North

Chickasha was flooded with people
last night dumped here by Frisco ant
Rock Island trains from the west and
south and unable because Of the Santa
Fe washout at Purcell to get to tneli
destination, north and east. Late yes
terday afternoon the Santa Fe track
north of Purcell started to 90 and this
morning 1t was reported that 1000 feet
OF track between the depot and the
Canadian bridge was missing
Despite this fact, the Santa Fe here
sold 107 tickets TO Purcell this morn
ing, offering no assurance that the
purchasers could get further than
that point In the crowd were many
chickasha people endeavoring to get
to Oklahoma City to the auto races.
This morning Mangum wired the
Santa Fe at Chickasha stating that
they had Az passengers for Oklahoma
City and asking If they could be han.
died.
Two Possible Routes.
With the Santa Ne track out north
OF Purcell, there are but two routes
left by which one may get north or
east from this side Of the river That
at least one of these is doubtful was
evidenced by the refusal Of the Santa
Fe to handle Frisco train to Ada
this morning This route is Santa re
Byars, thence to Shawnee via the
same road. The Santa Fe reported
from Purcell TO Byars in order this
morning. but with the possibility OF
its being washed out during the day.
Three Frisco trains went over the
Santa Fe from Chickasha to Purcell
yesterday, two we're held up there and
the-third was returned to Chickasha
this morning. arriving here about 8
O'Clock A Frisco stock train endeav-
ored to get the Santa Fe 20 take them
from Chickasha to Ada today, but
were FtAuStu-
Cuts Through Timber.
The river some 10 to Is miles from
Purcell has cut into the Santa Fe track
between Purcell and Byars, through
what was big hody OF timber and
when the Santa Re train passed that
point last night. bound for ciickasha,
the river was not far from the rail
road embankment. It Is feared that
the track win 20 out at this point to-
day.
In that case, there will be but one
route open 10 the north and east from
Chiekasha. The Rock Island to Lind
say, thence on the Santa Fe to Pauls
Valley, thence to Byars and from BY
ars across the river TO Shawnee. This
is the regular route over which all the
heavy Santa Fe freight is handled and
is considered a asfe piece Of track.
The bridge and approaches to the Can
adian between Byars and Shawnee
has never given trouble.
The manner in which the big crowd
that left here this morning on the
Santa Fe, hoped to get to Oklahoma
City, was to walk around the washout
north of the Santa Fe depot at Purcell
cross the bridge on foot and catch an
accommodation train on the Cleveland
county side OF the river. The Santa
Fe refused to promise that they would
operate an accommodation from Okla
homa City to the Purcell bridge, and
the passengers could but hope that
such service could be had.
Mail from Ell Reno. Oklahoma City
and all points east and north, was sent
this morning via the Pauls Valley,
Byars and Shawnee route. There was
nearly car load of 1t and much de
lay will be necessitated before it's dis
tribution on the regular routes beyond
the flood.
Current Is Swift.
The Mangum Rock Island train IS
making trips from Mangum to Minco
and return, there being no connection
across the river Immediately north Of
here. Thousands Of gVlnny sacks have
heen sent to the force Of men working
at the bridge north OF Minco. These