The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-06-03
FIVE MEMBERS OF THE WILLIAMS
FAMILY BURIED YESTER-
DAY AFTERNOON.
PAIL OVER VILLAGE
Inhabitants of Murray County Settle
ment Stricken by Fatalities of Friday
CycIone--Williams Determination Not
to Enter Cellar Caused Deaths.


which Friday afternoon devastated a
part of the town of Drake, in Murray
county, were buried in one grave at 3
o'clock yesterday afternoon In the little
burying ground lying to the west Of the
town This was the toll OF human life
exacted by the storm which totally de-
stroyed the home of w. A. Williams,
killing him, his wife, their daughters,
Emma and Rebecca. aged seventeen and
thirteen. respectively, and their SON
Robert, eleven years Of age.
The little town lay bathed in the
sunshine OF the afternoon, and man,
of its people were engaged in the pleas
ant task of decorating the school house
where that night exercises We're TO be
held, marking the close Of school. In
the twinkling OF an eye all was changed.
fear crept into the hearts Of the people,
smiles changed to tears, and groans
in place of joyous laughter.
An ominous-looking cloud had appear
ed in the southwest, growing larger as
onward it came, dipping and writhing
and leaving death and destruction in
it's course. Men, women and children
stopped to watch H. Spencer Crider
one OF the first TO see 1t, rushed into
the street. crying. "a cyclone is com
ingw Women took their babes In their
arms, smaller children clung TO their
hands; strong men lept assistance ana
all but one family rushed TO the storm
cellar at the school house to seek
safety
= rag.to. .. .ho ,,,,ap Families 1fy-
ing in the town, there were many visit
ors. who had come to attend the exer'
cises at the school. Children were
playing in the school yard and were
conducted TO the storm cellar by their
teacher, Archie w. Gentry. and the as
sistant teacher, Miss Elizabeth Hen
bricks. OF sulphur.
Only one person, w. a. Williams, re-
fused 10 seek safety. and so doing lost
his life and was the cause Of four other
members OF his family perishing. Their
home was directly In the path OF the
storm. In emphatic language Mr.. VIII
liams declared he would never enter a
cyclone cellar. Unable to persuade him,
his wife said they would remain with
him. and II II had to be, all would die
together. They watched the coming
OF the storm. Mr.. and Mrs. Williams
standing In the doorway. AS IL neared
them they closed the door andy went
into the bedroom. The house In sec
ond was rendered to spllnters, and the
occupants, excepting son, Bart, twen-
ty.two years OF age. who was badly
bruised were killed.
After the storm cloud had passed the
people emerged from the storm cellar,
where 100 had taken refuge. went 90
the assistance OF the Williams family.
Mr. Williams and the two girls wera
stll alive. but Unconscious, and died
shortly after their removal 20 the store
building OF James Porter. Mrs. VIII
llams and Robert Williams were dead
when found.
Friends prepared the bodies for burial
and the Rev. II. Capers, Of Dougherty
performed the last rites yesterday M
ternoon.
4 pail seems TO hang over the little
town. Women walk around In a dazec
way. having not slept during the night
and groups OF men congregate around
the ruins.
A house. occupied by Floyd. VII
llnms a son Of Mr.. and Mrs. W. 4. WI
llams and his family. was destroyed.
Two barns and the school house alsS
were totally wrecked.
The cyclone. as Is frequently the case
left many curious reminders OF It's ter
rible progress Chickens. with theil
feathers stripped from them, were lyini
an over the town. cats were foun'
dead. with the FUR stripped from thei
heads mule which had been tie
In front Of the storm cellar was picke'
up and i,own, but was not injured
j. \. Braden lives one and hal
miles from the school house. From
this place COW was blown one mill
away and injured 80 badly that Il ha'
TO be killed Two calves were blown
through the air: pieces OF straw wer
driven into trees and portions OF tn
fields over which the storm passe,
look as though they had been scorohed
The house OF A. a. Aidrioh, who live
two miles from the school house wa
destroyed and trees uprooted. The fam
ily took refuge in the orchard and wer
saved
A part Of a dresser from the Floy,
williams home was found In the to
OF tree. A bookcase with glass doors
In the school house. was not damaged
while the building and almost every
thing In Il was reduced To kindlinI