The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-16
$4,000 FLEE,
WATER NEARS
CITY CENTER
Business House Proprietors
Move Stocks of Goods from
Easements as Flood Rises
MANY ARE IMPERILLED
Rescuers Work Desperately
Throughout Night to Save
People From Death
TWO LIVES LOST

WV Ab b.Oos
Oklahoma City, Oct. Is. The
first definite report oi loss 0i
Life in the floods which struck
here early today was received
when the police rescued X. II.
Loos, and his daughter, aged
10, In y tree top In Wheeler
park and learned from them
that . boat In which they at-
tempted to escape had cap
sized, drowning Mrs. LOOs and
q daughter, aged eight.
Nineteen persons are In hos.
pltals suffering from exposure
and one Is not expected to live.
The river was falling at 9
p. m. and It was expected all
danger in the business dis.
tricts was passed. The water
got no closer than three blocks
from It
Backed up sewage, however,
flooded nearly every basement.
Oklahoma City, Oets ia catas-
trophic food ripped Oklahoma City
today.
With virtually the entire south
side inundated food waters Of the
North Canadian river, rising rapid
ly and creeping relentlessly upward
from the low lands. already are lit
orally tapping at the threshold Of the
retail business. center of the city,
with every prospect that the crest
ofithe high waters will not be reach
ed for sometime.
Sweeping 'savagsly sbutheastward
the raging torrent swollen to unpIe-
cedented proportions by rains which
have fallen virtually without inter
ruption for four days in the west
and north central sections Of teh
stats, broke through the municipel
reservoir 10 miles west Of here early
today and flung a pent MP nihe-foct
wall of water downstairs to spread
further disaster to the already
stricken lowlands Of Oklahoma City's
south side.
This volume of water reached here
about o'clock this morning and
within an hour had spread to within
1s blocks of the principal hpsins.-
district both from the northwest and
southwest corners.
Many Are lmperilled.
So far there has been no loss Of
life reported but number Of per-
sons are believed to- be imperilled.
A swirling current with power
ful undertow rendered powerless ef
forts of fremen to reach q dozen
person in the Mulligan district Gf
the lowlands. Rowboats were una
able to, effect rescue after eariia'
efforts had resulted in the rescuc of
several.
One man is said TO be hanging
desperately to . rafter in church
while the angry waters sweep
through the church below him.
In q small grocery store man and
his wife, proprietors Of the place.
are isolated awaiting the rescuers
who have 80 far been unable to
reach them.
$4,000 Abandon Homes.
Ordered to places Of safety last
evening by city authorities approx
imately $4,000 persons abandoned
their homes in the flood path COM
prising 1T city blocks and are be-
ing sheltered and fed by hastily
formed relief organizations.
National guardsmen are patrolling
the stricken residential section to
aid civil authorities in possible res
-
while merchants are removing their
basement stocks and records to
places Of safety.
Ordered to Shoot.
Following reports to police head
quarters that Is to 100 men were
looting homes a force Of specially
deputized police were ordered to the
section with orders to shoot anyone
found pillaging.
Bread and coffee lines were open
ed by the city's two largest hotels.
FLOODS IN TEXAS
Dallas, Tex, Oct. 16. - Many
streams in the north, east and cen
trail Texas ~areas are at flood stages
following almost q weeks unceasing
rains, according to, reports received
here today. The property loss is ey-
pected to be heavy. The railrosa
traffic has been delayed BY wash
outs. Telephone and telegraph SER
vice is almost demoralized. No loss
Of life is reported
SEE SANE HOPE
Oklahoma City, Oct. l6.--Watsr~ at
the city reservoir few miles wsSt
Of here had fallen nix feet since mid
night according. to an anneuneement
by G. z. Brets, supsFintsndent Of the
waterworks. Although thAkS hid
been no drop ii OklahomA city this
il believed TO indicats tkt crest q
the flsod As upon the cit5 - the
water viii not o. higher.
APPOINTED PoBrlG7G GR1H1a
l.ekota, N. d, oct q. llra. J.
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