The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-06-13
z STATES ARE
FLOOD SWEPT
Parts OF Oklahoma and Ar
kansas Covered by Water
BY United Press

Floods swept across Oklahoma
and Arkansas today. threatening
the greatest devastation from
water Ia 20 years.
Thousands OF families already
have been made homeless ns the
raging rivers. swollen by tor.
rental rains la Kansas, carried
away houses Ia the lowlands and
caused other extensive property
damage In Tulsa. kaw City and
northern Oklahoma.
Families Ia the iowlhnds near Fort
Smith and Little Rock nave fled TO
safety before the rapidly rising riv'
crH and the highest water mark since
1899 II anticipated in the Arkansas
river.
Ran communication with the flood
zone was paralyzed and highways
were impossible, Wheat ana other
crops have been seriously damaged.
Tulsa reported the worst flood In
history. -Four thousand residents In
lowinnds vacated their homes before
the swlrling, murky wall Of water
tumbled over Thorn. West Tulsa was
completely inundated and rescue
workers were rowing about the bust.
meas district removing maroonod per.
sons Strict police regulations have
been established TO prevent yundal'
ism. The water works have been put
out OF commission aud spread OF dis
ease IA feared.
Reports from Kaw City. okla.
stated The entire business dis.
triet was under water, which
surged thru tho streets In swift
currents. Red Gross workers are
en- route 10 the town.
Oklahoma City feared n hlgh water
mark OF 10 feet By tomorrow. Faml,
lies in the North Canadian river bot
toms have been forced 10 seek higher
ground.
In Arkansas. Fort Smith reported
tho Crawford county ievec had brok.
en- NJ two points and $4,000 acres OF
rich bottom land was menaced.
Flood stage wusscIpected BY Friday.
WOrkmen were rushed TO repair tho
lcvoes In jefferson county ana other
sections to prevent extensive dam.
age.
Waters were rccediug in Kansas.
but ~ Drury a. campera' cottages
and n thrce'story hotel were sweep,
BY floods.
Arkansas City. Kan. hardest hit
by tho high waters. had 5000 refu.
gees TO care for today m q result OF
tho rampage OF tho Arkansas river.
Work OF rehabilitation was well un.
der way In Arkansas City and Win.
field. which have been under martial
law for two days.
TULSA. Okla. June is.-Thou.
sands were made homeless here today
By ArkanEas river floods which ragged
unchecked thru this section OF Okla.
homa.
Tho entire river bottom between
hero and Sand sprlnEs. a distance OF
seven miles, was inundated. Three
thousand refugees whose homes wcro
swept away by tho flood waters wero
being cared for hy relief agencies.
Tho municipal waterworkH here
was forced to shut down today on &C.
count Of tho flood waters. and there
was danger Of a spread OF disease
from lack OF good drinking water.
AZ jerks. south OF here. water GOV.
cred thrcc.fourths OF the town. nc.
cordinE 10 ndvlces received here.
Residents were said 70 be fleeing In
boats.
a. NJ. HutchIson. United States
weather observer. predicted tho river
would continue TO riso turnout tho
day.
twenty-five miles OF thlckly. popu.
lated territory in and around Tulsa
were inundated. In some sections
Of the city water reached the house
tops.
Armed men pa,roicd tho flooded
zones in motor boats 10 guard
against vandalism.
Shirley Blackwell. negro. was
drowned when he Owed from the
sand Spring bridge and bumped
his head on piece OF furniture
floating in the flooded stream.