 |
Floods Cowley County
[Much work needs to be done on “floods” in Cowley County. I just have not had time to cover the various time periods I am aware of. Believe the following only covers the flood that occurred in 1876. There were numerous stories about it. I just covered a few. MAW]
[UNPRECEDENTED FLOOD: $100,000 DAMAGE.]
Winfield Courier, May 11, 1876. Editorial Page.
UNPRECEDENTED FLOOD IN THE WALNUT VALLEY.
WATER SIX FEET HIGHER THAN EVER BEFORE KNOWN.
WINFIELD SURROUNDED BY WATER.
Families Driven From Houses.
BRIDGES GONE.
STOCK DROWNED.
$100,000 Damage.
Last Friday night the rain descended in floods in this region of country. Nearly all night and for some hours during Saturday morning the clouds poured a deluge of water upon the face of the earth. During the night light showers of hail accompanied the rain. The ravines and creeks were soon full. Then the larger streams began rising with unparalleled rapidity.
At noon of Saturday the stream north of town, known as Timber Creek, was over its banks and surging against the bridge. About noon the bridge left its moorings.
By this time the water was spreading over the farms in the bottoms. Houses, families, crops, and stock were in peril. The real danger now broke upon the minds of the people. The water had passed all its former limits and was still rising. There was “hurrying to and fro.” The bridges and mills adjoining town on the Walnut were the objects of solicitude next. Bliss & Co. carried all the wheat and flour into the upper story of their mill. Ropes and axes were used to keep flood wood away from the upper bridge. Communication with the lower bridge was cut off before the bridge was in great peril itself.
Up, up, came the water. All the north part of town was overflowed. Families were rescued by boat and team. The brick yard was three feet under water. A heavy current flowed from Timber Creek on the north through town on Loomis street and across Col. Loomis’ farm to the Walnut on the south. The east and west part of town each “stood upon a shining shore, while Jordan rolled between.”
Along the creeks birds took to the air, rabbits to stumps, and serpents to the trees. On the bosom of the mad Walnut, during the afternoon of Saturday, several head of cattle and swine were swept past the bridge. In their struggles for life they cast imploring looks upon the throng above that could but sympathize with them.
By 6 p.m., of Saturday, the water reached the highest point: at least six feet higher than ever before within the knowledge of the oldest settler. About five o’clock the bridge across the Walnut south of town yielded to the torrent. The water was flowing over the floor of the bridge about one feet deep at the time. It lacked one foot of reaching the upper bridge at any time. One vast expanse of water covered all the bottom lands along the river and Timber Creek in this vicinity. The wheat and other growing crops were out of sight and considered lost.
By 7 p.m. it became apparent that the mad element had spent its force. The water began slowly, about one inch in an hour, to recede. It had risen about twenty feet in twelve hours.
At the time of the flood grave apprehensions were entertained as to the extent of the damage likely to ensue. But as reports came in
THE RESULTS
of the unpopular uprising are not so serious as expected. C. A. Bliss & Co. were damaged to the amount of $500; Fin Graham lost sixteen head of cattle, some wheat and corn in bin and grain in field, about $500. McBride & Green, in brick yard, about $200. These are the heaviest individual losses.
The two bridges swept off are a loss to Winfield Township of about $4,000. The bridge across the Walnut at Arkansas City was swept off, damage $5,000.
A great many small losses were experienced in this vicinity and throughout the county. A large amount of planted corn, with the soil and hedges, were washed away.
Along the valleys of Timber, Silver, and Grouse, the bottoms were overflowed.
The total damage throughout the county must approximate $100,000. The most of the water came from Timber Creek. The Walnut above this point rose to the highest water mark, but did not get out of its banks.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 17, 1876.
FURTHER reports from the flood are to the effect that whole fields of corn were washed away on the Walnut and Grouse, and the loss of 300 bushels of old wheat by one man on Grouse. The wheat was in a bin, which the water surrounded, and in twenty-four hours it had sprouted. Other parties were compelled to move out of their houses, and in two or three instances the houses were carried from their foundations.
Winfield Courier, May 18, 1876.
What might have proved a serious accident, but fortunately did not, happened last night to J. B. Lynn, of this city, and Dick Wilson and Mr. Huffman, two well-known “drummers,” as they were crossing the Walnut on their return from Arkansas City. It seems that the west side of the ford is in a bad condition, having been washed out by the late flood, and in the effort to avoid the bad place, they drove into a worse, upsetting the buggy right on top of the pony, in some three feet of water. There was no help near, and but for the fact that the current was strong and swift, our friends must surely have drowned; but the force of the water turned the buggy off of them and they scrambled out, little the worse for their narrow escape.
[CORRESPONDENCE FROM “RUSTY CUSS”—LAZETTE, KANSAS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, May 24, 1876.
LAZETTE, KAS., May 19, 1876.
Our farmers of the Grouse Valley are just finishing planting their corn, as the flood of the 6th inst. washed up their first planting. On that morning Old Grouse was seen to be on a general “high,” the water rising five feet higher than it was ever known by the earliest white settlers, and carrying everything with it to a general destruction. The water in many places extended from bluff to bluff, and washed away the soil as deep as it was plowed, together with a great deal of fencing.
H. D. Wilkins suffered some considerable loss, as the turbid waters carried off his fencing, stables, corn cribs, granaries, etc. B. H. Clover was damaged to the extent of nearly $1,000. Many were compelled to abandon their houses, and seek more secure positions on higher ground with their little ones. The fencing and out buildings of Mr. Wilkins were carried on Mr. Clover’s place, and Mr. Wilkins was only allowed to remove the lumber of his out buildings. Benderville was entirely submerged, women and children being compelled to seek the second stories of their dwellings.
[COURIER ITEMS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, May 24, 1876.
An incident of the high water in the Grouse Valley, near Dexter, was the refuge taken by fifteen persons, two mules, and three horses upon a straw stack, to which they were driven, the water rising four feet ‘round the base.
The farmers of Grouse Valley suffered a great deal of damage by the flood two weeks ago. The principal harm arises from the loss of plowed soil and planted corn. In many cases the current of high water swept across farms and carried away whole fields of soil down to unplowed soil.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.
OVERFLOW OF THE ARKANSAS RIVER.
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
Bridges Carried Away.
Wheat and Corn Fields Overflown and Devastated.
For the past ten days heavy rains have been falling throughout this section and the streams are gradually rising. On last Friday the Arkansas was noticed as being very full, and on Saturday the rise was very rapid, bringing with it drift wood and live trees. Some of the latter being cedar, supposed to have come from the mountains. This would go to prove that the rains had extended to the mountains, or the immense body of water caused by the melting of snow.
Until Saturday night no apprehensions of the destruction of the bridge were entertained until large trees came floating down and the water began to flow around the approach. The Township Trustee then engaged a number of men with poles to push the floating logs under the bridge; but they came so thick and fast, and the night being very dark, it was deemed useless, and they abandoned the work at eleven o’clock at night.
At three o’clock Sunday morning, Wyard Gooch and others went down, and found all but four spans of the bridge gone. They then sent back for rope and tied the remaining span on the north side to a post and a tree about half as thick as a man’s body. Not long after a very large tree with heavy branches came sweeping past, and striking the span, carried it away. After being swept from the piles on which it was built, it swung around to the bank, and the force of the current caused the post to break and left it swinging on the one rope tied to the tree. This soon began to crack, and in a few seconds, the tree was pulled out by the roots and the structure went with the current. Those who were on the river bank most of the time say that large pine branches and portions of other bridge timbers could be seen every few minutes, supposed to have belonged to the El Paso and Wichita bridges.
The bottom lands on the Arkansas present a wonderful spectacle. Whole fields of wheat and corn opposite Arkansas City are completely inundated, and the country around almost under water. Nothing is left between Carder’s house and the Arkansas River except the sand hills, and the only way to reach the bank of the river is by boat.
We made an effort to cross to the ridge just opposite where Davis’ house stood, on horse back, and the horse was compelled to swim. Wm. Coombs, James Wilson, E. E. Eddy, and others, while making the attempt earlier in the day, mired their animals, and had to wade ashore. On the island we found a dog, and every few feet noticed rabbits, gophers, ground moles, or snakes that had gathered there for safety.
The current of the river is fearful, and the waves roll two feet in height.
From the overflow at this place, we should judge the city of Wichita to be flooded with water, and the country adjacent to the river in Arkansas City completely deluged. The losses from bridges alone will be considerable, to say nothing of the great destruction of grain fields.
The bridge at this place originally cost $13,000, and the damage to it cannot be replaced short of $4,000 or $5,000. An effort will be made to rebuild that portion that has been carried away at once, or to have a ferry run until it is done.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.
SEVERAL HOUSES near the banks of the Arkansas are entirely surrounded with water, and the floors of many flooded.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.
It is proposed to repair the bridge just damaged by the recent flooding from the Arkansas, also to erect another bridge west of town.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.
HOUSE BLOWN DOWN. Last Saturday night the frame house of old Mr. White’s near Grouse Creek was blown down, and the old lady badly hurt.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.
One man fell from the remainder of the bridge on the Bolton side last Sunday, but caught hold of one of the piles before being carried down stream.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.
Dr. Alexander, Al., and Henry Mowry made a longer stay in Bolton last Saturday then they expected. Will Stewart and some others also remained on this side.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.
We had occasion to cross the Walnut yesterday, and got in the boat from the southeast corner of the townsite, and were rowed to near the foot of the bluff at Whitney’s.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.
There was such a volume of water passing over the dam in the Walnut last Saturday and Sunday that it scarcely made a ripple, where it ordinarily has a fall of four feet.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.
Last Saturday as Thomas Callahan was rowing Jerry Tucker and three others over the Walnut, the boat capsized, and all were thrown into the river. They made their way to the shore in safety.
Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.
UNDER WATER. We learn from parties just down from Wichita that the streets of that town are flooded, and water covers the floors of many houses and half way up the counters of the stores. The bridges across the Arkansas are gone at Wichita, El Paso, and Oxford.
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1877.
The Arkansas River has been higher this week than was ever before known. At the mouth of the Nennescah, in this county, last Tuesday, it was over nine miles wide. The bridges at Arkansas City, Oxford, El Paso, and the two bridges at Wichita were swept away by this mountain flood. The heavy local rains coupled with the early melting of the snow in the mountains of Colorado caused this unusual and unexpected rise in the Arkansas. The bridge across the Nennescah on the road between Wellington and Belle Plaine was also washed away. The damage to these bridges alone, saying nothing about the inconvenience to the public, will aggregate near one hundred thousand dollars. This flood leaves no bridge between Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Hutchinson, in this State, a distance of over fifteen hundred miles by the river. The report at this writing is that Wichita is a floating city, that the water reaches the tops of the store room counters on Douglas Avenue, and that no trains have arrived there for five days. Several of the best farms in this and Sumner County have been under water since Monday last. The water is now slowly receding and in a few days the little muddy will be shifting sandbars in its natural bed again. All communication with the north, northwest, and west has been cut off since last Friday.
Winfield Courier, May 24, 1877.
A TERRIBLE TORNADO.
One Man Killed, and Others Insured.
The Track of the Storm.
Last Saturday night, about the hour of ten o’clock, the storm that had been raging for some time in this section of the country increased to a perfect tornado. The rain fell in torrents and the lightning flashed in blinding sheets. It was a wild scene, and one that will long be remembered by the people of this Valley. The storm king swept up from the south, lashing the very earth with his fury. The wind seemed to swoop down in great whirlpools and gathering whatever it could in its grasp, rushed on in increased anger. Its main force was spent in this county along a line drawn from the mouth of the Walnut in a north by easterly direction to Floral, in Richland Township.
The frame building of a Mr. White, living six miles east of Arkansas City, was taken from the foundation and moved a rod as though it had been only a feather’s weight. Mrs. White was bruised and frightened, but not badly injured.
The tornado then gave a grand bound and struck in the valley above South Bend, completely demoralizing the log house of Wm. Tousley. It scarcely left one log upon another. Mr. and Mrs. Tousley are now lying in a critical condition from the effects of the injuries received.
The house of Robert Devore, one half mile north of Tousley’s, was left without a roof and its inmates in total darkness, exposed to the heavy falling rain.
Two miles north of this a stone house of a Mr. Hill was caved in as though it had been built of corn cobs. Mr. Hill, it was reported Sunday morning, had his back broken by a falling stone, but the report is contradicted today.
From this point to the Tisdale road the scene beggars all description. Trees were torn up by the roots and fence material was strewn for miles.
George W. Vanmeter Killed by Tornado.
The home of Mr. Shafer, four miles east of town, was picked up and hurled to the ground with awful force. George W. Vanmeter, one of Winfield Township’s best farmers, a man some fifty years of age, sleeping in the upper story, was instantly killed by the falling timbers. It is thought that he never awakened from his sleep as the roof came down upon him as he laid in bed. Mr. and Mrs. Shafer were seriously, though it is thought, not dangerously injured. The building is a total wreck, pieces of which were picked up off Mr. Lemmon’s farm, a half mile to the northward. Its furniture was scattered to the four winds. Hundreds from town and surrounding neighborhoods visited the scene of death and desolation Sunday morning and looked for the last time upon the face of him who had so recently walked among them.
From this point northward no damage to life is reported, although several houses were shifted from their foundations and left without roofs or gables.
The homes of Messrs. Dunbar, Montgomery, Wilcox, and Anderson up about Floral were served in this manner. None of the inmates were hurt, but all were more or less badly frightened. The wind finally wore itself out, but the heavy rain continued falling until about one o’clock in the morning, making an awful night of it for those who were left shelterless by this merciless storm.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877. Front Page.
UNPRECEDENTED HIGH WATER.
All Principal Streams Overflow Their Banks.
[From the Oxford Independent.]
Since the time to which the memory of man runneth, there has been no such flood in Southern Kansas as the one with which we have been visited within the past week. After a long time, with no rain to speak of in this valley, copious showers commenced falling on about the 24th of April, since which time nearly every succeeding twenty four hours have been attended with a heavy rain. For a time the people rejoiced and were glad for the timely visitation, until about the 15th of May, when it was generally conceded by the farmers that we were getting too much wet. The prairies were thoroughly soaked, the ravines and small streams well filled with water, but showers came with the same regularity and increased immensity. On Friday and Saturday nights, May 18th and 19th, the clouds apparently gathered in renewed force, the rain descended, and the floods came.
The Arkansas, Ninnescah, and Slate Creek, with all their principal tributaries, were thrown out of bank and the bottoms, to the extent of from one to three miles wide, completely covered with water, corn, and wheat fields submerged, frequently to a depth of from one to three feet, which must inevitably result in great damage to the crops and a loss to the farmers by destruction, damaging and carrying away of loose property. In many cases the farmers living on bottom farms were compelled to vacate their houses and seek a more elevated position, the water having taken possession of the first floor, which, in many instances, happened to be the only one in the house.
The bridge across the Ninnescah, the only one over that stream in the county, having been for days considered unsafe, was finally cut off from dry land by a sheet of water from one to three miles in width, and in many places too deep for fording, and on the morning of May 19th, no longer able to resist the pressure, went down the river.
The bridge over Slate Creek, south of Wellington, the only bridge over that stream, was also on the same day carried away, leaving parties on different sides of the stream most effectually cut off from communication.
The bridge over the Arkansas, at Arkansas City, was the first upon that river to give way, and it is reported to have quietly let loose from its moorings on the night of May 15, 1877, and went whirling down that raging stream.
The bridge at El Paso fell early in the contest, and was carried away on the 17th, leaving the residents opposite no chance for escape except to the high land west of the Cow Skin, a distance of from three to five miles across the bottom, then nearly covered with water, and in places to a depth of from three to six feet, which was fortunately accomplished with no fatal results.
The bridge at Oxford was the last to yield to the force of the surging elements; was yet on Saturday night thought to be safe, but in this we were doomed to disappointment. With the bright sun on Sunday morning, the people of Oxford found themselves cut off from communication with the east, and all that was left of the Oxford bridge inaccessible by the space of over 300 feet, over which rolled the surging turbulent, and apparently angry waters of the raging Arkansas, three span of the west end of the bridge with two massive piers of masonry having entirely disappeared during the night.
The loss of the Oxford bridge is a heavy blow upon the business of Oxford, as well as upon the owners of the bridge. It was supposed to have been the best and most substantial bridge on the river; was owned by a private corporation here; built in 1872, at a cost of $14,500, and reflected great credit upon the enterprising owners, who conceived and executed the enterprise at so early a day and under very adverse circumstances. It was noticeable on Sunday morning that none of the owners appeared more discouraged or exhibited more profound regret at the loss of their property in the bridge than was manifested by the people generally. There is no property in Oxford but could have been better spared, or the loss of which could have been so sorely felt, but such is life.
Arrangements have been made by the bridge company by which a ferry boat will be immediately constructed and operated across the river at this point until such time as the bridge can be rebuilt. We have received or sent away no mail from this point since Friday, May 18th, so we are without news from the outside world. Arrangements are completed for transporting the mail across the river for the present by skiff, but up to date no one has been able to reach the stage road on account of high water in the bottom east of the river.
We have had no authentic communication from above this point, but it is rumored, upon what authority we are unable to say, that both bridges over the Arkansas at Wichita have been swept away by the flood. It is still hoped this may prove to be a mistake, but portions of broken bridges passed this point going down the river, hence there are grave fears that the rumor may be well founded.
Parties have now gone down the river in boats looking after bridges and other property that may have stranded or been carried out upon some of the over flowed bottom lands.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.
The city of Newton lost one thousand dollars worth of bridges by the late flood.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.
Many sheep, cattle, and hogs were drowned in the vicinity of Sedgwick City, by the flood.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.
E. G. Topping lost three cows, and J. N. Hayes fifty lambs, near Sedgwick City, by the flood.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.
Henry Stansbury was drowned at the mouth of Sand Creek, south of El Paso, on Sunday last.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.
The dam across the Little Arkansas, at Halstead, was swept away by the late flood, and the mill damaged to the amount of $3,000.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.
The fine bridge over the Arkansas River at Oxford withstood the fury of the surging waters until 12 o’clock Saturday night, when it too weakened and went out.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.
The chief engineer of the Santa Fe road says $5,000 will cover all damages to the track of that road by the recent floods.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.
THE FLOOD carried away every bridge in Sumner County.
Below is the item I have been looking for...The statement “at one time the river was fully five feet higher than it was during the late flood.” MAW
Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.
PARTIES who first came to this section say that large logs of drift wood were found on the bottom between the bluff on the north and this town, proving that at one time the river was fully five feet higher than it was during the late flood.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 13, 1877.
From Silverdale.
SILVERDALE, June 11th, 1877.
“The floods came and the rain descended, and beat against that house; and it fell, and great was the fall thereof,” so thought Mr. Turner, last week, when his house went down the Arkansas. The old man stayed in it until one-half of the foundation had been swept away. We need not say that the house was built on the sand; it was nevertheless. The oldest inhabitant never saw the like of this “right smart” rise of water, as some of them will have it.
The Haney brothers and Mr. Hallett started down the river last Tuesday, the 31st of May. Their boat was well made, and large enough to carry 20 tons. It was 12 x 80 feet, with gunnels 4 x 16 inches, with an additional plank, 2 x 10, pinned down four inches on the outside of the main gunnel, giving a depth of 22 inches. When loaded with their household goods, it drew about six inches of water. The good wishes of all their friends accompany them on their way. Mr. Haney intends to work at his trade in Arkansas.
Arkansas City Traveler, June 13, 1877.
Arkansas River Bridge.
BRIDGE. A talk upon bridge matters was had by our merchants yesterday afternoon, but no definite line of action was decided upon. The question of repairing the break in the bridge across the Arkansas, either by means of an iron span (which would cost some $5,000) or a pontoon bridge to join on to the half of the old bridge still standing, was warmly discussed, as was the proposition to build a pontoon bridge west of town. The most feasible scheme would seem to be to repair the old bridge, using whatever of the old timbers that could be recovered.
Mr. Wyard Gooch, the township Treasurer, made a trip down the Arkansas last week to see if any portion of the lost spans could be recovered, and reports that he found at least one-third of the missing timbers that would be available for repairs.
Many of the farmers upon whose land the timbers were left by the flood have offered to return them to the bridge site free of charge if it is decided to use them.
Something should be done in this matter at once, for in some cases portions of the lumber of the wreck have been sold. In this connection we cannot help contrasting the activity of Mr. Gooch, both at the time of the break and since, with the apathy of the Trustee, whose duty it is to look after such matters, and for which he is paid.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 18, 1877.
Since the flood on Grouse Creek, the farmers are turning their attention to stock raising. Many of them will now favor the continuance of the herd law, since their fences have been destroyed.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 23, 1878.
The Walnut raised 12 feet Saturday night, and took out about ten feet of the dam at the mill. Whole trees forty feet in length floated down the river. The approach on the west side of the bridge is made of sand, and will be carried off when the first flood comes, unless it is stoned up on both sides.
Arkansas City Traveler, January 23, 1878.
The gentlemen of Oxford have constructed a good bridge across the Arkansas river by simply placing pontoons, or flat boats, all the way across. The Independent says:
“The new pontoon bridge is now in place, and proves to be a grand success. The crossing of the Arkansas at this place was never better or safer in our most prosperous days.
“The pontoons, five in number, are safely and securely anchored, and stayed by strong guy ropes, and the intervening spaces covered by portable, but broad, safe bridges, with bannisters running the entire length.”
Why can’t we do the same thing at this place?
Arkansas City Traveler, January 23, 1878.
An agent of King’s Bridge Company has been here estimating the cost of building a bridge across the Arkansas river south and west of town. They have completed the bridge across the Walnut south of Winfield.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 13, 1878.
An election has been called in Bolton Township to vote on the proposition of issuing $2,000 in bonds to build a bridge across the Arkansas to join that portion of the old bridge that remains, since the flood of Sunday, May 27th, 1877. It is generally believed the proposition will be carried by a good majority, as it costs much more to pay ferry toll than to pay interest and principle on $2,000.
[REPORT ON STORM ON DUTCH CREEK BY “M. W. PHILLIPS.”]
Arkansas City Traveler, June 19, 1878.
The Storm on Dutch Creek.
The storm was very destructive on Dutch Creek, north of Winfield. I stood in our door, one mile north of Winfield, and saw three hundred acres of as heavy wheat as growed in this county, go down stream. I lost my entire crop, consisting of 50 acres wheat, 18 acres corn, and other farm produce. I live on the highest point on Mr. J. F. Graham’s farm, and the water was six inches deep on the floor. I waded about in water to get our breakfast. Everywhere it was one sea of water for at least a half mile either way from us. I saw our portable chicken coop ladened on top with old hens and little chickens, raise out of our yard and float proudly down stream. At daylight I found the hogs hanging with their feet in the cracks of the pen yet alive. I waded waist deep and liberated them and drove them swimming to the house yard, but in a few minutes the flood was there; they remained until they could not touch bottom, then went down stream. Some I found since and some I have not. Several families are destined to suffer in this neighborhood. They are renters and their whole year’s work is gone, and as a common thing there will be but little notice taken of them. It will be the rich land holders loss that will be noticed. M. W. PHILLIPS.
[COMMUNICATION FROM “CHRISTOPHOROUS”—PLEASANT VALLEY.]
Arkansas City Traveler, June 19, 1878.
PLEASANT VALLEY, June 17, 1878.
Our township and others having been visited by a very severe rain and wind storm on the night of the 12th inst., I take this opportunity to jot the facts as reported to me.
The storm commenced on Tuesday night about midnight, and continued until 5 o’clock Wednesday morning. The damages to crops cannot be definitely estimated in quantity or quality.
D. W. Frew’s house, which was situated on Beaver Creek, Beaver Township, was washed from its foundation and crushed to pieces by the rolling waters and terrific wind which struck his house at five minutes past four Wednesday morning. It is supposed that the passage of the water in Beaver was blockaded by drifting sheaf-wheat, about 1/4 mile above Mr. Frew’s house until it had a head pressure of 10 or 12, then broke loose and struck the house with unresistable force. The inmates of the house were Mr. Frew, Mrs. Frew, and their two children, aged respectively two years and a half, and three months old. Mr. and Mrs. Frew escaped drowning but lost both children. It is a remarkable feat that any of them escaped the doom of a watery grave, as none of them could swim. The house was forced across the creek when first struck by the rushing torrent, then it paused for a moment in a corn field when it was completely upset and blown to pieces by a fierce blast of wind from the north. It was at this instant that they lost the children, Mrs. Frew having the younger child torn from her embrace by a piece of falling timber. Mr. Frew dropped and lost in the darkness the older child while he was climbing upon the floor, which was “up-side-down.” Mr. Frew, after some length of time, heard Mrs. Frew at the corner of the floor and pulled her on with him, and they were drifted across the creek again just opposite Mr. Smalley’s house, and were soon rescued by a hired man of Mr. Smalley’s. The children were found next day and entombed in the River View Cemetery.
Among the farmers damaged by the flood are Joseph Smalley, whose damage is at least $500. Chas. Smith lost 40 acres of wheat, which was estimated at 25 bushels per acre. Bob Sappenfield, A. C. Holland, Dr. Holland, Joe. Poore, Mr. King, and others lost considerable wheat and corn.
Dr. C. G. Holland’s residence on Beaver Creek stood in water five feet deep. It was owing to the Doctor’s presence of mind in securing the friendship of a twelve hundred pound horse, which he lured into the house to anchor it down. It is also reported that he took in one milch cow for the same purpose.
Mr. Will Jeffrey’s house was unroofed and the logs of the upper story blown off. Mr. L. Walton had a log house blown down.
The Sabbath school at the Holland schoolhouse is progressing finely under the Superintendency of I. D. Hon.
Harvest is nearly over, and some wheat in the stack.
Mr. C. J. Braine [?Brane] boasts of having the first ripe peaches of the season. They are of the Amsden June variety.
It is reported that the vigilantes committee succeeded in ousting Mr. N. Hostetler. I think the report is unfounded, especially the cause for the action of the vigilanters. More anon. CHRISTOPHORUS.
[RAIN AND FLOOD: TWO CHILDREN AND ONE MAN DROWNED.]
Arkansas City Traveler, June 19, 1878.
Last Tuesday and Wednesday a very heavy rain fell, swelling the streams to an impassible extent, and carrying off saw logs, wood, wheat, and growing corn along their banks. The abutment of the bridge across the Walnut, south of Winfield, is said to be so badly washed that the bridge will fall, and water surrounded the approach of the bridge at Newman’s mill for more than a day. Mr. Bell, the owner of some sheep, near Park’s schoolhouse, was drowned in Badger Creek while attempting to cross, and the house of Mr. Frue [FIRST ARTICLE CALLED HIM FREW], on Beaver Creek, was washed away and two children drowned, while he was making every effort to save his wife. Dr. Holland’s house was surrounded by water, and the occupants compelled to remain in it twenty-four hours before they were rescued. The Arkansas River rose four feet above the bridge pilings at this place, and carried hundreds of bushels of wheat, in the shock, down the stream. From are all parts of the county we learn of its destruction to men, beasts, and the grain in the fields. In Pleasant Valley Township a horse belonging to Mr. Lucas was struck dead by lightning, and hundreds of hogs, young chickens, and ducks drowned. The damage to the county will be severely felt.
The Great Storm.
Winfield Courier, June 20, 1878.
The storm of last week, Wednesday morning, came from the W.N.W. across the north part of Sumner County down the Ninnescah River, where it did a considerable damage. The center of the storm passed over Vernon, Winfield, Tisdale, Dexter, and Otter Townships in Cowley County in a general direction of E.S.E., and left the county in the vicinity of Cedarvale. It could not have been more than about fifteen miles wide and the track of the heaviest rainfall was scarcely more than half of that width. From all the circumstances taken together we conclude, it was a cyclone or rotary storm, of about seven or eight miles in diameter; that the rotation was not extremely rapid, and that the progress of the storm was very slow.
Our statement last week of the amount of waterfall was, we now think, exaggerated, and that twenty inches would be the extent.
DIED. But three lives were lost, namely: the two children of Mr. Frew at Beaver Creek and Mr. Bell at Badger Creek. The circumstances of the loss of the two children is thus described by HORATIUS in a communication of that day.
“This community was startled this morning by the news that two children of Mr. David M. Frew, aged respectively two months and three years, were swept away by the flood. Mr. Frew and family had retired for the night; and though conscious that a large amount of water was falling, he did not anticipate danger until his house moved. He immediately with his wife and two children attempted to escape from the floating building. In his exertions he slipped and fell in the water, losing his hold on the children, who were immediately swept away from him, and darkness prevailing, he was utterly unable to recover or find them. He barely succeeded in saving himself and wife. The grief-stricken parents have the heartfelt sympathies of the people in this vicinity.”
The bodies of the drowned children have since been recovered. In the vicinity of Mr. Frew’s was the residence of DR. C. G. HOLLAND, which stood on a knoll, surrounded by lower land. The water rose to the windows and the house moved partly from its foundations; but the doctor led a heavy horse and a cow into the house, which so weighted it down that it did not float away. The water subsided and the apprehensions of his neighbors were relieved.
The drowning of Mr. Bell is related in another place. There were two other men, whose names we did not get, who were camped near Mr. Bell at Chaffee’s ford, on Badger. They were swept into the current; but held to the branches or brush until morning light, when they were relieved. Several animals were KILLED BY LIGHTNING, including a valuable bull belonging to S. S. Holloway; a mare belonging to Mr. Bryson, and another belonging to Mr. Glass, of Dexter Township; and a horse belonging to Mr. Lucas, of Pleasant Valley.
All the streams and small creeks along the track of the storm were swollen suddenly and excessively, rising from twenty to thirty feet. Beaver, Walnut, Timber, Black Crook, Badger, Silver, Turkey, Plum, Grouse, and Crab Creeks overflowed their banks and swept away large quantities of wheat in the shock, and many hogs. Much damage was done by washing out corn and other crops. Potatoes and onions were washed out of the ground. Stone fences and stone corrals were swept away. We have succeeded in gathering the names of some of the
LOSERS BY THE STORM.
On Walnut: John Ireton lost 20 hogs and 30 acres of wheat; Mr. Craig and Mr. Clark lost each 30 acres of wheat; F. W. Schwantes lost his stone corral; M. Gessler lost 5 hogs.
On Timber: Thos. Youle lost 100 acres of wheat; Geo. Youle 10 acres; Daniel Knox 12 acres; Mrs. Rutherford 12 acres; J. F. Graham and M. V. Phillips 50 acres; Washburne 28 acres; Mentch 40 acres; Mrs. Cochran 30 acres; G. W. Yount 40 acres; John Parks 60 acres; S. A. Burger 14 acres; W. Cowan 40 acres. J. F. Graham lost 10 hogs; G. W. Yount 19 hogs; John Rhodes 1 horse and 10 acres of wheat; W. W. Limbocker 8 acres; J. W. Orr 20 acres; Mr. Keesey 10 acres; Bryant 10 acres.
On Black Crook: W. Dunn lost 60 acres of wheat; Joe Mack 20; others lost a considerable.
On Badger: J. H. Mounts lost 12 acres of wheat; S. W. Chase 20 acres; Robert Gardener 60 acres; McCullom 20 acres; A. B. Gardener 40 acres; W. Hill 40 acres; Eckles 10 acres. Much corn was washed out.
In Pleasant Valley: Jeffers had the roof of his house blown off.
The losses on Silver, Turkey, Plum, Grouse, and Crab Creeks have not been specially reported to us except as stated by the following from our DEXTER CORRESPONDENT.
“There has been a great flood in this vicinity, which has washed away a large amount of the wheat along Plum and Turkey Creeks and other tributaries of the Grouse. Mr. Clay, on Turkey Creek, lost 22 acres of wheat. Several others suffered severe losses of grain. Plum Creek did not suffer as much. Grouse Creek rose 16 feet at the Winfield crossing. Several head of hogs washed away. Mr. Axley lost his entire crop of wheat, and it is feared the damage to wheat will be great.”
To sum up, we conclude that about 50,000 bushels of wheat have been washed away, and that the total damage to the county will reach at least $100,000. To many, their losses are of a serious character, being their sole dependence, and will occasion much distress.
Tisdale.
Winfield Courier, June 27, 1878.
TISDALE ITEMS.
The flood has come and passed away but its track is traced by a great amount of damage. Silver Creek with all its tributaries overflowed the bottoms, carrying away stock, wheat, and corn. Those suffering most from the flood are Mr. O. A. Vanfleet, who had a pair of yearling colts, Norman stock, drowned. He has now lost three horses in Kansas. Frank Hammon lost 18 acres of wheat, not one bundle left. Harvey Treadway and Tom Bevins lost nearly all their wheat. Joe Dunham’s corn is badly washed out. Nearly all the farmers on the bottoms are hunting hogs and cattle. I do not know anyone who has hogs drowned excepting Mull, Dunham, and Hammon, and their loss is light. Fences, both stone and wood, are gone down stream. Bad as matters are it is amusing to hear the “creek fellers” cuss when the “prairie dogs” sympathize with them. On the uplands considerable damage was done by wind and lightning. Frank Smith had a horse killed by lightning, while the wind blew over out houses, untopped wheat stacks, lightened the peach crop, drove water through house roofs, and John Mac to the cellar.
Harvesting was stopped by the rain and standing wheat is suffering for the reaper. Wheat cut and stacked before the rain is generally in good condition. O. P. West has his entire crop, 30 acres, stacked. His wheat will yield about 18 bushels to the acre.
Corn is growing rapidly. Several pieces are laid by. (Some of it away out of the field.)
Several newcomers in town this week, nearly all looking for locations.
Arb. Tanner has moved to the hills; he is out of reach of the floods hereafter. NIP
Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.
Since the last flood washed off large quantities of wheat into the streams, the catfish are having a good time. J. P. Short mentions the fact that many catfish have been lately taken from the river and creeks, and on dressing them, their stomachs are found full of wheat.
Winfield Courier, June 1, 1882.
Messrs. T. R. Bryan and A. P. Johnson went over to Dexter last Wednesday and then the windows of heaven were thrown open and the waters poured, and the classic Grouse Creek became so full that the said gentlemen found themselves water and mud bound beyond the raging flood and could not get home. Sadly they wandered up the left bank and over the Flint Hills until Saturday night, when they found the city of Cambridge, where the K. C. Passenger train rescued them and brought them back to the bosoms of their long neglected families.
