The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-06-21
WATER WORSE THAN WASTED.
Drouthy Kansas Drowned oat Again
a Record of the Ruin Wrought
by Rain.

A week or two ago Alex. Butts
ssgaciously remarked that kansas
people would kick against the wet
weather IL they were not afraid that If
they did 1t would turn off dry" To
tell the honest truth that Is the only
thing that has kept Allen county peo-
pie from kicking all spring. But when,
after raining nearly all the time for
three weeks it took q new hitch last
Saturday aud Sunday morning and
poured down harder than ever, bring
ing the Neosho river and all it's tribu-
taries out of their banks, then tho peo-
pie concluded that II protests would
bring dry-spell the sooner they were
entered the..better. We all likewater;but
we know when we have enough and
we hateto see Ii wasted
The fret In lola to be made unpleas-
antly aware of the flood were those
who live In the north part OF town, near
the canal dug by the Wichita road to
protect its track. The water rose with
astonishing rapidity. At 7:15 Sunday
morning this canal had but little more
than its usual volume OF water. Half
an hour later It was full ard water
was running over the railroad track
and crawling up into the houses many
yards away. Judge Boyd's house
was inundated, the water flowing two
OF three feet over the floor, while a
number of other people were forced to
beat hasty retreat, leaving carpets
and furniture to be ruined. The flood
here subsidized nearly as rapidly as 1t
rose and at nine O'Clock was back
again to the level ofthe canal.
THE RIVER.
The Neosho was reported at eight
o'clock Sunday morning as within o
foot Of the top Of the bank at Davis
mill and rising rapidly. 1t continued
to rise aud was soon spreading out over
the bottoms. All day long the waters
kept advancing and 1t was three
o'clock Monday morning before they
became stationary and began slowly TO
recede. At the highest point 1t is
estimated that the rise came within
about three feet Of the extreme height
reached by the great flood OF 49,
high enough to sweep over the Wichi-
II railroad track for nearly half mile
on either eide of the bridge, and to
spread over hundreds of acres of corn
and wheat. The people In the lower
bottoms were warned In time to get
all their stock onto high ground and
also TO take what measures were possi.
BILE to save other property. II was
feared at flrst that iiu sfowing crops,
especially the wheat, would suffer in
estimable damage; but now that il lie
all over 1t Is found that the loss will be
comparatively slight. A great many
acres of corn will have TO be replanted.
and there will be some damage to
wheat and other crops, but We are
spared the sight of whole farms swept
bare of live stock, harvested grain and
growing crops that we Witnessed four
four yeas agu. and We may well feel
thankful that 1t was no worse.
ROCK CREEK.
At an early hour Sunday morning
Rock Greek was a raging river a mile
and more wide, sweeping every thing
before 1t. J. McCarley and A. jeff
ries are among the heaviest losers,
their corn being left fiat and their wire
fences dug ous and strung for rods
ecrufs the fields. The railroad bridge
east Of town was loosened and very
nearly swept down stream but prompt
action on the part of the section men
saved it. West Of the bridge hun.
dred yards or more of the track was
lifted over into the ditch.
ELM CREEK.
Tie greatest damage done along this
creek was the destruction Of the wag-