The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-17
wICHIrA's FIRST BIG FLOOD
Yesterday was the Nineteenth AnnIverssl
OF the Big Flood.

OF the Big Flood.
Yesterday, May Is, was the 18th an
niversary OF Wichita's big food, which
occurred on Saturday, May IS, 1877. For
some reason the discussion was brought
up yesterday, and, as is usual on such
occasions, the principal dispute arose
as to the date of the food. W. T. Jewett
cOntending that il occurred in June,
while J. P. Alien was equally certain
that the food mot Noah's little freshet,
but the time that on Sunday morning
following when not a single church bell
pealed forth its call 20 divine Worship
had occurred in June.
When TWO such prominent historians
as W. T. Jewett and J. P. Allen should
raise a dispute over dates, Il started ali
the old settlers and they were about
equally divided as to the month; and
finally to settle the dispute the Eagle
was referred 10. and the discovery made
that both parties were right as to the
Hood, for from the best authority a.;
hand il was discovered that Noah's ark
weighed anchor and started upon its
voyage during the month Of June, and
of course when W. T. JeTett and his
side bet the first crop OF persimmons
that the food occurred in June he was
right; and when J. p. Allen offered 70
wager two Wheeling stogies that the
food occurred in May he was right. az
that was the date OF the Wichita food.
As that was the year in which John
Morrissey made his famous decision
with reference 10 presidential bets, that
both sides had won. and that the money
20 the Stockholders, Il is probable that
it would be proper 10 follow the same
rule and declare that Sedgwick county's
went 70 the stakeholder, II is probable
that It would be proper 10 follow the
same rule and declare that Sedgwick
county's two historians were both right
and only errored IN not being more ex-
plicit IN stating the ters OF their bets.
The two diSputants referred the dis
pute OF dates 20 Kos Harris, who took
the matter, as we'll as cents worth OF
chewing gum, under advisement, and
adjusting his glasses rendered the FOL
iowing decision, after having listened
carefully % the arguments OF both the
historians:
''Gentlsms1-This Is monstrous ques
ton, and one that is fraught with grea,
concern 70 The rising generation who ara
forced % ny through our streets with
their food only partly masticatae1
their teeth unpicked. their shoes u
laced. their cheeks blanched and their
hearts palpitacng Ike he bosom % al
old maid upon receiving her first a1i
probably her last proposal % ua--!-
nony, and cannot pass with haste
upon this important question: But :
can juGiciously decide that there Vas a
circus il town the day Of the food and
thai vas there and never had 50 much
fun n my HE. Il you men were there
You VIII remember the occasion
50 saying. Kos pulled up his seeks,
SCI his tesfh down On the chewing gum
and walked away.
Then The cisputsnts came % taz
Eagle Office and hunted Up the back
file. and n the Weekly Eagle q May "a
lS77, read the article q which the follow
ing Is brist synop
Ca Friday evening Nay =. IT,
waters began % come down the rivs-
IN torrents. ard TIE widest stories were
So a1loar- For sc-1e days there had
been heavy ran and The greatest ex-