The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-31

Ludicrcus Iucidents-Also Other Storm
Stories OF More or Less Interest.
DR.. c. z McAdams has removed from
104 East Douglas avenue to 147 North
Main street This fact in itself may ap-
pear Insignificant, but other facts make
the removal worthy of notice Dr.. Me-
Adams had occupied the same quarters
for twenty years, and the rental of his
rooms at 500 per year represents s., 000
On entering the rooms ne could have
bought the property for s140, but PREFER
ed'to rent. He now relinquishes the Old
quarters 70 give place 70 a real estate
firm. The doctor is always entertain
ing in "reminiscences, and especially so in
recounting his associations with the "old
stand
The primary reason for his removal TO
io4 was the great food Of 1877. He had
an Office on Douglas avenue, a small
frame shanty on the exact spot where
the Eagle Office now stands. The June
food of 1877 brought destruction and
CONSERVATION to the people of Wichita.
The Arkansas river proper was bank
full, and a continuous rain and big rise
in the Little Arkansas caused it 10 back
up from its mouth and thorw its floods
across the present site of Wichita 1t
rolled in great currents across from
Thirteenth street southwark TO Second
street, the tide rushing 10 the southeast
and flooding Chisholm creek, which was
half a mile wide. This food is what led
TO The throwing UP of a levy on the Lit
tie River above what is now known as
the Gentleman's Driving park The wa
ter, flowing southeastward, was deepest
along what is now Oak street and Third
and Second. Where the Y N c A.
building now stands on Topeka avenue
a steampoat could have ran. Dr.. Nc
Adams residence was on North Tope-
IA avenue and for a week he rode his IA
voi-ite pony Flax 10 his office in the
little frame before mentioned, swimming
the tide where the Manhattan hotel now
stands. The doctors home was on high
ground but he and his neighbors kept
measurement sticks along the tide mar
gin and also kept a skiff tied 10 the
knob Of Johnny Aliens door 10 take out
their families in case Of too great a rise,
remaining up ali night 10 watch the ebb
and flow. The doctor used 10 tie his
pony Flax in front Of his office knee
deep in water, and attended calls by
swimming the animal in many localities.
One day, however, Flax" was stolen by
Dutch Henry's" horse-thief gang, and
then the doctor removed 10 1G4 East
Douglas avenue, as has been stated.
Among the funny occurrences incidental
10 the flood, the doctor relates that one
day he saw a skiff containing Two men
pull into the Occidental hotel doors and
the mariners rowed up beside the bar
and called for drinks. They wereWait-
I'd upon by a barkeeper who wore hip
boots and who stood in water more than
knee-deep. James Steel, then a leading
character in Wichita, reveled in the
food, standing waist-deep all day long
al Ene corner OF First and Market streets
ana catching all the debris that f1oated
his way. The flood has gone down into
history and has brought forth Mr..
Swans prophecy OF another one next
spring, but Mr.. Swan perhaps forgets
that the Arkansas river is not what il
used 10 be. The bitches to irrigate vast
areas of land in Colorado and western
Kansas sap the river Of its old-tima
currents of melted Rocky mountain snow
In the June time.
In the early days when DR.. McAdams
had enscounced himself in the second
story OF 1G4 East Douglas avenue, he was
furnished with a double-barreled shot
gun BY Sol Kohn to cover the bank
corner. II was loaded with buckshot
and would have been used had the raid
ers came This precaution was taken
because Of the Medicine Lodge robbery
and lynch:nE.
Aside from foods, the great hail storm
of 1880 is recalled by these reminis-
oences. Dr. McAdans recounts the de-
strdct:on wrought by the heavy hail.
Windows and sky-lights were smashed
and many animals not under shelter
We're killed. The doctor weighed one
hail stone that tipped the beam at sew
enteen ounces. A crowd OF men had
gathered under the old Beacon office
aiwaing. all marvcling at the size OF the
hail-stones. when oscar Smith, OF the
Beacon force. with his characteristic jo-
cu:arity, took a 5-pound lump Of ice from
water cooler in the composing room and
tossed it out over the awning. II was
hur-iedly picked up and taken TO the
editorial rooms as a world-beater hail
stone. when Oscar took charge Of 1t and
put it hack in the water-tank, remark
ing, Heaven is against the ice-cOm-
panies and in favor Of the printers"
The flood OF the spring OF 1855 is also
recalled. when an engine on the Mis-
sour Pacific railroad went through
bridge near Clearwater and sank in
quich-sand out Of sight and out Of reach.
Il could never be reached. and may be
sinking yet. Long iron prods could new
er be sunk deep enough 20 touch the
sinking iron horse. which fact might fur
nish an article in itself If space could
be devoted 70 il in these "reminiscences.
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