Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-06-06
Death and Devastation in The Wake
Of high Waters.
TALES OF TERRIBLE SUFFERING
Inhabitants of North Topeka Cut OFT
From All Chance Of Rescus- Much
Loss of Property.


day and Monday mornings:
Topeka. Kans.. special-People who
did not leave North Topeka Saturday
night when they had a chance. are
now in the greatest danger OF losing
their lives. As far as can be estimated
at this time. over 500 people are be.
yond reach OF rescue The Kansas river
is rising az the rate of three inches an
hour. Thirty are known to be dead and
tho list will be larger. Hundreds are
M ssing. People are drowning and
others are burning 10 death. II any por-
ton OF North Topeka shall escape de-
struction by the flood. it seems as
though fire would finish the work. The
large lum Der yards OF Jonathan Thorn
as caught fire this afternoon ana the
whole block OF houses were burned.
Burning houses are floating through
the streets and setting fire TO others.
IL is reported that the Union Pacific
depot and hotel have been burned.
| There Is no possible way of Quencbing
the flames. The loss OF iife viii be APP
| palling. and the property loss in the
millions. Nobody can tell just what has
/ been destroyed. The water extends.
/ around Shorcy and other suburbs.
/ Every foot OF North Topeka. Inhabited
/ by 10000 people is under water. The.
/ current is SO swift that no boa, can
/ live In IL. Seven thousand people have
! escaped 90 tho sOuthside and are being
I cared for as well as possible The re-
/ naming hundreds have not yet been
I accounted for. They have been forced
( 60 the top floors or the roofs Of build
+ incs. and are waiting for the water 10
T subside or carry them down stream
/ They are safe only as long as the
building remains standing Below
town scores o. men are in tree-tops,
I yelling for help. Thousands or reyolNer
. shots and screams have been heard ON
TIE north side signals for aid. Women
and children In the western part OK
North Topeka are standing on the
highest points in reach and yet II
water 10 their necks.
Burning houses are floating about
setting fire 90 others. The lower sto-
res OF the burning buildings contain.
10 feet OF water The current W -.
strong that no boat can approuch sny
~ them People arc gathered on she
tops OF houses and will meet death
either hy IRE or drowning. The cries
FOR help can be distinctly heard "a mile
away. The whole city rs wildly excited
because no aid can bc extended 10 the
sufferers. The river at North Topeka
is FIVE miles wide. No possible esti-
mate OF the financial loss is obtainahle,
but IL can be stated that il Will reach
INTO the millions.
North Topeka was the manufRctur-
ing district OF the city. Three large
-four mills. three wooden mills and
other manufacturing enterprises are
entirely destroyed. The water supply
OF the whole city has been cut OF. The
water from the river extends nearly
q mile on the south side. The Rock
Island depot has been abandoned. and
more than five hundred people on this
side IL the river are also homeless
, but no loss OF life has resulted in
South Topeka The Kansas avenue
bridge Is the only one across the river
for miles and the approaches TO thar
bridge are flooded by thirty feet OF
, water. 4 pOntoOn bridge Is being
= erected. in an effort 90 reach the sur
/. ferers.
% seven thousand or more people are
: on this side of the river sheltered ina
> the public buildings. Topeka Is now
able 20 take care OF all the unfortu-
- mates. The work OF caring for the refu-
Il / gees is being pushed with the utmost
4 rapidity. From the State house as
l. many As Sc fires can be counted ia tif
s. fercnt paris OF North Topeka. The en
e tire central portion Of the city had
been burned out at 10 q CLOCK anu II
d Is safe 10 say that by morning not
a a house in that part OF Topeka viii
be left standing. When IL n stated that
- North Topeka has 10000 inhabitants
the extent OF the disaster can be re
allied. People are sticking TO the roofs
r OF houses and to trees and many ars
p giving mp in despair and dropping into
the waters below TO be carried away
by the swift current
!, The dispatches OF Monday morninl
give fuller account OF the loss These
"a follow:
ID Topeka, Special.-At I O'Clock tn
number OF drowned people was know
IT, 20 be at least $50 and large humble
IS were yet missing. Several were -
ported burned 10 death. but this coul'
not be substantiated. From all owe
no. eastern Kansas boats are being rushe'
here for the rescue OF the sufferers
y Shortly after daylight nine boats al
/" rived from Ottawa on a special trail
and they were put into active rescu
~ service at once. Soon after reports o
" drowning began 20 come in. A boa
UT | containing eight men was swept ava
ln ! In the swift current about ocioc
and as far as known ali We're drown
ed. Other small boats were not abb
~ TO live in the whirling current. Mort
he | Topeka is a scene OF utmost desoli
ton. Not a square foot OF land can b
seen In any direction. There IS but
small chance OF any Of the residence
haFr<y left standing AT the end az IN