The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-05
FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
Mass Meeting Was Called by
Mayor Mclean
COMMITTEE APPOINTED
Z
Who VIII Call on Business
Men and Others
MESSAGE TO GOVERNOR
Sent Last Night That $500
Would be Raised Here
MESSAGE TO GOVERNOR

Last night a mass meeting of business
men and citizens was held in the council
chamber of the city hall and Mayor Nc
Lean was instructed to telegraph Cover
nor Bailey that 1850 would be raised
here today for the relief of the food suf-
ferers in Kansas City, Kansas, Topeka,
Council Grove, Manhattan. Salina and
other points which have suffered great
loss Of life and property on account of
the unprecedented high water of the past
week This money must be raised among
the citizens of Wichita. 1t is for a
humane purpose. There are hundreds and
thousands OF people with scant clothing,
kttle food and no homes along the Kaw
Ever and its branches The destruction
has been appalling and it is not likely
that the total number of dead will ever be
known and at this time it is impossible
| 10 estimate the property losses.
People coming from the stricken sec
tons say that not one iota of the news
paper reports of the flood has been exag-
gerated. The half has never been -, -
IS a comonn expression on the lips of
those who have viewed the flooded dis
tricts.
Hundreds Of poor homeless, and almost
helpless men. women and children are
housed in churches and public build
ings throughout the flooded district. Aid
is. coming in from all sections of the coun-
tSy Kansas has suffered the most APP
pS1ling disaster in her history. In some
sections there is little food and less cloth
ing for the victims Of the waters.
Governor Bailey. Wednesday evening
made an appeal to the citizens of Kan
sas for aid, immediate relief in all of the
stricken districts. The floods covered a
wide range Of territory and many towns
will have TO be helped The governor in
his message stated that he would first
appeal TO the citizens of Kansas, to their
patriotism and state pride to come to
the relief of the sufferers. If this appeal
did not suffice to relieve the sufferers,
which is evident on every hand, then an
extraordinary session of the legislature
T-euld be called to make an appropriation
10 aid the STRICKEN people. He asked that
the mayors of all towns call a mass meet
ing and subscriptions be taken for the,
fund. He has appointed the president of!
the First National bank of Topeka, Mr..
Sims, trustee Of the funds and every bust,
ness man in the state endorsed his action,
for Mr.. Sims is known in all sections.
Mayor Mclean called the meeting for
last night and it was a most enthusiastic
one. The first thing that came up after
the meeting was called TO order and its
purpose stated, was the announcement
that the Elks lodge of this city would
start the fund with a check for 800. The
check was turned over to the secretary,
: NJ. Resing.
Father Then said he would pledge the
knights of Columbus to a like amount,
and w. c. Edwards. of the Orient Rail
way, gave his check for 800.
The business men present then fen to
discussing how TO raise the money at
once Even if the legislature should con-
vcne in special session. il would req1ire a
week or ten days to Go so. and it is i'm
mediate relief that is wanted. The worst
will have passed within ten days but
right now thousands of dollars must be
expended in food and clothing. The
people Will find a place to lay their heads
but they must find something to eat and
something to protect them from the ele-
ments, and the sick must have medicine.
> The United States government ordered
ire commander at Fort Leavenw'orth to
send rations and bedding TO the stricken
district The commander sent one meal
for twenty thousand persons ard much
bedding and other necessities.
The meeting last night decided that
committees should so TO work this morn
ing and they pledged the governor that
at least s.. 500 would be raised here NYich-
ita is the largest town IN the state I'M
affected by the great floods and it is ex-
pected that this amount and more should
be given the more unfortunate neighbors.
The people of Wichita will not stop with
any s. see. They are too humase and lib
eral for that small sum, when hundreds
- people are crying for bread
The committee named last night will
meet at o'clock this morning in the city
hall to start the subscriptions. The city
will be divided into districts which the
committees will canvass thoroughly. The
subscription papers viii be given out and
the territory assigned at the meeting this
morning
The Kings Daughters are requested 20
meet at O'Clock in the city han This
meeting was called on the mayors special
request as there are matters Of import
ance which ne wishes to bring before the
members.
The committees appointed were as fol-
lows:
c. E. Potts. C. Gehring. MIR. Williams.
Fl. Healy, W. r. DuGaney. Marsh
] augh, NJ B. Moore Q. T. Smith. Pat
Healv Father Then. Prof GarcelOn. T.
G. Fitch Geo. 7. Pratt, J. c. Smith. II.
,h~,
J. Q. Davidson. J. u. Houston. Frank
Woods. T. c. Griffith. George Fultz. 5.
r. Whine. J 4. Stewart Sam Hess, Ike
Goldsmith James Allisoa. Rodolf Hat
feld. l. ". Gll. II. limbo J. z. How
ard. Rev. Dubber. Or. Gave Jr.. r. II.
Hail. II. NJ. Grafton. Frank Schwartz.
Rufe Cone, George Spencer, Robert
Goats.
CONFERENCE is OVER.