Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-06-12
lie were rescued from tele-

graph pores.
About 5000 cattle were in the stock
yards when the food began and the
lost and dead will aggregate about
500. About 6,O00 hogs were in the yards,
OF which about 100, yarded in the
north end. were drowned. Nearly
all the fences in the stock yards re-
main standing in their former posi-
tions, which was a great surprise
to the officials.
Employment bureaus have been es-
tablished in Kansas City, Kan, and
all those who desire work can have
it. The records of the Mercantile
club show that they had housed in
80 public institutions a few more
than 1000. This does not include the
fraternal headquarters who cared
for many of their members at vari-
Gus places in the city. The lowest
estimate that can be made is that
there are $4,000 people dependent on
public charity now, and it is expected
that 5000 of these will be a charge
on the community for some time to
come.
1t will be some time before trains
are operated on the ST. Joseph
embankment on which the railroad
runs from the bridge to Harlem sta
ton is beginning to crack and settle
as the water recedes.
The Santa Fe railroad promises en-
ployment for all in Argentine The
Santa Fe will also establish rapid
transit to Kansas City, Mo-, until
street car service is resumed.
The flood has sufficiently subsidized
to show that very few frame houses
that were in the current of the river
are standing.
In the yards of the Swift Pack
ing company in Armourdale, At cattle
and $50 sheep were drowned. About
1000 ~hogs~were taken to the third
floor of one of the company's build
ings and cared for until the flood
subsidized.
There was big advance in the
price of all kinds of produce in Kan
sas City, Mo-, during the first few
hours of the flood. Prices of eggs
and potatoes doubled. People were
frantic to clay in a supply" Mayor
to meet the problem. An ordinance
was passed heavily filming any mer-
chant or other dealer for overcharg-
ing. The Missouri Pacific railroad,
the only line open to ST. Louis, guar
anteed to deliver all necessary food
stuffs by freight from ST. Louis. In
"a hours the food panic collapsed.
One of the most distressing fea-
lures of the flood was the occasional
cry for help that came across the
water out of the darkness in different
directions when no help could be
given. Those who heard the calls,
family at times and indistinct, were
powerless to respond.
A towboat rescued 35 passengers
from the north end of the Milwaukee
railroad bridge who had arrived on a
Grand Island train 49 hours before.
The south approach to the Milwau-
kee railroad bridge went out during
the early stages of the flood and
stopped traffic.
The north approach to the historic
Hannibal railroad bridge was carried
away the third day of the flood. No
trains can go over the bridge for two
weeks.
The refugees who sought refuge at
Convention hall received the best of
attention. Physicians and trained
nurses cared for the afflicted ones and
the commissary department freely
supplied all the necessaries required.
The hills of Kansas City, which
have provoked much idle 1evity at the
hands of smart newspaper men in the
east, are right handy, after all, to
have around when there is high
water.
The order issued by the board Of
police commissioners closing all the
saloons of the city during the flood
was wise and timely. With so many
unemployed men, and with the pre-
vailing feeling of unrest, the DISPOSE
ton of idlers to congregate in the
saloons and drink to excess might
have resulted in serious disorder
Water was out of the Union depot
Saturday and a force of men was
set to work repairing the damage,
which will aggregate $4,000. About
2h feet of mud and debris were over
everything in the ancient structure
that the flood touched.
The missing list is long, but it
seems Insignificant when it is realized
that about 10000 persons were made
homeless and rushed to the first
available shelter. About $4,000 are
in private homes in Kansas City,
Kan, and others in churches, schools
and in camp there. In this city there
are about 5000 refugees cared for
in Convention hall, the churches and
in a camp at Wabash and Pendleton
avenues. Many of..-the missing are
turning up safe every hour, and many
joyful family reunions are being
brought about.