The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-02
SUPPLY STATION MOVED.
Relief Boats Are Now Launched Near
Potwin.

At noon Sunday the supply station
was moved from the foot of Tyler street
west to a point north Of PotWln ana
from there boats were sent out all day
to the beleagured in North Topeka car
rying food and water.
The boats were row boats shipped into
Topeka from Ottawa and other points.
Early in the morning the boats set out
from the foot of Tyler street but the
current was so swift that they We're
carried far down stream and were IN
danger Of being driven against the
bridges. The supply station was then
moved west.
All day crowds stood on the south
bank of the river and watched the boats
in their perilOus trips across. Tne
boats were just large enough to hold
two oarsmen and small amount 81
supplies. A. w. Dana. superintendent
the relief station. BY noon half dozen
boats were in service. Freeman Sardou
and Charles QUAINT manned one OF the
boats. They made the most daring al
tempts of any of the bOatmen- Sardou
shot his boat almost directly across lhe
swiftest current and made one trip aItef
another until he had carried supplies 70
the 3 Street church. the DAVIS elevator
and the Forbes mill. Another boat was
manned by Charles SardOu and another
by George SardOu. sons Of Freeman .Saf-
dou Up to o'clock Sunday afternoon
Charles Sardou had rescued q people
and George SardOu had rescued bO ana
taken them to places of safety. Free
man Sardou was warned to be careful
L was born on the sea-, said Sardou.
Il guess I'm all right" When Sardou
made his first trip Sunday to North To-
peka he was hailed by three men in
building Of the sash and door factory.
They wanted to be taken off Sardou
boat was filed with provisions. lie told
the men they were all right Tor the
present He made three trips past them
and then took them to place OF safety
The crowds on the bank watched the
boats ma king their way across Every
one was straining to watch every move
of the rescuers From the foot OF
Western avenue a large crowd watched
the work. The boats could be seen far
up the river, like tiny Specks on the
water and the CLEAN of the oars cOuid
be seen, but the occupants Of the boats
We're mere black dots until the boats
struck the current and were carried
downward. The boatmen fought des-
pefately against the current. The
boats landed in among the trees on the
north side q mile below where they
were started from the south side.
The current on the north side was
swift and the boats were carried down
stream at terrific rate even after the.
We're among the trees The boats were
eagerly watched as they were swept
past trees and buildings. in great
danger Of being hurled against some
obstruction and swamped Now boat
would be hidden by trees and then it
would appear and again be swept be-
hind a building. In the 3 street church
people could be seen at the doors and
windows, and the crowd watched the
supplies being handed in through the
windows
Some Of the boats which attempted
to carry relief to Kansas avenue build
ings and to the east of Kansas avenue
were forced to drift as far east as Oak
land to cross again to the south side
From Oakland they were hauled in
wagons back to the relief station and
started again for North Topeka.