The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-06-05
HIGH WATER
TIES UP TRAFFIC
Railway Tracks in the West Are
Inundated.
ARE UNABLE TO RUN
Flood Situation Worst Ever known
in History of SunfioNver State
Thousands Of Acres Are
Under Water.

The Rock Island n Union racine
are not running any trains, while the
Santa Fe runs only to Emporia, and
the Missouri Pacific to Fort Scott.
The flood situation is the worst ever
known in the state. Perhaps 25O
houses are in the flooded district in
Topeka, including several mills and
elevators and the Wolff packing
house. The conditions in Little Rus
sia," the Russian settlement in North
Topeka, is serious. The entire set
tiement is under water, and Il cur
rent has started through the district.
Fear is expressed that the channel
of the river may change. Several
houses already are twisted on their
foundations, and they probably will
collapse. Every family has had its
household goods damaged, ard some
have lost everything. The Kansas
river is five miles wide at st. Mary's,
and the town is half submerged.
The Kansas river bridge there is par
TALLY washed out and the river is
rapidly rising. Late Friday after
noon the Kansas river bridges at
Maple Hill, Rossville, Silver Lake,
Bellevue and st. George were washed
out. The new steel bridge at Willard
is damaged beyond repair.
Panic in abilene
Fifteen inches of water fell in Abb
lene Thursday night and more Friday
afternoon. Business houses are col
fapsing, and the entire town is panic
| stricken. Itisimpossiblet Ito get around
ron account of water. "Wotnen: are pros
trated, and the people are afraid Of
what will, happen. = The: Smoky river
is three or four miles wide at Abilene
and every wagon and railroad bridge
around, there is out.
Thursday nights rain extended all
over central and northern Kansas, all
of which is drained by, the Kansas
river. Rain fell during the morning
at many of the flooded points, and at
four o'clock another heavy rain, al
most acloudburst. fell. This will make
the situation much worse.
The police and fire departments in
Topeka have organized to rescue peo-
pie from the flood on the north side
of the river. The condition there is
alarming. Rain is still falling.
Thousands Homeless.
The water has surrounded the whole
of North Topeka. Over 2 900 people
are homeless. The river is rising fast
and it is estimated that by noon to-
day fully 10000 people will be home
less. The Union Pacific station. is
flooded.
River Bank Full.
In Kansas City, Mo-, the Missouri
river is bank-full, and still rising, and
already has caused great damage to
business houses and other property in
the bottoms and along the Raw river.
West from its mouth at Kansas City,
Kan, the lowlands for miles are under
water, hundreds of families have been
rendered homeless, and thousands of
acres of grain are under water.
Abilene Flooded.
Abilene, Kan, May 30.-The flood
waters from Mud creek, swollen by IL
hours rain, swept through this city,
doing damage estimated at $780, 600.
Chapman, Solomon Talmage, nearby
towns, Jared equally as bad as abb
lene and the losst to the country is tre-
mendous. Abilene has no water, lights,
post Office service, or newspapers. The
damage here is estimated, at 500, 600.
Nolipesshave beenlost sofar as known.
On the Smoky Hill bottoms $1,000 acres
are under water and persons are being
rescued in boats.
Town Under Water.
Word from Americas, Kan, north
west of Emporia, says that that
lsto&ns is three feet under water and
that the Neosho river is fourfeethi high
er than ever known before. Runners
have been sem out from Emporia to
notify the farmers along the bottoms
east of that city that = high water
Wave is coming down the Neosho.
Loss VIII He ~, 100000.
Council Grove, Kan, May 30.-The
loss by food in Morris county is esti-
mated at 81, 900, 900. -Four personswere
drowned here Friday night. Edward
Clements persisted while ~endeavoring
to save his daughter. Ralph Phillips,
while trying to rescue a little girl
named Woods, was drowned with her.
Ababy was found dead in the Missouri
ffacinc yard. Stacking lime set fire to
the M. r. Smith lumber yard, which
was burned, together with the Farm
ers and Drovers' bank, the Indicator
store and Robbins drug store, the total
loss being $4,000. The big Main stree,
bridge over the Neosho river wen,
down. All the business houses were
flooded. Miles 81 Missouri Pacific AM
Katy tracks were washed out. Nor,
than a hundred houses are under water
and 20 have ioated away.
TrafHc at a stnndstiIl.
Denver, CoTs May 30.An traffic be
tween Denyersand western Kansas i
ct d standstill on all roads, and il
many inst s;sess no attttempS was mad,
10 get trains out. Three Union Pa
Ssfic trains loaded with passengers
Mh;cHl#sre m out Sunday, Monda.