The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-02

pounding away fast asleep in few
minutes.
about half past ? O'Clock in the
morning somebody came pounding on
the window. We asked what they want
ed and they asked if a man named
k1ene was there. I said yes, and they
said a man named Harvey had sent
they after him. because his family was
worried and it was time for him to
come home anyway Kiene didn't want
to get up and dress in his wet clothes,
but as long as Harvey had sent for him
he concluded he had better go. They
said they could take me, too but as I
had sent word to my wife that 1 was all
right. l thought I had better stay till
daylight, SO I went back to bed. We
rested till daylight and then we were
woke up by a big rooster floating out
on a plank in front of the house. He
was growing to beat the band
Hartman and Forrest and got out
in our boat to try to come back We
started around the house but found
picket fence there which headed US off.
Before we got by that we heard some
women and children screaming in an
other direction and started for them. We
came to where some people were strug-
Cling in the water under a tree. Ed
monds and his partner had been rescu-
ing some people in two boats. The boats
had run on top of wire and had cap
sized. One of the men got the people to
the tree while the other started to swim
after the boats. both of which had got
away The people were Mrs DR.. Miner
and her daughter, Mrs. Heating, and
Mrs. keating's three children. When we
got to them Mrs. Miner was up a little
in the tree and had the baby in her
arms. Mrs. Heating just had her head
above water, but she was very cool, and
the two little boys were holding on to
her, and their heads were just above
water.
Forrest got out to help them in while
Hartman and I managed the boat We
got the two bows to the PetrO house first
to take her mother first. and / tell you II
just made the tears come to my eyes
when took that little baby in my arms
The third trip we got Mrs. Heating into
the house. It's great sensation-this
rescuing people After that rescue / felt
hilarious enough to row up Kansas
avenue
diamonds had got one of his boats
by that time and he and his partner
and Forrest IN his boat and Hartman
and me in mine started for the bridge
When we got there we found the north
approach gone and could not get near
it. Then we started to row up west and
went into a house. 1t seemed to be q
house with high basement, for the
living rooms were all up just above the
water. The water was up on the porch
and the door was open. Inside we
found a hog in the parlor. It had evil
IDENTIFY climbed up on the porch and
just gone in. There was good fire in
the kitchen stove, as though somebody
had been there not long before, and
there was plenty of fuel on hand. There
we're some fried eggs. which we ate
and we put some potatoes on to cook
and dried our clothes at the fireplace
After awhile we agreed to go up to
the pickle factory and see if we coulu
not get across. but the barrels and kegs
were so thick that we had to go in 70
Railroad street before we could row up.
Somewhere in there we lost Edmonds
and his boat. and have not seen them
since Hartman and I got up to the
pickle factory and climbed up on the
roof. The river looked mighty bad. buy
We made up our minds to risk it. know
ing that If we did not get across before
we were carried down to the bridge We
would go under. had got. my oar lock
fixed and we had an extra paddle.
When we got started don't believe it
took up more than three minutes to get
across. and we landed Just above the
city park"