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

With a heavy hempen cable stretched
along the west side of Kansas avenue
from the north approach Of tRa Melan
htissgo -, i5e 7gertb Topeka .MetIqdfst
church. midway in the block NORTH Of
Gordon street, safe connections can now
be made from the Rock Island depot to
that point. Men were. at work, under
the direction of Major A. M. Harvey,
stretching this cable from the two
street cars. which stand on the north
bank of the river in front of the Fen
sky house all yesterday These two cars
are almost upon the edge of the gap
where the approach to the north side
of the two bridges was washed away.
Washburn college deserves the big end
of the credit for the dangerous work of
running this cable. through the swift
waters of North Kansas avenue. A
party of 20 or more Washburn college
boys worked all day long at the two
street cars and in boats. relieving each
other from time to time but most OF
them spending the entire day in North
Topeka. Louis Strauss, Bob Tasker, Gus
AIackey, and dozen other young men
about town, whose names could not be
obtained. worked at the undertaking
also. Among the Washburn boys were
Hugh Mcfarland, Prof. O. NJ. Towne
Frank Ritchie. Ramsey, Fred Ritchle,
Hen" Reed, P p. Anderson, Pearley
Kelley, Frank Mohler-C- Steele, sam
Butts Gill DOnOhue, VIII CarotnefSs
Roscoe Burns. II. Coldren, Harry May
nard and John Dadisman. Dr. Blotsk
also spent the day there.
These boys waded from pole TO pole,
clinging 10 sagging wires and pullnS
after them the smaller cords over Whlcn n
later the big two inch cable followed.
Then scows were sent up carrying more
rope and provisions for the unfortunates
that might happen to be found. Bu1
there was less demand for food than for
ANYTHING else The tussle with the wa
Ter was one which the boys VINO TOOK
mart will not forget soon. 1t was easy
enough going north in the boats because
the current tended that direction as Wen
as east. but the return was hazardous
and wearying. The last boatloads dId
not come back until about O'Clock
Monday night, after which work was
abandoned till morning
AS will be readily seen this cable viii
be Of untold service IN giving connec-
tion to all parts of North ICpeka east
of Kansas avenue. 1t will be the main
channel of a thoroughfare with which
will be connected side lines into tn7
eastern part of town, which so TAR mas
been nearly inaccessible on account OF
the dangerous water with which It's
4
town has been throughly Datrolled al
ready
Too much credit can not be given tne
men who worked on that cable PUSH
ing their way through steadily deepen'
ing water until they were obliged te
give up wading. their danger of beine
swept away increased with each sue
ceeding step. At Norris street the water
became too deep to wade and north q
that the depth seems constantly to IN
crease. At Gordon street the cable run
ners took four men from a roof, tfs
roof of Dr. L A Ryder's home They
were sent back to the street cars anc
! from there across the river Probably
I twenty people were found in buildings
on Kansas avenue, but all of them ap-
peared to be in good shape and only the
/ four mentioned wanted to be taken Off
At Billiards mill. at Curtis street. there
are several people; it was impossible Il
tell how many. but probably not over
a dozen. Food was thrown up to 2
man and a boy on the roof yesterday
| afternoon. The boy was little fellow
while the man wore long white hair ant
beard. First some eggs were secured
and tossed uo. The boy caught then
unfailinglv and set them down care
fully on the roof When one broke hs
/ Tapped the yolk and white from hi
palm before it could be wasted h
was very evidently hungry When {
can Of beef was thrown uD TO him h
executed a war dance and patted hi