The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-02
RESCUE OF MRS.KEATlNG
Con Van Malta and Bert Hart
man Help Save Two Women.

Can Van Malta, foreman of the Mail
and Breeze had a thrilling experience
early Sunday morning, after having
been marooned all night in the Petro
house, corner Van Buren, and Gordon
streets in North Topeka. In telling his
experience Mr.. Van Malta said:
I was over at the north end of the
Melan bridge late Saturday afternoon
and had no idea of going very far, but
thought I would go a ways into North
Topeka if 1 could get a skiff. Finally
a man came in and offered me his and
1 started. Another man wanted to go
and find a friend Of his, so 1 took him
along. We rowed up about to Harrison
street and then north few blocks. Then
the other man discovered that he dldn [
know where he wanted to 60 1t had
got very dark and we were completely
lost. We didn't even know the points
of the compass. 1t was raining and
the only thing we had to guide US was
the fire further down. and we We're
afraid Of being carried down into that
After rowing about a while in the
darkness among tho tree tops we hearQ
somebody yelling. we answered ana
told them to keep on yelling, as that
was the only thing we had OF guide US
70 Them We had a lantern, but It
didn't help us to see out from the boat,
but it helped other people to see US. me
other fellows yelled like Indians when
them we found DR.. Powell. L. l. klene
a Young fellow named B. Hartman, and
a man they had rescued by the name
of r. R Forrest. He wasn't exactly
rescued either. as they were IN d scoM
and tied up to a tree They had tried
TO get around in the scovv, but after II
cot dark and they had rescued Forrest
they couldn't get anywhere, because the
currents Just swirled the scow around
and around among the tree oranches' 50
they had tied up TO tree
sSoon after I reached them another
man came up in a skiff. attracted by
nv lantern. It was g. C. Ednonos, u
T ecompton who was a splendid Dodl-
mana regular skipper. He had some
supplies in his boat, and gave US some
DR. Powell had been out IN BOAT 81
the night before resclllng people, ana ne
was anxious to get home, and ne got
bridge The man who went out with
me also came back with him, leaving
Kiene and Forrest in the scow, while l
took Hartman in with me.
Meanwhile one of my oar locks haG
come loose so that it wasn't much
good. We all talked over what to 90.
olur l9S OF EIl OF p7pIo7p AIBuU pue
some house We saw a light not far
away and we made Tor It IN ooth me
scow and the boat. The scow went
around below the house. but 1 and my
man got in above. We scrambled ufs
on the roof of the kitchen from one
side just as the Otner IeHONS were Gun
ing up on the other side Some women
came to the window opening out on the
kitchen roof and let US in. We found
DR.. Davis and his family there-four
women folks. The doctor was sick ana
in bed but the women folks were a.
clipper as could be. We asked II they
lived there. and they said no. that a
rescue party had got them that far in
a boat but couldn't get them any fur
ther on account Of the current and SIS
had left them there. 1t was the Petro
house, but was deserted when they got
there. They said there were two more
beds than they needed. and as we we're
wet and tired we went in and Wnt to
bed. was too excited to sleep. but
Kiene and the other fellows were