The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-06-02
PLUsDgRINa THE HOUSES.
Society Women Attending to the Needs Of the
Refugees
(By the Associated Press.)

tBy the AS>OclaltI TItoS-t
Topeka, Kan. May 30.-A suburb Of the
FIVE miles northeast OF Topeka Is de
serted. The people leaving this afternoon
having been warned by the city engineer
At 4 o'clock the water backed up TO the
street car tracks in East Topeka near
the Santa Fe shops. The way for the
people between Brewer street and the
river to get out was not made a moment
too soon. as that part of the city tonight
is completely Hooded. Further out The
water rose early in the afternoon. In
this locality several people are still III
dangerous positions. 1t IS said the po-
lice have all the boats under their charge,
and that the houses in this district are
given this much protection. The houses
in this section are being looted and the
police are trying to get possession of all
the boats to stop the plunderlng.
About 3 O'Clock a current began TO
flow with great sWtftness through a
break in the buildings lining the block
| between Crane and First streets. This
| widening of the current made 1t still
! harder work to pull the boats across to
the ~pontoon by means OF the line. \
| great amount of drift wood began TIC
come down the new current, pressing with
great force against the pontoon, A mum
| Der OF men was stationed at this point
with poles. and it was by hard work or
| their part that the drift was kept from
piling up and pushing the bridge away. One
Of the men who worked all the afternoon
with a pike, pole was DR.. Raster, Chief
| surgeon Of the Santa Fe Railroad. The
most prominent men in the city worked
| as common laborers all day.
| In the auditorium tonight 1000 homeless
reople are quartered. The society women
OF the city are there attending to the
refugees needs. Great wagon loads OF
| clothing and provisions have been sent
| and the immediate needs of the unfortu
mates have been provided for. In tins
large lumber of refugees are Russians
italians, and many OF the poor classes
| Of the city's population. A number OF
| these are afflicted with contagious dis
eases but it is impossible to enforce any
quarantine regulations. The physician
| OF the city say that an epidemic of sick
ness of all kinds may be looked for.
The insane asylum is very near the
river on the southside, and on account o.
the rapidly rising water it is not improb-
able the whole institution may have te
be abandoned before morning. The asy
llm is composed of ten buildings and i
! the largest public institution in the State
with about 5000 inmates. The asylum
has already lost its ice and water sup
rly. There is no danger to the inmates
and when necessity shall arrive they car
be removed in safety.
The Kansas River ordinarily is a very
shallow stream and there are no 0 a
Of any size o%btainable. The small boat
cannot be rowed against the swift cur
rent which sweeps the streets. If a steam
launch were at hand many people woult
be saved who are now facing certain
death. At the Chicago Lumber Company
yards A. B.. Belts, a wealthy c1t1zel
and the member of the Legislature, hat
a gang of men engaged nearly all ia,
in making scows that kept communlca
ton open in the bridge that connects tn
two parts of the town.