The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-01

BY venturing out in the stream In a boat
as far as the raging current would allow
II was ascertained that last nights reports
regarding the burning buildings were some
northern part of Topeka seemed to be
affame. Closer investigation this afternoon
T ms ! the fact that only one-third OF
stroyed by fire. Fully half Of the remain.
ing buildings are so damaged by the water
that they are useless. There is not a house
In the entire north part of town that has
not been damaged. When the value OF the
stocks of merchandise destroyed is consid-
cred, 1t Is seen that the loss in a financial
way assumes enormous proportions.
CURRENT is SwIFTER-
The current is more swift and destructive
tonight than at any time during the food.
Under the arches OF the bridge rest the re-
mains of the street-railway bridge. and
this makes the water like a whirlpool.
1T is impossible to tell how long 1t will
take to get our Kansas Ci~ty-Topeka line
open." said General Manager Nudge. of the
Santa Fe, to-day. I'VE cannot tell how
much track is gone until the waters recede.
nor what condition the rest of the track is
In. We have been using the 'Frisco's stem
tracks from Olathe into Kansas City, but
high water knocked the Frisco out near
Rosedale' We are trying to get into Kan
from ottawa, but do not know yet how we
shall succeed. At the present time we are
cut of from Kansas City. Our main line
from Topeka to Newton is open again. but
with the heavy rains that a been falling
1t would not be surprising if we nave some
more trouble near Strong City. This has
been the worst storm the railways of Kan
sas have ever encountered. and the damage
Will run up into the millions"
The Rock Island and Union Pacific COM
panies have abandoned all efforts to keep
their tracks in shape.
For the convenience of the public and
flood sufferers the postofice remained open
nearly all day. All grocery stores. meat
shops and dry goods stores kept open also
TO furnish supplies. The physicians. at a
meeting this afternoon, advised the au-
ground near the city for the flood sufferers.
North Topeka had an epidemic of measles
when the town was stricken. Several cases
there. Many of the afflicted have been
rescued. and great precautions must be
taken against the spread of the disease.
CALLS o RELIEF.
Wichita and other cities on the South
Side which can be reached will be called
on for provisions tomorrow. Already there
is a scarcity of meat and vegetables and
staple groceries are getting low. The To-
peka and Kansas City packing houses are
under water, and the local butchers have
run out of several kinds of meat products.
The gardeners of Topeka in the Kaw val
ley and their farms are all under water
from three to fifteen feet deep. This cuts
on the vegetable supply.
About a mile east Of the Union Pacific
Hotel is a small strip of land above water.
1t is probably one hundred feet long and
ten feet wide. On it more than a dozen
horses n cows are stranded. They have
been there for twenty-four hours without
food.
provisions for the people penned up in
houses than in getting them out.
The Melan bridge has stood solid as a
dam up to this time. 1t serves as a dam.
The water is two feet lower below the
structure h 1t is above. The Rock Is
land and Santa Fe bridges still stand. In
water in some places is up to the awnings.
Boats from Emporia, Ottawa, Kansas
City. and st. Joseph are all doing good
work. They are hauled two miles above
town, filed with provisions and manned
with good rowers. Then they are run
across to the stricken quarters. The sup
plies are distributed among the sufferers
in the buildings and people. are picked out
of the trees and given shelter in some
house. When the boats get so far down
that they cannot be pulled up stream suf-
ferers are picked up and brought to this
side Of the river, a mile or so below town.
Then the boats are hauled to town and
again sent on a similar trip.
COWS HAVEN OF REFUGE.
A cow swan to the Melan bridge to-day
and is now making its home there. To-
night a woman and a baby was brought
to the bridge by rescuers. Both were almost
starved. A rescuer got a bucket and MIXED
the cow and gave the milk to the woman
and baby.
Buildings in the submerged district con-
tinue to collapse. 1t is reported that two
or three big store buildings on North Kan
sas avenue, which. escaped the fire last
night are now crumbling. Notwithstanding
fhQfr nrQno lone condition Yponv of tho c,rf-
ferers held religious services to-day in the
buildings where they were cooped. 1t was
a touching sight, the rescuers say, to see
people of all ak Of life bowed down in
prayer together.
1t is reported late tonight that the
streams around Manhattan are rising rap
idly. If this Is true Ii means much water in
Topeka tomorrow morning. Reports of
this kind have been current all the day,
but tonight a telephone message from
Wamego says 1t is thought there the rise
When the river falls three feet lower
here the water company Will again start
its engines and this will relieve much of
the distress in the city.
Tonight fifty or more flood sufferers are
living in passenger coaches on the Rock
Island tracks. Water surrounds the cars
but there is no danger
At IL p. m. the lumber yard in North To-
peka is again burning. Houses are burned
out on each side Of the lumber yard, and
the fire is not expected to spread far.
Twelve engines and cars loaded with
scrap iron have been loaded on to the
Santa Fe bridge and although a great mass
of wreckage is pressing against the bridge,
it is holding its own.
Two women and a baby drowned tonight
by the capsizing of a boat. They had been
rescued by Charles Estes and Miles Saw
yer at the foot of Monroe street. These
young men made twenty-six trips on the
river after refugees to-day.
ALI the people yet remaining in North
Topeka at places of refuge have a supply
of food sufficient to last for three days,
with the possible exception Of the people
in the wooden mills.
Thousands of dead horses, cattle and
smaller animals are floating down stream
tonight.
NOT HEROES FOR MONEY.
A ~well-known man of North Topeka
offered Estes and Sawyer $50 If they would
conduct his family from his house to the
wooden mill. This the young men declined,
saying that the family were already in
places of safety, and that anyway, they
were not risking their lives on such a
turbulent stream for such a thing as money.
The young men then went on their way
and rescued a family of four Russians from
their perilous situation.
One who worked with the lifesavers all
night was r. F. Hayden, probate judge
of Shawnee county. At 8 o'clock this morn
ing he entered his boat to return to the
North Side. The strong current mastered
him and he was swept down the river. He
has not been seen since.
Forty-two families in the north part OF
Auburndale were driven out of their homes.
They began moving out Friday evening.
Eight families moved to higher ground on
C.--r $1,000 A.t - ~