Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-01
KANSAS CITY is HARD HIT
On Both Missouri and Kansas Sides
Floods DO immense Amount
of Damage.

KANSAs CITY, May ax-With the waters
Of the Kaw and Missouri rivers nearly four
feet above the disastrous level OF 1881 and
their swollen tide spread over twelve square
miles of the city and its suburbs, Kansas
city tonight is enduring the worst flood OF
It's history. In the valley of the
Kaw or Kansas river, between this
city and Kansas City, Kan a
report has 1t that a number of lives have
been lost. One report says fourteen and
another have 1t fifty, but in the midst of
| generalization 1t is impossible to verify
these reports. Twelve bodies were counted
as they ioated past during the day. Most
of the bodies were on pieces of wreckage.
On the roof Of a floating cabin was the
body Of a woman and her child.
The financial loss has been increasing all
day and bids fair to continue. The heav-
lest loss is, at A~rmourdale. where the losses
to the packing industry and others is placed
conservatively at $500, 900. Argentine, an
other suburb. has suffered losses estimated
at $500, 900. Other losses which cannot now
be estimated will increase the total ma
terially.
Armourdale with a population of $4,000
people, is deserted and it's site marked only
by the tops OF buildings and a number of
fires. Seven fires, believed to be chiefly
box cars burning, could be seen from the
bluffs tonight. There is some danger that
the flames will spread to the partially sub
merged buildings, adding greatly to the al
ready heavy loss. The fire started by in
trusion of the food into a lime house. The
refugees from Armourdale for the most
part are huddled together in the immense
auditorium of the Convention hall. al
though several hundred found Ravens with
friends in more fortunate parts of the
city. All bridges over the Kaw river are
down and the only communication with
Armourdale is by boat.
Water Works out OF Business.
Kansas City tonight is without a water
supply. the food having disabled the pump
ing station and the utmost care is being
taken that no fires shall break out. Even
q small fire, 1t is feared, would start a
~conhagration. Only one street car line In
the city is running tonight. owing to the
disabling Of the power plant by the flood.
The city is b~loekaded with trains unable to
get out. Not a train has gone out of the
city today. ana Il is said there is little
prospects of any Improvement in the situa-
ton for some time. The stage OF the river
tonight is so.L. The previous high record
was made in 1881 when the river rose to
1926.
BY tomorrow morning, according to the
| prediction of superintendent O'Connor of
the weather bureau, the level win be thirty
6ne feet. The Union station by the rise OF
the Hood today was rendered useless. At
one end the water was three feet deep and
at the other end a foot higher. In the
baggage room baggage was fastened to
tackle and suspended in the air out OF the
reach OF the water. Numerous rescues,
some % them made by the narrowest of
margins, occurred during the day. Two
thirds of Argentine, a railroad and manu-
featuring town on the south bank OF the
Kansas river, six miles from Kansas City,
is inundated. and probably $4,000 damage
has been done. Forty-ive hundred OF the
$500 inhabitants are homeless and nearly
5000 are destitute. Five bridges have been
swept away. all the railroad tracks and
factories are under water and business is
suspended. Various rumors Of loss OF
life cannot be verified, but an unknown
negro woman is believed to have been
rowned. She was clinging TO a log which
struck the accumulated wreckaee at a
bridge and was carried under.
Railroad Loss Heavy.
The Santa Fe railroads loss Is very
heavy, but can scarcely be estimated until
the flood abates. The railroad has 100
miles Of track in the Argentine yards and
several miles of freight cars stand sub
merged. Some cars have broken loose from
their trucks and hoated down the river.
The current has left the old channel and
has moved south, wrecking all the build
inEs in its path. The Santa Fe track is
under water all the way 70 Holiday. eight