Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-06-25
THE KANSAS FLOOD.
Described By Miss Josephine D. Livermor

Described by Miss Josephine D. Livermore.
The recent floods in Kansas City have
been we'll described by the metropolitan
press, but to our mind no description Of
great disaster IS quite so interesting as those
written by some one we know. Miss Jose
phine D. Liyermore, daughter Of our towns
man, w. Harrison Liyermore, was held up
/ by the flood at Kansas City, while enToute
from Woodbury. to the home of her sister
and husband at Manhattan, Kan. In a
letter to a friend here, she describes what
she saw, and we have been given the privilege
of publishing that portion Of the letter. 1t
| is dated Manhattan, Kan, June 81.
I'VE left Chicago at 6.01 p. m. Friday,
May 80, for Kansas City, and we're just
about two hours ride east Of Kansas City
when our train met with an accident, de-
railing the engine, baggage and mail cars.
1t was fortunate accident as no one was
hurt, but we were delayed about six hours
and it was very fortunate for US that we
were not delayed longer, or we would have
been stalled just outside the train yards at
Ramsay City, Mo. As it was, we reached
there about A p. M, Saturday, May Both.
Doctors sister is boarding in Kansas City,
Kan, and we had arranged to spend Sun
day with her, so we took carriage and
drove over, as you know it is just across the
river from Kansas City, Mo. just about
an hour after we drove over the viaduct it
was carried out by the flood. We were
stranded in Kansas City, Kan, just two
weeks. I never want to witness such sights
again as / saw three weeks ago to-day, yet
at the time there was something so fasci-
mating about it that one could stand on the
bluffs of the river for hours. One can
hardly believe that such state Of affairs
could exist unless they saw it, 1t was
really wonderful to watch the houses COM
| ing down the river, and see them strike
against other buildings and cave them in.
The worst part Of the flooded district was
Armourdale, which is really part Of Kan
sas City, Kan. Everyone in the town was
compelled to leave, and nearly every house
was torn from its foundations. The people,
about 12 600, were sheltered in churches,
schools, houses, city hall, and in fact in
every available building Most of them
were destitute of everything they owned,
except the clothing they had on. If the
water had risen gradually they would have
been able to have saved some clothing, but
on Saturday evening it was rising at the
rate of feet in 5 minutes, so you can
imagine no one thought of anything but
getting on ground, high and dry. The
Standard Oil Co. has large factory in
Armoursdale, and they lost nearly all their
immense tanks, and it was those tanks that
caused the bridges to go, that is, the water
works bridge, the elevated electric road
bridge, the Union Pacific bridge. the
Seventh street viaduct and the James street
yiaduct. All the freight cars in the Union
Pacific yards were destroyed, either by fire
or by the debris that foated down the
river. 1t seemed very strange to see the box
cars burning when almost covered with
water The fire was started by the lime in
some Of the cars. The Missouri Pacific
bridge was the only one across the Kansas
River that didn't go out, and that was held
in place by thirteen engines.
A week ago yesterday, / was taken
through Armoursdale, and the sights were
really heart-breaking The water, of course,
had gone down, and you could see people
looking around for their homes, and stand
ing in front of the foundation weeping and
wailing. 1t was poor part Of town and
all most of the people had was their furni-
ture and homes. OF course their houses
were not much of home to us, but they
were their homes, and although mighty
humble there is no place like home. The
town is guarded by soldiers, and wanted
to take some pictures but was informed
that no one excepting those taking pictures
to sell and have published would be allowed
| to take any, and | was disappointed, for
really no one can describe the terrible sights
We left there last Sunday afternoon at $50
and although it is only three hours ride
under ordinary circumstances, we didn't
reach Manhattan until 1.30 a. m. Monday
One of F's friends invited us to stay with
her until we got this house SO we could at
least stay in it, and even that is going to be
long time yet.
The farm was under water and there was
four feet of water in the house. Most Of
the furniture was saved, but the carpets
were in a horrible condition. The side
board, dining-room table ond the two ma
hagany bookcases were badly damaged but
they are now at the furniture store being
repaired. The yard is covered with mud,
and such mud have never seen. It is just
like putty, and it will take quite a while
for it tc dry out. y
JOSEPHINE d. LIVERMORE.