The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-02
GREAT WORK.
Heroic Frenchman Has Rescued
Nearly 100 People.

There are hundreds Of heroes around
Topeka. Many of them viii probably
never be known. The story of it has
had few equals in the history OF the
country. Men take their lives in their
hands and think nothing of it-not once,
but time and time again-to carry re-
lief TO the marooned or TO get sufferers
from trees and roofs.
Probably no man has saved more
lives than Freeman Sardou, the wealthy
Frenchman who lives in Oakland. He
landed his first boatlOad at 5:45 Satur-
day morning and kept it up all day,
making eight trips and bringing As pee
pie across and landing them below the
Santa Fe bridge Sunday he kept up
the work and probably got as many
more On one trip he went up the river
with Charles QUAINT and the two started
in a new boat which had been hastily
built, to carry provisions to the people
in the B street church in the west part
of North Topeka There he found the
people comparatively comfortable. They
could sleep on the seats, although the
water was in the church.
Then the pair went on down east,
looking after the comfort of people, fin
ally rescuing man, his wife and two
small children and bringing them safe
" across and landing them near the
slaughter house just above the wreck of
the Sardou avenue bridge. The boat
leaked badly and by the time the land
ing was made the edge was only about
an inch or two above the water.
Sardou thinks nothing of what he
does himself. but he tells of acts Of
bravery on the part of other people He
says one man named Anderson kept
yelling in order to attract boats When
they would come he would direct them
to various houses where people were
suffering or in danger. When asked to
come out himself he replied that he
would wait until the rest were saved.
The stories were not all of heroism,
however. Sardou offered to save one
man but he wanted 10 be landed on
Kansas avenue or not al all Sardou
said his ferry ran to Oakland A few
hours later the man begged to be taken
anywhere but Sardou told him to wait
until other people were saved.
Another real old man was sitting in
his garnet with gun, wanting to shoot
some people for breaking into his store
and taking provisions. They rescued
him but made him leave his gun behind,
much to his sorrow.
Another young man, who was taken
out of a tree, had sack of tobacco tied
up in three handkerchief AS soon as he
got in the boat he united it and the
first thing he did was to roll a cigarette.
Bert Lewis. the Elks pianist, was
among the number rescued by Sardou.
He says Sardou looks like a hero to him
all right. Lewis also says that while
coming across he saw water spaniel
sitting placidly on a pile of shingles
floating down the river.
Charles Sardou. son of Freeman
Sardou, went after some people near the
north Santa F'e depot. Five men came
to a window of house, but instead of
asking to be saved they yelled
Go to that house there. There are
little children in it."
Sardou did as directed and found the
family of Pat Devlin Santa Fe section
foreman on the north side Beside Dew
lin there was his wife little girl and
two small boys. Near by a building
was on fire and there was danger that
the Devlin house would catch. When
Sardou took the family out the other
people around cheeied him. The family
were safely landed near the east end of
the Sardou avenue bridge.