Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-06-04
THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE PERISH
High Waters Cause Great Loss OIL Lll6
in Kansas.
MANY PERISH AS RESULT OF FLAMES
Condition in Topeka and Near by towns
Appalling in the Extreme-ThOuSandS
are Rendered Homeless.
MANY PERISH AS RESULT OF FLAMES

Kansas City, Mo-, May 3O.-Unpre
cedented floods are raging 10 central anC
eastern Kansas, northwestern Missouri
eastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa
the result of ten days of almoet contln
uous rainfall. The general situation IL
considered most grave, with no immediate
relief in sight. Many lives have been lost,
and it is estimated that no lese than 20
600 persons have been driven FROM their
homes, many of which were washed away,
and that the property loss will run well
up into the millions of dollars.
The greatest damage has been OCCASION
ed between Kansas City and Ellsworth
Kan, 100 miles west. The chief sufferer
is North Topeka, which has been separa'
ted from the main part of the city and be-
come an island. At Kansas City, Kan,
and suburban towns of Armourdale and
Argentine, and at Harlem and Shetheld'
Mo-, near Kansas City, Mo-, an aggregate
of 10000 persons have been forced to
leave their homes, and 5000 employees
of the numerous packing houses and rail-
road bottoms are out of employment.
The situation summarized as follows;
Homeless: Kansas-North Topeka, 7,OOO
near Emporia, 500; Salina and vicinity
500; Lawrence, 500; Kansas City and Ar
mourdale, 10000.
Missouri-Harlem and Sheffield, 1OO.
Iowa-Des Moines, 5000; Ottumwa, 200
Nebraska-Lncoln, 2OO Beatrice, 2OO'
Financial losses: Kansas North Topeka,
ST .OOO. 900; Lawrence, 100000; Concordla
100000; Abilene and vicinity $3OOOOO;
SaIina and vicinity, Sl5O,OOO.
Solomon, Chapman, Detroit and Wood
bine and intervening country, $4OO,OOO;
Des Moines, 100000.
The already flooded condition of central
and eastern Kansas, which has been IN the
grasp of the flood for two days, became
acute last night by a sudden rise in the
streams. The rivers along which the main
damage was done are the Kansas, which
at many places from its source at Kansas
CITY to Manhattan, Kan, a distance OF llO
miles, has spread out over miles OF land
on either side of its original bed; the
Smoky Hill river, a distance OF another
100 miles, touching Junction City, Abilene
Salina and Ellsworth, flooding all these
towns and the intervening country; the
Blue river, north from Manhattan; the
Missouri river, north and east of Kansas
City, and the Des Moines river, at De'
Moines.
Railway traffic in Kansas is practically
at a standstil, dozens of big bridges hav
ing been washed out between Kansas City
and Ellsworth, and many miles OF tracks
being under water.
Topeka, Kan, May 30.-People who
did not leave North Topeka last nlgh
when they had chance are now In th'
greatest danger of losing their lives. Al
far as can be estimated at this time owe
500 people are beyond the reach of rescue
The Kansas river is rising at the rate o
three inches an hour. Thirty are know
n he dead and the list will be larger
Hundreds are missing. People are drow
ming and others are burning to death. l
sny portion of North Topeka shall escape
destruction by the flood it seems to'nigh
as though fire would finish the work. Ih
large lumber yards of Jonathan Ihoma
caught fire this afternoon and Who'll
blocks of houses were burned. Burnin
houses are floating through the streets AM
setting fire to others.
Every foot of North Topeka, inhabited
by 10000 people, is under water. In
current is so swift that no boat can live l
If. Seven thousand people have escape
to the south side and are being cared fo
asNwell as possible. The remaining hur
dreAs have not been accounted for The
bade been forced to the top floors or roo
ofbuildings and are waiting for the water
to} subside or carry them down stream
pillow tee town scores of men are in tret
teps. yelling for help. Thousands OF n
volyer shots and screams have been hear
on the north side, signalsfor aid. Woma
and children IN the west part of North Il
neka are standing on the highest points
reach and yet in water to their necks'