Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-01
Topeka, Kan., Had Fire Added to Flood Hor-
ror---About ZOO Known to Be Dead
and Large Number Missing.
THE DAMAGE WILL RUN AWAY UP into MILLIONS,
Kansas City Under Water Thousands in DangerDam-
age Is Enormous Situation Elsewhere
Is Appalling.
AROUND KANSAS CITY,

Kansas City, Mo, May 31-With
: the waters of the Kaw and Missouri
rivers nearly four feet above the dis
astrous level of 1881 and their swollen
tide spread over II square miles of the
city and it's suburbs, Kansas City, to-
night, is suffering from the worst flood
of it's history. -..-.--.-----.---=-z.--e-s.-a
In the valley of the Kaw or Kansas
river between this city and Kansas City,
Kansas, II bodies were counted as they
iioated past during the day. In nearly
every instance they were lying across
pieces of WreckaSe. On the roof of Il
cabin that came sWirling down could
be seen the body of woman and her
child.
The financial loss has been increas-
ing all day and bids fair to continue.
The heaviest loss is at Armourdale,
where the losses to the packing indus
try and others is placed conservatively
1T 81, SOC, 600. Argentine. another suburb,
has suffered losses estimated at $5VJ,-
600. Other losses which cannot now
be estimated will increase the total
very material. Armourdale, with "a
! population of 10000 people, is deserted
and its site only marked 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 anger
| that the flames will spread TO the par
tally submerged buildings. adding
i greatly to the already heavy loss. The
fire started from the flowing of the food
| into a lime house
Two-thirds of Argentine is under
water. More than $500 people in this
suburb found safety in the higher part
| OF the town.
All bridges over the Kaw river are
down and the only communication with
Armourdalc is by boat.
Kansas City, tonight. is without a
water supply. the flood having disabled
the pumping station and the utmost
care is being taken that no fires shall
break out. Even Il small fire it is feared
would start contlagration. Only one
street car line in the city is running
tonight, owing to the disabling of the
power plants by the flood. The rail-
road yards are blockaded with trains
unable to get out
The stage of the river at o'clock
tonight. was so feet, inches. The nre-
Vious high record was made in 1881,
when the river rose to 26 feet, 3 inches.
Early tomorrow morning, according to
the prediction OF Supt. O'Connor Of the
weather bureau, the level will be 8
feet.
The Union passenger station. by the
rise of the flood, today, was rendered
practically useless. At one end the
water was three feet deep and at the
other four. In the baggage room bag
gage was fastened to tackle and sus-
pended in the air out of reach of the
water. Numerous rescues, some of
them made by the narrowest of mar
gins, occurred during the day.
Two thirds of Argentina. six miles |
from Kansas City, is inundated by 20
feet of water and probably 100000 |
of damage has been uone Forty-five
hundred of the $500 inhabitants are
homeless and nearly 5000 are destitute |
The Sante Fe railroad loss is very
heavy. but can scarcely be estimated
until the flood abates. The railroad |
has 100 miles of track in the Argen- |
tine yards and several miles OF freight |
cars stand submerged. Some cars have
broken loose from their trucks and |
fioated down the river. The current |
has left the old channel and has moved |
south. taking all the buildings in it's |
path. The Sante Fe track is under
water all the way to Holiday, eight |
miles from Argentine, up the Kansas
river valley.
Fifteen persons have been drowned |
in the west bottoms during the day. |
Because of the difficulty of recovering /,
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