The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-31
CONDITIONS LAST MIDNIGHT.
There Appeared to BE No Hope for the
Flooded Town.


Flooded Town.
Topeka, Kan, May 31.-Fire and flood
have caused a great disaster in North To-
peka 1t is believed fully 200 lives have
been lost. Many persons are missing. and
there is no telling what daylight will re-
veal. The Kansas river is sweeping
through the streets of the city, and the
place il afiame. Fire started yesterday
and spread with great rapidity. Frame
flood carried the fire about if they were
great torches. SO far at least 400 houses
have been burned. and it is believed the
whole city will be destroyed. Many of the
occupants of the houses. unable to escape
owing to the swift water. perished in
their burning homes. The property losses
already aggregate at least 100000.
Reporters who came in last midnight
from the river say that the water now Is
stationary. An unconfrmed report from
wamego and Manhattan. west of Topeka.
say that another rise is coming down the
Republican and Blue rivers. If this Is true
the situation here will be greatly intensi-
fed. Fire Chief wilmarth says that the
fire on the east side Of Kansas avenue, in
North Topeka. is rapidly taking the re-
maining buildings. The fire is going toward
the wind. and this will serve to check its
progress, but there is so much burning
wreckage floating about that the destruc-
ton Of the remaining houses is regarded as
certain. People on the roofs of houses are
heard calling frantcally for help. 1t is
said that two boats loaded with people were
swamped and that dozen or more person,
were drowned.
ANOTHER SUBURB UNDER WATER.
shorey, another suburb of Topeka locat-
ed northwest of the city, near the Reform
School. is now inundated. The Jackson
schoolhouse shelters 100 people. They
entered the building before the water
became so high and now they can
not escape. The building is on slightly
raised ground. and IL no further rise takes
place the prisoners may be rescued. They
are now standing on benches. the water
covering the floor several feet deep. The
Harris elevator also shelters fifty people
The water is now so high that it is. rap
idly spreading out over the country north
of Topeka. Last midnight earlier esti-
mates OF the number of dead were con-
firmed by refugees coming to the city In
the darkness and rushing water no bodies
can be recovered. and the dead will not be
counted until the food abates. All ener-
gies are concentrated on rescue and relief,
and II is impossible at this time to even
attempt to make UP list of the missing
The scenes yesterday were appalling
Eyewitnesses say they saw many persons
burning to death or drowning. Hundreds
were unable to escape the flood. Some
dropped from tops of houses and trees
having become exhausted by their eighteen
hours Imprisonment. and are being swept
away.
II any portion of North Topeka escapes
destruction by the food 1t seems as IL fire
would finish the work The large lum-
ber yard Of Jonathan Thomas caught fire
yesterday afternoon and whole blocks of
houses were burned. Burning houses are
floating through the streets and setting
Union Pacific depot and hotel has been
| burned There is no possible way of
quenching the flames.
Every foot OF North Topeka. inhabited