Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-06-05

Is the district in which all the whole.
sale commission houses were located
and immense amounts have been lost
by the commission men. All this is
on the south side of the river.
A reporter ventured out into the
stream in boat as far as the current
would allow and there 1t was ascertain.
ed that previous reports regarding the
burning buildings were somewhat
overdrawn. The whole northern part
of the city seemed to be aflame. Closer
investigation, however, showed the
fact that only about one third of the
buildings on the North Side were burn
ed. Fully half the remaining buildings
are so damaged by the water that they
are absolutely useless. There is not
house in the entire northern part of
the town that has not been seriously
damaged
Property Loss Enormous.
When the value of the stocks of
merchandise destroyed is considered
the loss in a financial way assumes
enormous proportions. The railway
companies have abandoned all efforts
to keep their tracks in shape. The
water washed away the sandbags as
fast as they sank them. 1t is simply
waste of funds to continue the work.
AS soon as the water goes down so
that the tracks can be reached hun
dreds of men will be placed at work
repairing the damage. For the con-
venience of the public and the flood
sufferers, the public buildings were
open all day. All the grocery stores,
meat markets and dry goods stores
also kept open to furnish supplies.
Provisions Scarce.
Wichita and other cities which can
be reached will be called on for pro.
visions. Already there is scarcity
Of meat and vegetables, and staple gro
ceries are getting low. Boats sent
from Emporia, Ottawa, Kansas City
and st. Joseph are all doing good SER
vice. They are hauled two miles above
town, filled with provisions and then
run across to the stricken section. The
supplies are distributed among the SUI
ferers on the buildings, and people
are picked out of the trees and given
shelter in some houses. When the
boats get down so far that they can
not be pulled up stream sufferers are
picked up and brought to this side of
the river mile or SO below town. Then
the boats are hauled to town and again
sent on similar trip.
Buildings In the submerged district
continue to collapse.
Notwithstanding their precarious
condition many of the sufferers held
religious services in the buildings
where they were confined.
Fifty or more of the food sufferers
are living in passenger coaches on
the Rock Island tracks. Water sur
rounds the cars, but there is no danger.
Reply to Offer Of Aid.
To all offers of aid from outside the
county the Commercial club is send
ing the following reply:
olludlluu 10 NSly Sia'C anu ~ 10 LII
possible at this time to estimate the
loss of life or property. We thank you
sincerely for your offer of assistance,
but we are not willing to accept aid
from the outside unless it seems an abb
solute necessity. The city and county
and our own citizens will provide for
the present needs.
JOHN E. FROST,
president Commercial Club"
Floating Bodies Seen.
At 5 O'Clock the firSt sight of floating
bodies was seen. Fourteen bodies were
seen passing by the North Topeka fire
station.
topeka, Kan, June 3.-The flood sit
uation in Topeka can be briefly sum-
married. thus:
Known dead, As; river falls three
feet and is now receding at the rate
of two inches an hour; distress will
be great among the refugees; Cover
nor Bailey issued a proclamation call
ing for help for flood sufferers of the
state; so deputy sheriifs, armed with
Winchesters, go to North Topeka to
protect property, with orders to shoot
looters whenever they are caught
stealing; Governor Bailey's proclama-
ton calling for outside aid was decided
upon at mass meeting today, when
the governor was requested to issue
the call. 1t was decided to make this
general appeal for the people all
along the flooded districts of the state,
as well as those in Topeka. This plan
is to make Topeka the headquarters
and to distribute them from here to
other parts of the state. There will
be made an appeal to the fraternal
organizations and other appeals
through various sources,