Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-06-01

! = DNo 1AOAANS 10 ~" Ri"NNN u 1S'Nh' \
. S.-..~..--@-..-..-.-.
the Melan bridge, the only way of reach
! ing North Topeka. has gone out and an
effort will be made to stretch a wire cable
across the gap.
All of the pontoon bridges on the north
side were washed out early this morning
and the only possible chance of reaching
the survivors then was by boats.
Shortly after daylight nine boats arrived
from ottawa on a special train and they
were put into active service at once. Soon
after reports .of drowning began to come
in. A boat containing eight men was swept
away in the swift current about o'clock
and as far as known all were drowned. A
boat containing two men was capsized
| The boats were too frall to live in the
| swirllng waters.
More boats arrived from Emporia at 10
o'clock and hurry messages had been sent
! to other towns for more. The river
mained stationary after having fallen seven
inches. Heavy rains were reported from
up the stream, however, and It was feared
that another rise would set In. Eighty
| seven people are high and dry in the Page
elevator II the building holds together
they will be rescued. In the b street col
ored Baptist church nearly 100 people have
Decn StanOlnB since yesterday. Many Of
them have doubtless fallen from exhaustion
before this and drowned. The building
stands intact, however, and those who are
left alive may be rescued.
Small Boats Useless.
AS seen from a. high place on North Tyler
street. near the Rock Island bridge, the
stream appeared to be widening. The
bridge had not gone out, as was reported
last night. but It was getting very shaky
The current was running with an incred-
ible ewfftress. Small boats have no chance
at all and many or them have already
swaniped. Even IL they could successfully
traverse the whirling. eddying stream for
a mile. they would be almost sure to be
overturned by striking against houses and
other wreckage.
North Topeka Is a scene of utmost desc
lation Not a square foot of land can be
secn in any direction. There is but a
small chance of any of the residences be.
ing left standing at the end Of the food
period. Sherry, Oakland and the region
about the Reform school north Of NORTH
Topeka, are all under water, but the sit.
uation is favorable in these places com.
pared with North Topeka.
The plan of trying to cross the river near
| what remains OF the Kansas avenue bridge
has been abandoned. Boats will be talxer
in wagons to a point near Auburndale n
suburb two and a half miles southwest
! They viii then be launched and allowed tc
float with the current to points where peo.
pie are TO be rescued. This plan, of course
will involve much danger TO the rescuers
but this is lost sight of in the desire tc
help the unfortunate ones. 1t is impossible
I to force boats through the currents
r Rains Put Out Fires.
Nearly all the fires have been put out BY
, the heavy rain which has been fallInl
: nearly all night. The sky was overcast ant
. the rain bid fair to continue all day. Il
was soon recognised that rowboats woult
, be Of no use in battling with the currents
: Steam launches must be secured at one,
and to this end rush messages were sen
] to the superintendent and agent of tn,
! Rock Island at st. Joseph and to Mayo
Bergunthal and to the secretary of III,
Commercial club as follows:
Topeka wants three TO six steam Launches
or twelve or eighteen clinker-built row
boats, with men TO handle, sent here bN
= special train at once. to rescue people ii
: North Topeka.
< The agent was ordered to load the traiI
: at once, secure a clear track and procee,
a TO Topeka. The train was to feel its wa,
Q as far as possible on the submerged track
i and the boats would be launched Topeka
n citizens guaranteed all the expenses under
J. taken. 1t was expected that the launche
u could reach here about 4 o'clock, in whicl
9 event many of the people on the north sid
could yet be saved. Boats were receIve
70 here on a number OF special trains run b.
: the Missouri Pacific and the Santa Fe owe
circuitous routes, but the current I'm IN
IS river seemed to be growing more powerfu
q every minute and they were powerless [
'e cope with 1t. Meanwhile the beleaguere
e ones were being encouraged as far a
IT possible TO hold on a little longer in TN
W hope that rescue would soon be effected.
20 No Food since Friday.
The eighty-fve people in the Page els
vator in North Topeka were In desper Al
"a straits for food, having had nothing to ed
u since last Friday. At 10 o'clock two boa
!, loads Of provisions were started TO then
~ They had not yet reached the elevator aftt
IA engaging in a hard battle with the water
for over an hour.
=, Former Policeman z. N. Capron Just r.
AZ turned from a fruitless attempt to rescu
=, some personal friends. He could make 4
a. headway against the current. though !
and his companions put forth the MOI
AZ strenuous efforts with their three-oare
ar boat. Mr.. Capron said the desolate cond
Al tion OF the country on the north side
m worse than anything he ever heard Of tt
al loss OF life from drowning alone he sal
ee will hardly be covered by l5O. without col
es sidering the missing
a Chief NJ police Con and his family q