Oakes Republican. (Oakes, N.D.) 1898-1906, 1903-06-05
FLOOD SPREADS ever THREE
SQUARE MILES Of CITY
AND SUBURBS.
loss 10 lIff AND PROPERTY
CASUALTIES MAY REACH FlFTY-
DAMAGE WILL RIM INTO
MILLIONS.

Kansas City, June 2. With the
waters of the Kaw and Missouri riv-
ers nearly four feet above the disas-
trous level of 1881 and their swollen
tide spread over three square miles of
the city and its suburbs, Kansas City
is in the worst flood of its history. In
the valley Of the Kaw, or Kansas river.
between this city and Kansas City,
Kan, report says q number of lives
have been lost. One report says four
teen and another fifty, ba: in the midst
Of decentralization Of traffic and ordi-
nary means of communication. it. is
impossible to verify these reports.
Twelve bodies were counted as
they foated past during the day. In
nearly every instance they were ly-
ing across pieces of wreckage. The
financial loss has been increasing all
day and bids fair to continue. 1t will
run into the millions.
Loss Will Reach Millions.
The heaviest loss is at Armourdale,
where the losses to the packing indus
try and others is placed conservatives
ly at $2,5OO,000. Argentine, another
suburb, has suffered losses estimated
at $5OO,OOO. Other losses which can
not now be estimated, will increase
the total very materially.
4 # Armourdale, with population of
ZIG, 900 people is deserted, and its site
marked only by the tops of buildings
and number Of fires. Seven fires.
believed to be chiefly box cars burn
ing, could be seen from the bluffs last
night. There is some danger that the
flames will spread to the partially
submerged buildings, adding greatly
to the already heavy loss. The fire
started by the intrusion Of the water
into lime house. All bridges over
the Kaw river are down and the only
communication with Armourdale is by
boat.
Trains Are All Tied Up.
Kansas City is without water
supply, the food having disabled the
pumping station, and the utmost care
is being taken that no fires break out
Even small fire it is feared would
start confiagration. Only one street
car line in the city is running. Tie
city is blockaded with trains unable to
get out. Not a train has gone out ex.
cept to the east, and it Is said there is
little prospect of an Improvement in
the situation for several days.
Hundreds of rescues, some of them
made by the narrowest of margins, oc-
Cured.
Two-thirds of Argentine, railway
and manufacturing town on the south
bank Of the Kansas river. six miles
from here is inundated by 10 to 20
feet of water and probably 100000
damage has been done.
Homeless and Destitute.
Probably 5000 of the $500 inhab-
itants are homeless and 5000 are des-
titute. Three bridges have been swept
away, all the railway tracks and fac
tories are under water and business is
suspended.
The current of the river has left the
old channel and has moved south, TAX
ing all the buildings in its path. The
Santa Fe track is under water all the
way to Holiday, eight miles from Ar
gentine up the Kansas river valley.
The Turner bridge, three miles above
Argentine, went out at 10:S0 o:;ock
yesterday morning. It's wrecXage
lodged against the county bridge at
Argentine, which succumbed at noon.
The Belt Line steel railroad bridge,
just below the county bridge, fe!; i'm
mediately afterward. Then in sue
cession the Twenty-fourth street
bridge and the county bridge at Fifth
street
Were Carried Away.
The railroad bridge was valued at
$4,000 and the other four at $25, 200
each, making the bridge loss SITS, 900.
Five hundred frame dwellings are un-
der water, and with further rise
many will be swept away.
The river is full of wreckage and
crowds Of people lined the banks yes
terday. watching the procession Of