The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-05

Ploughing its way through the north
ern suburbs of North Topeka Is what
threatens to become a permanent chan
mel of the Kansas river. The investi-
cations Of the engineers who are replac-
ing the track from the north show THAI
this channel has already worn to
depth of twenty-five or thirty feet be-
tween the Davis elevator and Shorey.
This current is now a quarter of a mile
wide.
Flowing steadily and deeply on Car
field street past the Small and James
Stewart places and on east through the
low ground south of Garfield park is the
north current. Boatmen who have OBJ
served closely during the past two days
say this current continues to the main
river channel through a course south Of
the bed of Soldier creek. They deny that
fl follows Soldier creek. The point Of
junction Of Soldier creek and the present
flood is close to the corner of North Har-
rison and Garfield streets. Soldier creek
is itself obliterated from that point to
the rise of land known as Holmans ad-
diuon. East Of that the rise of land in
Garfield park is now an island. The
water which cannot find its way out in
this channel is still sweeping down
across North Topeka, making nearly
every street in the northern part Of
town a mill race.
AS yet no estimate can be made of
the depth or permanency Of this new
channel. which has in reality formed in
an old bed of the river 1t may finally
present in itself a problem to be over
come only by skilled engineering and
expense.
a DEATH LIS. CROWS
p Edwards, q negro gardener who
lived a little distance north Of the Cen
tral avenue Soldier creek bridge. was
drowned. His body was discovered
Thursday afternoon north of his home.
He was evidently caught while at
tempting to escape to the north. The
body was buried in Rochester cemetery
after complete identification.
In Shorey and Rochester is reported
the loss of Mrs. Nancie Shonkwiler. her
son. George ShOnkwiler; Mrs. Stout,
formerly Jessie MARBLE, and her four
children All were in one house. The
Shonkwiler house stood on the edge of
the rising ground on North Topeka ave
nue., north of St. Johns.
During the flood of Friday night last
the house was seen to collapse, its foun-
dations having been washed out, and
llo report OF lLS occupants mas since
been received. The authenticity of their
loss IS said to have been confirmed by
Charles ShOnkwiler who lived near by.
From the north side of the food the
investigation of the losses is carried on
under difficulties on account of the con-
tiuued depth and swiftness of the water.
No other drownings have been reported
on the Shorey side
An area two blocks square, east of
Tyler street and north of Garfield street
is swept ALMOST clean Of houses. Six
houses at least are gone in this small
area. on Topeka avenue besides the
Shonkwiler house, the Forrest kutz
home and the Charles Armstrong house
are swept away-lOdged blocks to the
east on Harrison street the Harris
place the W. +. Bacon place and a
louise on the opposite side of the street
are gone. Frank Berry's barn and the
Ramey barn have both been carried
out of sight to the east
To the west of this locality five
houses that stood on Tyler street north
of St. Johns are missing. They were
John Roof. c. K. Shultz. Bert Shingle
Perry Massey and the Fisher homes
Farther south the J. p. Miller house is
said to have disappeared.
A situation of no little difficulty pre-
vents itself to Division Superintendent
cHfer of the Rock Island who is re.
pairing the road into North ToDeka
Remarkable results have been accom-
plished in getting the rails straight