Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-06-06
The First Authentic Information
Since Kansas City, Kas., Be-
came an Isolated Place.
TWENTY THOUSAND PEOPLE HOMELESS
The Loss Of Life Estimated at About Fifty
Hut May Be Much Grenter-Kansas
City. Mo-. In Peril From Fire by Reason
of Cutting or OF the Water and Power
Supply.

and electric lights eXtinguished, the
waterworks shut down and the city
practically at the mercy of the first
fire that breaks out; with railroad
transportation feeble and uncertain,
Kansas City may, if the waters do
not recede within the next two or
three days, be compelled to fight for
her very life.
The first authentic information
from Kansas City, Kas., was received
Monday night. In that district 10000
people are homeless. A number which
can not be estimated, have been
drowned, and the property loss has
been heavy. The situation there is
parallel to the situation here-ap-
parently no better-and no worse.
There is no great probability that
there will be further loss OF life, II
the river does not rise very suddenly.
All through the wholesale district,
and in the east and west bottoms,
there are people still in houses-many
of them anxious to be taken away
goodly number of them content to re-
main where they are, with all the
chances Of the flood. The police have
done wonders in rescuing people, and
nave probably brought two hundred
and fifty of them safe to the high
ground. One hundred and fifty of
these were brought to the viaduct at
Twelfth street, and the balance were
saved in the east and west bottoms
by boats.
People Clinging to Their Homes.
Twenty people were taken from the
Martin school and 30 from O'Brien's
lodging house in the east bottoms.
The balance of them were brought in
,singly and in small numbers. Mon
day night, in the east and west bot
toms a number of obstinate people
were still clinging to their homes,
and although the police ran boats be-
meath their windows and offered to
save them, they refused to leave.
1t is utterly impossible to form any
estimate of the number of dead in
Kansas City. There have been mani
fold stories of how boats laden with
people have been seen to sink-there
have been reports without end OF
bodies seen floating by on wreckage;
Of men who have tried to drive wag-
ons laden with their household effects
against certain death in the swift cur
rent and gone down in the flood. The
majority of these stories lack proof,
however, and even If true, the proof
may never be had.
There is no possible way getting at
the names of the dead and no chance
of forming any estimate that can con-
fidently be termed accurate. 1t is
likely, however, that the number OF
fatalities in Kansas City, Mo-, will
approximate fifty.
Waving White Cloths.
Down in the wholesale district peo-
pie at dusk Monday night were wav-
ing white cloths to attract attention.
The condition of some of these was
pitiable. They had been held prison
ers for two days, threatened with
death by drowning, at one time by
fire, and for the most part without
food, and for "a hours certainly with
out drinking water. Every effort is
being made to save them.
The financial damage is about as
great now as it is likely to become
unless the water rises much higher
than at present. The great danger Is
that foundations may be undermined,
and buildings, with their contents,
topple over into the flood.
There has been no suffering in the
city beyond that sustained by the
people driven from their homes. There
has been excellent work done by the
local relief committee and those in
control of this work are confident
that the city will be able to care for
its own without calling upon the bal
ance of the state. Every demand has
been promptly met thus far, and the
only danger seems to be in long-con-
tinued stage of high water. Then,
necessarily, the demand will exceed
the ability of Kansas City to supply.
CITY. in Absolute Darkness.
Monday night the city was in abb
solute darkness. There was not the
rlimmer of gas jet or the fare of an
electric light save in buildings which
have their own electric light plants.
Steam for these is supplied by water
hauled from the river. In all the
buildings in the city elevator service
has been discontinued. The newspa-
pcrs have been compelled to discon-
tinue the use of their typesetting
machines, and because Of lack of pow
or, are sticking type in the good old
way.
In the hotels, all Of which are