davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30

or four sets Of piers gave away at once
and the superstructure sank with an
almost human groan. Immediately fol-
lowing the fail the wires along the
bridge begun to snap. Tightening with
the falling timbers one after another
gave way, each wire swapping and curl
ing back with the velocity Of broken
fiddle string. Only three persons were
on the Melan bridge when the car bridge
went down These ran for safety to
the earth approach fearing the sudden
assault of the wooden bridge might
damage it. But nothing of the sort hap
pened. In five minutes the timbers and
the drift were out of sight down the
river and the occasional swapping of
strained wire was all that betokened the
recent collapse of the bridge
A reporter of the State Journal who
witnessed the falling of the car bridge
spent his time side stepping from ny
ing wires which he supposed were
Tive" Word of the fall of the bridge
was telephoned fmmediat ely from North
Topeka TO the car barns and in a short
time whatever electricity had been
headed that way was shut off. NO one
was injured by the broken wires. The
odor of escaping gas hung over the
bridge all the morning although the
main which crossed the bridge had been
shut off during the night previous
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30

seemed impossible that the food should
be much higher, yet still it poured in
from the north and west, until every
street was flooded except Kansas ave
nue. from Gordon street to the bridge
Then the water began to pour across
Kansas avenue just south of the Union
Pacific depot, and by dark it was run
ming around the depot and was WITHIN
an inch or two of covering the floor OF
the depot.
Ambulances were rushing hither and
thither bringing in the sick from the
flooded districts. It was pitiful sight,
yet all were powerless to do more than
help the people escape from their homes
Wagons of every description were
pressed into service in rescuing people
and household goods, the latter from
the one-story houses. The horses plung-
ed through the water two and three teet
deep and it was almost impossible for
them to haul their loads in places. Men
waded through the street up to their
waists in water. leading or driving their
family COWS to a place Of safety
At the bridge everything was con-
fusion. Dreys were carrying sight
seeps across the water on the south side
to the north and the bridge was cover
was at length necessary for the police
to clear the avenue on the south side.
Yet through il all the people who
were driven from their homes remained
cheerful and laughed and Joked about
their calamities It was the real west
ern spirit They saw there was no help
for it and the only thing to be done was
to abandon their homes till the floods
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
BUILDINGS wEAKENED.
Feared That Several in North Topeka
Will Fall.

A number of the buildings on North
Kansas avenue have been SO weakened
by the flood that they may fall Early
this morning the occupants of the
Adams House, the venerable hosiery
which stands next to the Union Pacific
depot was abandoned by it's occupants
who declared it was IN danger of fall
ing Several cracks in the bricks sub
was avoided. A two story building three
doors south of the hotel showed a crack
in its front wall. three inches wide at
the top and extending several feet down.
When the Billiard mill at the corner Of
Curtis street was abandoned at s o clock
a crack had appeared between the main
building and an addition on the south
side. Both buildings are of brick and
stone
The water running through the cellars
of all the buildings on Kansas avenue
at a terrific rate Threatened to
wash out the foundations A stone cut
ting shop standing near the bridge, on
one OF the last points to be reached by
the water suffered considerably. A
heavy tomb stone dropped through
wooden floor tearing a great hole. The
building itself was peroeptibly weaken
ing and threatens to collapse. The frame
buildings promise to remain standing in
better shape than do those of mansonry.
It was impossible to visit many of the
buildings which would probably suffer
greatly from the water There is grave
reason to believe that the succeeding 48
hours viii show great loss Of property
from this source.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
DIR. PowELL's EXPERIENCES.
Says People Must Be Reached from
Un River.

DR.. L. M. Powell was out all night
rescuing people from North Iopekd
and he understands the force OF the
food over there. He says it will be i'm
possible to reach the people in the west
part of North Topeka by boats except
by coming down from above. because
of the force of the current.
THE best way to accomplish the res
cue of those people is to take the boats
on wagons up to Auburndale and hoat
across the river from there, striking the
west end of North Topeka. In this way
the boats can be foated from house to,
house and the people gathered up 1
am willing to attempt that if we can
get the boats up to Auburndale. The
people can be landed at the north end
of the Melan bridge and brought over
on the pOntoon bridge on this side.
My neighbor, G. d. Startznan, and I
first started in last night to rescue some
SICK women over on North Madison, ir
surrey, but long before we got there
the water came up over the surrey anu
We had to turn back. Mr. Startzman
then took my surrey and brought n
number Of loads of people, while I got
one OF the fire boys with a boat and ws
went after the sick folks. After we got
the sick out We got all the rest who
would come. but many people on Jack
son and Madison and Monroe streets re-
fused to leave their homes Quincy
street was pretty well deserted. The
last time we pulled west on Gordon
street the current was so swift that VS.
could hardly make any Roadway at all
AT 3 O'Clock this morning we got
around to Mayor BergunthaIs house.
He told US there were some sick people
a block further west who had been
calling for help for some time. We
tried to get up there, but could only go
half block against the current. We
called to the people and found there
We're no women in the house but only
two men, As we had given out we had
to go back We then got Mr. Bergund.
thai and came in.
Il have no idea how MANY peoplA
were rescued. but 7 think there must
have been thousand or more left over
there don't believe it possible to
reach those people very far west of the
avenue except by going above and
floating down.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
MANY FLOOD INCIDENTS.
Many Narrow Escapes from Drown-
ing Reported.


The water was six feet deep in the
North Topeka fire station at 10 O'Clock
this morning. The steam fire engine,
standing in the street. was submerged
until only the snokestack was visible
above the water The building was re-
ported to be settling and it was feared
that the walls would fall.
Two people attempted to drive through
the flood on Quincy to Crane street The
buggy was turned over. The occupants
escaped. The horse and buggy were
swept toward the river, but lodged
against a pole and the horse made his
way to the only spot near the Wolff
packing house where he could keep his
head out of water.
Thomas Gum escaped from his home
on Van Buren, street, in North Topeka,
near the railroad tracks, early this
morning and swan and waded to the
Kansas avenue bridge. He was strand
ed on the bridge until 10 o'clock when
the first relief boat reached the bridge
from the south side and took him, and
several other people, to a place of safety.
Gum was drenched. He escaped with
only a few clothes and was almost ex-
hausted from cold when he reached the
south side of the flood
An attempt was made to rescue Gus
Bollette and his family from their home
on Quincy street, in North Topeka, near
Garfield park A boat was sent to the
house, but the current was so strong
that the beat capsized and was swept
away by the swift current.
Officer Frank Summers, who was in
North Topeka early this morning. came
across by boat to the Kansas avenue
bridge at 10 o'clock and reported that
several families of Russians were in
freight cars standing on the tracks west
Of Kansas avenue Boats We're sent to
rescue them but they refused to leave
the cars. They were in great danger at
10 o'clock as the water was nearly up
to the floor of the cars
Two men were seen this morning on
thereof Of a house which was floating
near the Santa Fe machine shops. The
house was lodged among some telephone
poles and they were keeping it from be-
ing swept into the river. An attempt
was made to rescue them with a fiat
boat but the boat capsized.
One lone COW was stranded on the
Nelan bridge. high and dry. but unable
to get to land. The COW wandered about
the bridge all the morning.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
FLOOD AT BEATRICE.
The City Is Without Water or
Light.

Beatrice. Neb., May S0.-The Blue river
has been rising steadily for Sc hours. 1t
Is now 20 inches above the high water
mark Of last year. Water is running over
Court street Since 4 O'Clock yesterday the
river has risen at the rate of four inches
an hour. The south and west sides are
cur OF from the main part of the town
In some places scarcely more than the
roofs OF the houses are to be seen. Many
people moved out of their homes yester-
day and the day before. Some who did
not think the water would reach them
were compelled to move out during the
night, in some instances the escape being
made from second-story windows.
The electric light plant was shut off
yesterday afternoon and the waterworks
plant was stopped at o'clock this morn
ing. the water having flooded the fire
boxes. The Burlington and Union Pacific
yards are flooded. The engines were taken
out of the round-house last night. The
Burlington passenger station is flooded
and part OF the platform is washed away.
No trains are expected to be able to get
into town on any road today. All rail-
road bridges across the Blue river are
threatened and cannot stand much longer
under the strain. No loss Of life is re-
ported.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
ONE BIG LAKE.
North Half of Argentine Is Under
Water

Water.
Kansas City. Mo, May s0.-The food
situation along the banks of the Mis-
souri, river and Kaw river here and west
are far more serious than on yes
terday and the predictions OF the local
weather bureau, that the disastrous
flood of 1881 would be exceeded will
doubtless be realized. Since yesterday
the Missouri had risen nearly feet AMI
here registered Is feet, which is but 1
foot below that of 1881 Both streams
rising today and a still further rise OF
feet at this point is expected within
another "A hours, heavy rains having
fallen again last night.
The principal damage so far sustained
in this locality is on the KaW river at
Kansas City, kan, and at Armourdale
and suburbs. Hundreds Of persons are
driven from their homes
The north half of Argentine, occupied
mainly by railroad and packing house
employees, is one big lake, and there are
many without homes.
In the west bottom, both on the KaW
and the Missouri, the water during the
night had approached still further up
on the packing houses. into the base
ments of many wholesale houses. and
the stock yards. AT the stock yards a
number of pens were flooded and water
was beginning to run into the basement
of the live stock exchange
A sparsely settlement across the river
from Kansas City on the Missouri river,
fifty houses are surrounded by water
and their inmates have been taken from
them. Much suffering will result from
the floods. Many railway tracks in ths
outlying districts are under water and
trains on most roads are blocked here.
The property loss is heavy
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
NIGHT ON A ROOF.
George Mayer Driven Out and Res
cued This Morning.

At 9 o'clock this morning it seems
probable that there have been a number
Of people drowned in North Topeka
during the night. George c. Mayer.
proprietor of the Home bakery, 80
North Kansas avenue, spent the nig hi
on top of his bakery with five of his
bakers. He says the water came up sud
denly during the night, rising before
they could escape-that is, 1t became 50
swift and the current was SO full Of
logs and debris that it was impossible
to cross it. The water came up five
feet deep in the bakery, and drove the
men to the roof OF the building, where
they remained till 6 o'clock this morn
ing, when they were rescued.
Mr.. Mayer says that Policeman Carl
son and one Of his bakers, Ernest
Hohenbaum were out IN boat early
this morning rescuing the people they
could reach. They saw q woman and
two children drowning but could not
reach them on account of the current.
They also saw a man go down in the
current.
Mr. Mayer says the scene in North
Topeka during the night was something
terrible. People were screaming and
shouting for help all night, and shoot
ing off pistols to attract attention. The
rescuers worked as hard as they could,
but it was slow work during the dark
ness.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
LIE IN NoRTH ToPEKA.
J. Thomas Lime House Is Destroyed
This Morning.

The lime house at J. Thomas lumber
yard in North Topeka caught fire this
morning at 1870 O'Clock from lime which
had become wet and was Stacking.
There were 500 barrels of lime in the
lime house. and the heat generated by
the Stacking was sufficient to set the
building afire
It was reported this morning that the
planning mill, owned by the Central sash
and Door factory was also burned, but
the report proved to be incorrect
Jonathan Thomas, who owns lumber
yards at St. Marys, Rossville, Belvue,
Wamego and a large number of other
towns, said this morning:
Il don't know how many thousand
dollars 1 will lose by this flood The
water is running through the Belvue
yard about three feet deep. have been
una bic to get into communication with
most of the towns where 1 own yards
A report from St. Marys says that the
river raised 81 inches during the night,
and is still rising at the rate of inches
an hour"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
DRIVEN OUT.



several buildings. Near Hobart out
OF herd Of 81 cattle. belonging to
CHARLES smith, q dairyman, all but three
were drowned in the flood
CROPS ALL RUINED
Lexington, NO, May 30.-The Missouri
river here is within four feet of the
highest point reached in 1881. Thous-
ands Of acres Of land are covered with
water and people are being moved out
IN boats. The crops are all ruined and
the ferryboat is busy getting people out
OF the loWlands. The river is still rising
Kansas City, May 30.-Rain interfer-
ed with the Decoration day ceremonies
in the two Kansas Cities. Nevertheless
hundreds of G. A. r. and some Span
ish war veterans decorated graves Of
the soldier dead at the various Gene
teries. Later exercises were held and
speeches made by prominent local men.
Business generally was suspended
TAKE REFUGE IN COURT HOUSE.
Lincoln, Neb. May 30.-Salt Creek IS
overlooking the Lincoln lowlands. Be
tween the hours of $50 and 7s30 Satur-
day morning the creek rose 3 inches and
is now reported to be within six inches
of the high water mark of last year.
Thirty families have taken refuge with
friends and quarters for more are be-
ing provided in the county court house.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
CAR BRIDGE GOES OUT.
Pile Structure Washes Away Early
This Morning.

The street car bridge went out at Z
O'clock this morning The flood had IN
dermined it until it sagged into the water
IN three places. on the north end. in the
middle and on the south end Just about
o'clock the rails reaching from the
bridge into the ground on the south side
were pulled out of the ground like so
many strings, the bridge groaned and
creaked, and then about $50 feet went to
pieces. The rails seemed to sink, but
many of the timbers were torn loose. The
balance Of the bridge held together, but
sank into the water.
A solitary goose was the only living
thing on the bridge at the time Of the
collapse. Tt fiuttered about in the water.
and then scrambled Up on to piece of
the debris which was still fast, and con-
tinued to ride the food.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30

Kansas City. May sO.-CATTLE-Fe-
ceipts 1000; market steady. Native beef
steers, S3.35Q510; Texas and Indian steers,
325: native cows and heifers. s1-9o04.40:
steers and heifers, s4.00n4.5O. calves. 81 7VfD
600: western steers 81. 70d4.s0; western
cows. S20O03.60.
HOGS Receipts 1000; market steady to
S. gF5lf6 O2ls: packers. So 7505.S7lz; medium
s.. S0m5s0: light S5.62d5.75; workers., $500
5T715. pigs. $5.25a5.49.
SHEEP-Na sheep: market nominal.
Muttons s. 70615.75; lambs. S4.5osI Z 30: west
ern wethers, $3.e0a570; ewes, $5-2515.20,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
TRAoK VS. FLoAr1Na.
It Melted Away When It Hit Rail-
way Bridge.


One OF the most spectacular things
connected with the flood occurred at
4.30 yesterday afternoon. A large crew
OF men were working on the street car
bridge, when signs of excitement could
be seen on the south approach of the
Rock Island bridge People were run
ming back and forth and acting like
something big was coming. The watch
ers on the Melan bridge saw something
which made a long black line on the
water come under the Rock Island
down. Tt looked like long board, and
not at all dangerous, but when it struck
large willow tree in the city park the
tree disappeared. cut off as with an
axe Then it was discovered that the
floating object was about $50 feet Of
railroad. The laborers on the street car
bridge made a wild dash for the bank
and safety confident that the great
weight of the steel coming would snap
the car structure like pipe-stem.
Tt looked for few moments like it
would strike the second pier end on
which would have meant total destruc-
tion in an instant but just before
reaching it the long line of rails and
ties swung around and hit the first four
piers broadside. The jar was terrific
but the blow was so evenly distributed
over the four piers that the bridge held
fast The instant Of the crash crossties,
minus rails and spikes, boiled under the
bridge like cObs out of corn shelter.
Every spike had been drawn by the
force of the shock, and the sustaining
ties separated from the rails which will
be found. all bolted together in two long
lines. when the water goes down It
the bridge which was doomed to go
later.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
MAIL ON THIS SIDE.
North Topeka People Will Be Waited
on at Postofice.

It was given out by the postmaster
today that all of those people who are
residents OF North Topeka and who are
now living on this side of the river
may get their mail by calling at the
general delivery window at the post
office.
All carriers who usually work on the
North side viii be used on this side Of
the river during the flood On Sunday
the office viii be open from y until ?
O'Clock. two hours instead Of one, In
order that the people viii have plenty
of time in which to get their mail.
On week days the office will be open
all day as usual. This system Of dis
tributing the mail viii be continued
until the flood recedeS.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
low ZEE BRIDaE FELL.
An Eye Witness Describes Going Out
of the Street Car Structure.

The south end of the electric car
bridge is hanging in the water by a
rail. Probably a third Of the bridge
has gone down the river but it is diff
cult to tell accurately. The greater part
Of the structure is entirely submerged
while the part still remaining most
nearly intact is at the north end where
the current is less swift
The bridge went out with almost no
warning Three piers went out in the
night allowing the body to sag in the
middle, at the south end and near the
north end. The south end gave way
first. Al almost exactly O'clock three
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
DEsERgINa Zee HougEs.
How People in North Topeka We're
Rescnad


The scene in North Topeka as the
water was rising last night was al
most indescribable. Powerless. vet fear
full the people watched the flood rise
towards their homes inch by inch TIE
west and north parts We're covered
first. The water crept in on Gordon
and Railroad streets from the west and
Central and Kansas avenues from the
north towards the business section Al
o'clock Gordon street became connect
Cd with Kansas and Central avenues,
and a few minutes later boats were rid
ing from one to the other. so rapidly
did the flood come up.
People came steadily from the north,
some in boats some in wagons, some
wading through the flood. Most of them
carried some precious articles. Some
carried a bundle Of bedding on which
to sleep during the night ia some of the
public buildings on the south side
Those whose houses were still out OF
water watched the flood rise anxiously.
Some took I'D their carpets and moved
their furniture into sec0Ld stories. It
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
eoFF STAYS IN HOUSE.
Chief of Police Wouldn't Leave North
Topeka.

Dan Adams and others went in a boat
this morning at 10 o'clock to the home
of Chief of Police Gof at 712 West
Morse street, one block west of the
Rock Island elevator. They took awav
two of the Golf children in the boat
and put them temporarily on the coun-
ter in the Citizens bank building. Tn
this bank the water was hip deep. The
chief refused to leave his home and re-
NAMED there with bis Wifg during the
morning The current of the water
is so strong between the Union Pacific
park and the bridge that people in can
vas boats this morning hesitated to
make the attempt for fear of being
swamped.
On Kansas avenue. North Topeka the
water is three feet deep. All the store
rooms are flooded and loose articles of
every nature and description floating
about
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
TODAY'S MARKET REPORT.
70 markets today. aeeount Of hoIIaay


Chicago. May 3o.-CATTLE- Receipts 100;
market nominal. Good to prime steers,
s@S0Q5.25: poor to medium S3.00d3 Is:
stockers and feeders, $1-500460, cows. s.. 40
u4.75: heifers. $500 $50; Gamers, $2.25H2.50;
bulls. S2.OC06.00; calves. S400n4.50.
HOGS-Receipts today, l10oO; steady.
Mixed and butchers. S5.70Q6.C5; good TO
choice heavy. S6.1OH6.25 rough heavy. s.. Is
a6.05; light, s5.50a5.S5; bulk Of sales $500
SOS.
Good to choice wethers, 81. 50d509. fair to
choice mixed, $S5od425; western sheep,
81 25G5.OO
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30
MANY WILD RUMoRs.
Air Is Full of Stories Most of Them
Unf~ne

untrue
All sorts Of rumors are af1oat today One
IS tnat a rise of two and a half feet is
coming down the river. but it was inpos-
si6le TO corroborate it. as conanunica ton
with the towns far up the river could not
be secured.
This. report seems hardly probable. all
though 1t IS known that another heavy
ram was railing at Abilene late last night
A telephone message from St Msrvs
about 10 o'clock stated that the river was
not falling there.
A rumor became current that three men
were drowned near the Santa Re bridge
this morning. but it had not been corrob-
GRATED at noon. The report was that two
men We're out in a boat and were cap
sized, while a third man went to their
rescue and that all were drowned
Another report was that two women
on Crane street. fearing they would be
crowned shot themselves, but this report
also lacked confirmation at noon.
All sorts of reports are told but it is
probable that the greater number of them
have little foundation.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30

could reach him. Ward was warned to
leave, but he refused His hut was on a
high point of ground, and he thought he
would be safe. Some men in a boat de-
cided that they would take him from mis-
hut whether he wished to leave or not.
They started for the hut which was then
partially under water AS they neared
the place they heard Ward crying for
help but We're unable to reach the hut.
Ward was drowned IN bis hut.