The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-02
AS OTHERS SEE US
Wildly Exaggerated Reports
About the Flood
Sent Broadcast Over the Land
by Correspondents
IN BIG RED LETTERS.
The Rocky Mountain News Re-
cites the Horrors
Present and Impending in the
Kansas Capital.

have been sent broadcast over the I
country and have appeared in all the T
leading journals of the United States
AS an example the following is taken
from the Rocky Mountain News pub
lished at Denver. It was printed with I
headlines in red ink extending entirely
across the front page. Under date of /
May 81 appears this:
SCORES DEAD AND HUNDREDS
MISSING.
People who did not leave North To-
peka last night when they had a
chance are now in the greatest danger |
of losing their lives AS far as can be |
estimated at this time. over 500 people /
are beyond reach of rescuers. The Kan |
sas river is rising at the rate of three
inches an hour One hundred and !
fifty are dead and the list will be much
larger. Hundreds are missing Peo-
pie are drowning and others are burn
ing to death
ISLAND OF FIRE IN A PRAIRIE
MAEESTROM.
If any portion of North Topeka es-
capes destruction by the flood it seems
as though fire would finish the work.
The large lumber ards of Jonathan
Thomas caught fire yesterday, and
whole blocks of houses are burned.
Burning houses are floating through
the streets and setting fire to others. It
is reported that the Union Pacific depot
and hotel have been burned There is
no possible way of quenehing the
flames. The property loss will be three
million dollars or more.
Topeka. May sO.-Four hundred
houses burned and whole Of North To-
peka will go. AS near as can be learn
ed about $50 persons are dead. Most
of these were burned to death. Burn
/ ing houses are floating about, setting
fire to others. The lower stories Of
/ the burning buildings contain feet OF
water. The current is SO strong that
no boat can approach any of the burn
! ing buildings. People are gathered on
the tops of houses and will meet death
either by fire or drowning The cries
! for help can be distinctly heard mile
away The whole city is wildly ex-
cited because of the fact that no aid
can be extended to the sufferers. Inc
river at North Topeka is five miles
wide. No possible estimate of the hnan-
cial loss is obtainable. but it can be
stated that it will reach into the mil
lions North Topeka was the manu-
4 featuring district of the city Ihree
large -four mills, three wooden mills and
| cher oanufacturing enterprises are
| entirely destroyed. The water supply
of the whole city has been cut OIL the
water from the river extends nearly
mile on the south side. The Rock Is
land depot has had to be abandoneq,
and more than 500 people on this side
of the river. are also homeless, but no
loss of life has resulted IN Soutn 10
peka The Kansas avenue brldge IS the
only one across the river for miles, ana
the approaches to that bridge are
flooded by thirty feet of water. pom
toon bridge is being erected in an effort
to reach the sufferers
Topeka. May so.-Seven thousand or
more people are on this side of the r1vef
| sheltered in public buildings and IN the
homes of citizens Topeka is now able
to take care of all the unfortunates lhe
work of caring for the refugees Is osiiis
pushed with the utmost rapidlty.
Standing on the state house DOME as
MANY as so fires can be counted IN dli-
ferent parts of North topeka. Inc
whole central portion of the city hao
been burned out at 10 O'Clock tonight
and il is safe to say that py noIAlil5
not house in the main part OF Nofln
Topeka will be left standing. W men sdo d ~
is stated that North Topeka mas 1oVo9
inhabitants the extent Oh TIE ai910ee
can be realized.
People are clinging to the roofs OF
houses and the limbs of trees, and many
are giving up in despair ana cropping
into the waters below to be carrleo
away by the swift current 1t IS death
bv fire or drowning to 400 people uhiess
means can be found for the rescue
Great efforts are being made TO con-
struct a steam launch TO &c 70 sile 80 a.,
of the sufferers. but whatever Is uons
must be done promptly OF the loss o.
life will be appalling
p Baldwin who at great FISK OF
his life crossed in boat TO the ANol1ii
side returned at 10 o'clock tonight, anu
reDorts that nothing possibly can De
done to save the city from bufnihs.
Miss lola Troutman, sister OF eX-1-lesl Lieu,
Governor Troutman, was reScusu ~
her aged father late tonight Inc ~
Deople had spent the entire day on th1
roof of their house and were JUST aools
to drop into the water when aid came.
Chief of Police Don. Thomas rags
ana M c. Holman. all of proml9ehl
CO.. fa,,,iliee Of the North side, are among
the victims. Mayor Bergundthal was
,.eec,,ed nv DR. L. NJ Powell in boat
after remaining on a boat all night
Congressman Charles l. Gurus, VIZ W.
his family left the flooded district !hls
, ,aorning but his aged mother refused 70
~ saving she had seen much worse
9oods than this. This evening two men,
III the risk of their own lives, succseuSa
II setting the old lady away safety;
r. 0f,.s r SNYDER. with her four chil-
5,an All stricken with measles, We're
rescued Many thrilling escapes are
told of. A company OF halhtld mas - =
nv-inp tn their efforts several hundf91
neoDie have been saved who otherWis1
would have aerished-
THE situation of the beleagured peo-
nle tonight is desperate in the extreme
Not only are they threatened by ire
and water, but through long exposure
in the cold, dismal atmosphere, Wltueue
suficient clothing they would have dle1
IN anv event Delicate women ana
~bfIdren have been without food or
shelter since early last evening
Several of the persons rescued told
Of witnessing the drowning Of persons
ds,ring the day. The names Of the
S5ToTrneds cannot be given tonight, as L
IS impossible to ascertain the correct
: number of the victims VIII Wright.
2 who manned one of the boats, told Of
tbe death Of a mother and child which
Z he witnessed and which SO affected him
. that he could not continue his work
His story Is as follows:
Il was just returning with q woman
d and two children from house neal
: North and Harrison streets. As I Was
comfng back. in q house on Van Burer