The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-06-04
BY FIRE And FLOOD
Death and Devastation in the Wake
of high Waters.
TALES OF TERRIBLE SUFFERING
Inhabitants Of North Topeka Gut OF
From All Chance of Rescue Much
Loss of Property.

ne Slly u lOptha SuHSiCu itioASAu
loss Of life and property last week by
, both fire and food. The story Is told
in the following dispatches Of Sun
LAY and Monday mornings:
Topeka, Kans., Special.-People who
did not leave North Topeka Saturday
night when they had a chance. are
now in the greatest danger OF losing
their lives. rs far as can be estimated
at this time, over 800 people are be-
yond reach of rescue. The Kansas river
is rising at the rate OF three inches an
hour. Thirty are known to be dead and
the list viii Ee larger. Hundreds are
missing. People are drowning and
others are burning to death. II any por-
ton Of North Topeka shall escape de-
~struction by the food. it seems as
though fire would finish the work. The
large lum Der yards OF Jonathan Thorn
rs caught fire this afternoon and the
whole block Of houses were burned.
Burning houses are floating through
the streets and setting fire to others.
II is reported that the Union Pacific
depot and hotel have been burned.
! There is no possible way Of quenching
the flames. The loss Of life will be APP
palling, and the property loss in the
millions. Nobody can tell just what has
been destroyed. The water extends
around Shorey and other suburbs.
Every foot of North Topeka, Inhabited
by 10 1000 people, is under water. The
current is so swift that no boat can
live in it. Seven thousand people have
escaped to the s%outhside and are being
cared for as we'll as possible. The re-
naming hundreds have not yet been
accounted fo.. They have been forced
to the top floors or the roofs OF build
ings, and are waiting for the water to
subside or carry them down stream.
They are safe only as long as the
building remains standing. Below
town scores OF men are in tree-tops,
yelling for help. Thousands OF revolver
shots and screams have been heard on
TIE north side, signals for aid. Women
and children in the western part OF
North Topeka a~e standing on the
highest points in reach and yet IN
water to their necks.
Burning houses are floating about.
setting fire to others. The lower sto-
| ries Of the burning buildings contain
10 feet Of water. The current IS so
strong that no boat can approach any
Of them. People are gathered OF the
tons of houses and will meet death
| either by fire or drowning. The cries
for help can be distinctly heard a mile
away. The whole city is wildly excited
because no aid can be extended to the
sufferers. The river at North Topeka
is five miles wide. No possible esti-
mate Of the financial loss is obtainable,
but it can be stated that it will reach
into the millions.
North Topeka was the m~anufactur-
ing district Of the city. Three large
flour mills. three wooden mills and
other manufacturing enterprises are
entirely destroyed. The water supply
of the whole city has been cut on. The
water from the river extends nearly
a mile on the south side. The Rock
Island depot has been abandoned, and
more than five hundred people on this
| side of the river are also homeless,
but no loss of life has resulted In
| South Topeka. The Kansas avenue
bridge is the only one across the river
for miles and the approaches to that
bridge are flooded by thirty feet OF
water. A pontoon bridge IS being
erected, in an effort to reach b sur
ferers.
Seven thousand or more people are
on this side Of the river sheltered in
the public buildings. Topeka Is now
able to take care Of oil the unfortu-
mates. The work of caring for the refu-
gees is being pushed with the utmost
rapidity. From the State house as
many as 80 fires can be counted in diff
ferent parts of North Topeka. The en-
tire central portion Of the city IA
been burned out at 10 o'clock and it
is safe to say that by morning not
q house in that part Of Topeka will
be left standing. When it is stated that
North Topeka has 10000 inhabitants,
the extent Of the disaster can be re.
allied. People are sticking to the roofs
of houses and to trees, and many are
giving up in despair and dropping into
the waters below to be carried away
by the swift current.
The dispatches Of Monday morning
give a fuller account Of the loss. These
follow:
Topeka, SpeciaL-At 1 O'Clock the
number Of drowned people was known
to be at least $50 and a large number
were yet missing. Several were re.
ported burned to death, but this could
not be substantiated. From all over
eastern Kansas boats are being rushed
here for the rescue Of the sufferers.
Shortly after daylight nine boats ar
rived from Ottawa on a special train
and they were put into active rescue
service at once. Soon after reports OF
drowning began to come in. A boat
containing eight men was swept away
in the swift current about Z O'CLOCK
and as far as known all were drown
ed. Other small boats were not able
to live in the whirling current. North
Topeka is a scene Of utmost desola-
ton. Not a square foot Of land can be