The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-06-02

L
the approaches to that bridge are
flooded by thirty feet of water. A
pontoon bridge is being erected in
an effort to reach the sufferers.
Seven thousand or more people
are on this side of the river sheltered
Ia The public buildings. Topeka is
now able to take care Of all the un
fortunates. The work of caring for
the refugees is being pushed with
tho utmost rapidity.
AS MANY AS EIGHTY FIRES
can be counted in North Topeka
The entire central portion Of the city
had been burned out at 10 O'Clock
tonight and it is safe to say that by
morning not house in the main
part of North Topeka will be left
standing. When 1t is stated that
North Topeka has 10000 inhabi-
tants the extent of the disaster can
be realized. People are sticking to
the roofs of houses and to trees, and
many are giving up in despair and
dropping into the water below, to be
carried away by the swift current
1t is death by fire or drowning to
four hundred persons unless some
means can be found for their rescue
Great efforts arc being made to con-
struct steam launch to 90 to the
aid Of the sufferers, and whatever is
done must be done promptly, or the
loss Of life will be appalling.
MANY THRILLING ESCAPES
are told. A company of militia has
taken charge of the work of rescue,
and owing to their efforts several
hundred people have been saved who
otherwise would have perisned. The
situation of the beleaguered people
tonight is desperate in the extreme.
Not only are they threatened by fire
and water, but, through long expos
ure in the cold, dismal atmosphere,
without sufficient clothing, they
would have died in any event. Deli
cate women and children have been
without food or shelter since early
last evening.
At3 O'Clock current began to
flow
WITH GREAT swIFTNEss
through break in the buildings lin
ing the block between Crane and lst
streets. This widening of the our
rent made it still harder to pull the
boats across to the pontoon by means
Of the line.
In the Auditorium tonight
1000 HOMELESS PEOPLE
ara quartered. The society women
OF the city arc there attending to the
refugees needs. Great wagon loads
OF clothing and provisions have been
sent, and the immediate needs Of the
unfortunates have been provided for.
In this large number of refugees are
Russiane, tItPliialps, and many of the
poorer +, c!aSsses 5lSss 2. Of the city's popula
ton, A nupbeEaathese are afflicted
with contagiousa diseases, but It is
impossible 70 enforce any, quarantine
regulations. The physicians of the
cIty Ray that an epidemic of sickness
OF all kinds may he looked for
Quarantine regulations are lost sigh,
If by the rescuers.
FLOODS THROUGHOUT KANSAS.
Kansas City, Mo-. May 30-Un
precedented floods arc raging in Cen
trial and Eastern Kuusns, Northwest
cru Missouri Eastern. Nebraska anc
Southwestern Iowa, the result Of ter
days of almost continuous rainfall
| The general situation ia considered
most grave, with no immediate re-
lief in sight. Many lives have beer
lost and it is estimat that no lesf
than $4,000 persons have been driver
from their homes, many of whicl
were washed away, and that tn
property loss will run up into tn
millions of dollars.
The greatest damage has been oc
casioned between Kansas City ant
Ellsworth, Kansas, one hundred mile
west. The chief sufferer is Nortl
Topeka, which has been separate,
| from tho main mart of tha city IN,