Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-06-05

dale and looted many homes. The
police prevented many robberies,
but they were handicapped in their
efforts by the darkness and the wide
territory they had to guard.
Argentine is isolated and hundreds
of people are homeless. Telephone
connection with the town is cut off
and no street cars running. There
has been no loss of life in Argentine
as yet.
Harlem, across the river in Clay
county, is submerged. Every house
flooded. Women and children were
removed to place of safety early in
the day in boats. They abandoned
their furniture and valuables to the
waters.
Last night the water began creep
ing through the West bottoms and
many merchants along James street
removed their stocks of goods to
higher ground.
Train service out of Kansas City
is badly crippled. Every road run
ing west is affected. Culverts are
out, bridges have sunk INTO the rag
ing streams, tracks are submerged.
The Rock Island and the Union
Pacific are completely laid out.
Concordia, Kas.-No improve
ment; still rainy; no mails since Thurs
day; worst flood Republican valley
ever experienced.
Lincoln Center, Kas.-Saline river
highest ever known; many families
homeless; one man known to be
drowned; no trains running.
Oklahoma City, O.. T.-South
Canadian receding; repair work be-
gun and trains will be running Mon
day, if then-is no more rain: =
Salina, Kas.-Smoky receding
slowly, but communication with out
side limited to one wire to Denver.
Florence, Kas.-Eight thousand
feet of track out on Marion branch,
between Florence and Canton; mill
company lost grain and machinery.
Osborne, Kas.-No Eastern mail
since Tuesday.
Atchison, Kas.-White Clay creek
floods many Easements and tears out
bridges; Central Branch railroad tied
up.
Abilene, Kas.-Additiona rise of
Smoky Hill expected. four brick
buildings wrecked; one man drowned.
Lawrence, Kas.-Bowersock's mill.
building, machinery, stock and
records went out at $50 yesterday
morning, entaling loss of $4,000.
Topeka Herald, June 1st)
The Kaw river began falling early
yesterday and during the day it went
down foot. This morning, how
ever, it is about stationary. There
is report which cannot be verified
that heavy rains have started fresh
flood in the Blue Definite news
from Manhatten yesterday was to the
effect that the river was falling slowly.
The lowest estimate of the number
of people drowned by the Kaw river
food in and around Topeka is fifty.
The highest is 200.
1t is impossible to obtain COM
plete list of the dead. The rescuers
tell of drownings seen from the boats.
Refugees tell of people who tumbled
into the water and were drowned and
bodies have been seen floating in the
river; but the unfortunates generally
were not recognized.
1t is probable that children make
up large majority of the food vic
tins. Being less able than adults to
resist the cold last night, many
dropped into the torrent and perished.
A merciful rain fell Saturday night
quenching the fire which ragged in the
stricken district in the afternoon and
early evening. People on roofs and
in trees were drenched to the skin
and they suffered intensely from cold
but they were saved from the flames.
Only death by drowning confronted
them.
Refugees in the outskirts of town
fare badly. They could not be
reached by the rescuers. Their cries
for help were heard all night. Early
Sunday morning boats were sent to
the outskirts. Men, women and
children were found numb with cold,
some speechless, many unconcious.
They were on roofs, in garrets and in
trees. During the day 205 were
rescued and taken to places of safety.
THE KNOWN DEAD.
Jordan, Henry, colored.
Ward, old soldier.