The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-02

Topeka. Kans., May 30.-People who
did not leave North Topeka 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 the
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 will be larger. Hundreds are
missing. PeOrle are drowning and 9TH
ers are burning - death. If any por-
ton of North ToDeka shall escape de-
struction by the flood it seems tonight
as though fire would finish the work
The large lumber yards of Jonathan &
Thomas caught fire and two whole
blocks of houses were burned. Burning
houses are floating through the streets
and setting fire to others
1t is reported that the Union Pacific
depot and a hetel have burned. There
is no possible way of quenching the
flames. The loss of life will be appall-
inE, the property loss in the millions.
Nobody can tell just what has been de-
stroyed. The water extends around
Shorey and other suburbs
Every foot of North Topeka, inhabit-
ed bv ten thousand people, is under wa
ter. The current is so swift that no
boat can live in It. Seven thousand
people have escaped to the south side
and are being cared for as we'll as pos
sible. The remaining hundreds have
not yet been accounted for. They have
been forced to the top floor, or the
roofs. of buildings and are waiting for
the water to subside or carry them
down stream.
Below the town scores of men are in
tree tops, yelling for help. Thousands
of revolver shots and screams have
been heard on the northside, signals
for aid. Women and children in the
west part Of North Topeka are stand
Ing on the highest points IN reach and
yet in water up to their neckS
In the B. street colored Baptist
church on the north side more than 100
victims Of the flood are gathered The
water flooded the building and the peo-
pie are standing on pews to keep their
heads above water. The work Of res
cuing and caring for the flood survivors
Is being carried forward Systematlcal-
ly Contributions are being rushed to
the committee on relief Citizens are
opening their homes to survivors and
every indication is that the city will
be we'll able to care for those who have
left their homes. Every public build
ing IN the city is sheltering scores OF
homeless people.
The Rock Island has received a re-
port that the river is falling at Man
haitian. Ofsetting this comes a report
that q water spout has started foot
rise down the Blue river.
The flood conditions are getting worse
at Lawrence. More than 500 people
! in the north part of town are home
| less. The large flour mill belonging to
Congressman J. D. Bowersock, was de-
strOved with a loss Of s15O,0OO. Several
miles of railroad track are washed
| out.
Communication with Salina was es-
| tablished for a short time today by
| way of Denver. \ dispatch from there
says the food conditions have improv-
| ed. A big rise in the Smokey Hill
| river last night caused rno~-- more to
| leave their homes. and hundreds are
| now encamped on the hills east of
town. Most of the business houses are
closed.
Hill City has been on an island since
Tuesday. No trains have been running
| there this weeF The town Is small
and the stock of provisions is getting
| very low. People are suffering greatly
Tho outlook in Council Grove is ap-
| palling. On a smaller scale the situa-
tion there is much the same as that of
| North Topeka. Nine or more people
have been burned to death in a fire
started by Stacking lime. Reports re-
| Ceived today say there are small pros
poets of the water falling within the
| next twenty-four hours.
| Chief of Police Gofr and Thomas
| Page. a prominent miller. with their
| families are among the many who can
not escape from the flood. The current
is rapidly getting stronger and is
| sweeping across the city from the
| north. People are dropping from tops
| OF houses and there having become ex-
| hausted by their eighteen hours i'm
prisonment and are being swept away
Several are known to have been burn
| ed to death.
| 1t is reported by men who have been
| IN sight of the district that hundreds
| there are suffering and sick. The cur
| rent is SO strong that cars are useless
1 and early in the afternoon a gang was
organized to row as far as possible
| and swim the rest of the distance Sew
era! houses were overturned and wo-
| men have been seen struggling in the
| water. The river reached the Rock Is
land depot on First street today. The
! water on Crane street is eight feet deep
and the current is like a mill race. Per-
haps a hundred people have been
| thrown into the water at that point
The river is Is feet above low water
| mark and is still rising. The weather
is cold and the people who have not
Continued on Fifth Paxeo