The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-06-11
Financial Loss In Stricken Districts
Will Run Into Millions.
MANY THOUSANDS HOMELESS


caused by Stacking lime, at least 40 per-
sons drowned, and over 5000 homeless.
All bridges to flooded sections are
washed away. The water is now re-
ceding and It Is believed that the worst
Is over. Roscuers worked for several
days knee-deep in water and sometimes
up to their nccks, and saved at least
400 persons. People were taken from
house tops and trees at great risk. and
many were in a half famished condi.
ton, having been compelled to cling to
their perilous positions for as long as
72 hours.
Briefly stated. the present condition
of the food is this:
Th!rty-four known dead.
About 5000 people without homes.
Over 81, ,0U0,0 900 loss Of property.
Banks collapsed. 2; wholesale gro
Gerry stores flooded, 2.
Big business blocks almost ready to
crumbe. go
Wholesale commission houses de-
serted, 6.
Rock Island train, containing l56
passengers, held here by hish water.
City water works plant useless.
One Of the most distressing features
OF the situation now is the possibility
that there will be spread of conta-
gious diseases. People Of all classes
are huddled together In houses not
large enough for them, and on all
sides they are surrounded by water.
Doctors and medical relief cannot
reach the sufferers to any great ex-
tent. case of diphtheria has been
r. orted from the wooden mill in North
Topeka, where there are large num-
Der Of children, in addition to the
adults. There is also case OF two
of scarlet fever among the refugees
on the north sa!!ases;immea6d side; asadfl.d and s. cases
children, and on accouny x the ex-
posed condition Of the patients will
result fatally in many cases.
The possibility Of an epidemic is
now the most serious thing the city
must contend with. The physician
Of the city. under the direction Of the
city health board, are making heroic
efforts to check the threatened ca
lamity. In this work they are being
we'll aided by the health boards of the
state and county.
Or. L. ?. Grubbs says that the saui-
tary condition Of North Topeka when
the water shall go down will be such
that the place will not be fl for habi-
tation for some months He says he
thinks the best plan would be to get
tents from the state and establish
tent city On some PLOT Of high
ground.
Provisions Ct 81 sorts are becom-
ing scarce n Topeka No freight
trains have entered the city tor several
days. and IS large quantities OF GRO
ceries were destroyed n North To-
peka there will not be enough for the
people to eat II the present situation
lasts much longer. 1t IS charged that
certain OF the merchants have formed
combination for the purpose OF con-
trolling the prices of provisions.
II will be st least a week before
freight trains from the east can enter
Topeka, and perhaps longer. An effort
will be made 70 scure q stock Of pro-
visions from the smaller towns south
of here, and this may relieve the situ-
alton somewhat
Thrilling Eescues.
Z. L. Bailey and f. NJ Alexander
performed some OF the most heroic
work Of rescue. In the darkness. at
the greatest risk OF their own lives.
they succeeded il reaching one of the
burning lumber yards and rescued q
dozen women and children. On the
way to the south shore one Of the
women tainted from fatigue and fright
and this all but swamped the boat.
The men made superhuman efforts
and finally reached the pontoon bridge
with their precious cargo. Here will.
ing hands seized them and carried
them over the Nelan bridge to safety.
This is only one OF a hundred
thrilling re5cues. The most prominent
men of the town dCnned oilsbins, and
submerged in water up TO their
breasts, worked for hours in the cold
water. Women and children were
given the preference in the work Of
rescue
Eighteen Dsssle we're rescued hts
In the afternoon from a house at 1908
North Monroe street. From this place
the current is now swift, and after
great labor the place was reached. A
man who has Just returned from the
scene Of the food says he could see as
many as 10 persons hanging from
trees near the Sardou avenue bridge
at the foot of Morse street.
w. N. Keppard and his wife,
aged people. were rescued. They
were so numb that they could not feel
and had to be knocked into the water
before the men could reach them. They
were standing close together In the