Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-06-05
Stricken People OF the Middle West.

anu tle mitigating rellel felt Is that,
while the heart goes out in sorrow for
many thousands Of sufferers, our own
people have, SO far, been protected
from any devastating visitation. An
unprecedented rainfall for about ten
days eliminated Saturday and Sunday
in an unparalleled flood in Central
and Eastern Kansas, Northwestern
Missouri, Eastern Nebraska and South
western Iowa, embracing district of
several hundred miles in extent, and
with Topeka apparently the flood cen
ter. The number OF people driven
from their homes is estimated at o.
600, and many have lost their all
buildings, crops and stock. The mum.
Der Of people drowned and burned is
large, probably go, with many dis
tricis to hear from. Eighty fires could
be counted ut once from the court
house dome in Northern Topeka, many
OF them floating about in the mighty
flood by which the larger part of the
city was covered. Every foot of North
Topeka was under water, with u cur
rent so swift that no boat could live in
it.
Just imagine 10000 people, in this
district alone, seeking refuge in tree
tops, on elevations of land with icy
cold water almost to their necks, many
of them from beds OF sickness, filling
public buildings to suffocation, wait
ing patiently for aid which was almost
almost unattainable and true picture
of the actual horrors may be realized.
And this was to some extent the ex-
perience in many places from which
details are yet unattainable.
The homeless are estimated as fol-
lows: In Kansas-North Topeka, T.
600; Emporia, 500; Salina and vicin-
ity, 500; Lawrence, 500; Kansas City,
Armourdale and Argentine, 10000.
Missouri-Harlem and Sheffield, 700.
Iowa-Des Moines, 5000; Ottumwa,
200. Nebraska-Lincoln, 200; Bea.
trice, 200.
The financial loss is distributed as
follows: Kansas-North Topeka, ST.
100000; Lawrence. 100000; Abe
lene and vicinity, 100000; Salina
and vicinity, $4,000; Solomon,
Chapman, Detroit, Woodbine and in
tervening country, 100000. Iowa
Des Moines, 100000.
At one time the people imprisoned
in the public buildings, where nearly
all found refuge. after much persistent
labor, were in danger of starving. AT.
ter a couple of days of enforced absti-
hence, provisions were got to them. A
woman with a small babe remained in
a tree.top three days without food be.
tOI0 ICSSuC.
Monday night the flood began re-
ceding, and very soon q new terror be.
gan, an epidemic of disease. People
we're huddled so closely together under
such distressing conditions that con.
tagion if present was afforded all con-
ditions necessary for spreading. Diph-
iberia and scarlet fever were both re-
ported.
While later reports indicate q grad
ual fall of water at Kansas City, Mo.
East of that point rise was to continue,
but the crest it is thought would have
been reached yesterday. The upper
Mississippi, the prediction runs, will
rise until the 22-foot stage is reached.
A 81 feet rise had been attained at
Hannibal. From st. Louis to Cairo,
steady rise for several days is appre-
hended.
Later reports are to the effect that
IL IL probable loss OF lie has been
somewhat overrated but that the prop
erty loss will be even greater is equally
assured.
The disaster is attributed to cutting
off timber in the central western
States along the wide stretch OF kill.
side on both banks of river that ex.
tends from the Gulf to the heart OF
the continent. Hitherto tho noun
tain sides have been covered with a
dense growth of trees, and the spring
sun has not had a chance to melt the
SHOWS so rapidly as to precipitate the
water in form OF an avalanche. This
year the snowfall has been large, aug
menting the danger.