The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-31
North Topeka Surrounded by
Fast Rising Waters.
WORST FLOOD YET KNOWN
Six Bridges Across Kansas River Collapse
Estimated That Fully Ten Thousand
Will be Homeless TO1ay--'
the Details,
(By the Associated Press.)

U
land was news of bad cloudburst near
Harrington, which has put all the streams
out of their banks Business houses are
coIlapsing and the entire town is panic
stricken.
Last nights rain extended all over cen
trail and northern Kansas all of which
is drained by the Kansas River. Rain
fell during the morning at many of the
flooded points and this afternoon another
heavy rain, almost cloudburst fell The
police and fire departments III Topeka are
endeavoring to rescue people from the
flood on the north side of the river
The conditions of Little Russia" the
Russian settlement in north Topeka, is
serious The entire settlement is under
water and current has started through
the district Several houses already are
twisted on their foundations and they
probably will collapse Every family has
had les household goods damaged and some
have lost everything.
Council Grove Kas., May 29-The loss
by flood in Morris county is estimated at
81, 900, 900 -Four persons were drowned
here last night. Edward Clements perish
ed while endeavoring to save his daughter.
Ralph Phillips while trying to rescue
little girl named Woods was drowned with
her. baby was found dead in the Mis-
souri, Pacific yard Stacking lime set fire
to the M. r. Smith lumber yard, which
was burned, together with the Farmers
and Dovers Bank and Robbins drug
store, the loss being $4,000 The big main
street bridge over the Nqosha River went
down. All the business houses were flood
ed. Miles of Missouri Pacific and Mis-
souri, Kansas and Texas tracks were wash
ed out. More than a hundred horses are
Under water and twenty have foated
away.
Kansas City. Mo, May 29.-The Kansas
and Missouri Rivers are rising here at an
alarming rate and tonight the indications
are that all previous high water records
at this point viii be broken Much dam
age has already been done to property in
the lowlands along the two rivers and
much apprehension is felt for the safety
in the west bottom district of this city.
The Kansas River is rising at the rate Of
an inch an hour and the heavy rains Of
today have added to the gravity of the To-
cal situation. Superintendent Conner, Of
the Kansas City Weather Bureau, says
that the volume of water from the Kan
sas River and other streams for which the
Missouri River is the outlet, added to the
usual June rise will carry the Missouri to
higher stage than it reached in 1881 and
1892, when it broke all records
At the little town Of Harlem. across
from this city, the residents in the flooded
districts were rescued tonight from their
houses in boats. after losing most of their
personal effects The embankment of the
Burlington Railroad il holding the flood
from the rest Of the town, but a rise of
few more inches win carry the water over
the embankment The Kansas River has
forced hundreds Of families to leave their
home in Argentine and various parts Of
Kansas City. The basement Of the pack
ing houses are flooded.
THE FOODS IN VIRGINIA.
Norfolk, Va, May 29-News from the
peninsular says that a terrific storm is rag
ing and already great damage has been
done in the counties between Spring
Grover and Delmar. The barn of Elijah
Freeny, near Delmar, was struck by light
ming, destroying much grain and killing
several head of cattle and live stock
Moses Henry, farmer, was killed by
lightning that struck his barn and farm
band named Smith. Baxter was burned
to death. Several houses were wrecked by
the storm, which is still at its height.
THE FLOOD ELSEWHERE.
(By the Associated Press.)
Guthrie, Okla, May 29.-Reports of de-
structive storms throughout the territory
continue to arrive. At Harrison, the food
killed five people, Mrs. Bryles and child.
child of John Alexander, and two persons
whose bodies have not yet been recovered
The drowning of several Indians is re-
ported from Anadarko In Gay county,
a tornado killed Mrs Isaac Jones, wrecked
four postoffces and near Little Robe, de-
molished farm house
At Wellston the storm is reported TO
have injured fatally one woman and de-
stroyed several buildings Near Hobart
all but three Of a herd of fifty-two cattle
were drowned in the flood.
Lincoln, Neb. May 29.-Thrty-six hours
Of heavy and almost continuous rainfall
have aggravated the food situation at
Lincoln. The low lying district in the
western part of the city is tonight
great lake, many houses being surrounded
and partly submerged Whole families
among the poorer classes are tonight shelf.
cred in the court house and ward school
rooms.
The basement of the building occupied
by w. T. Bryan's Commoner office was
flooded TO the depth of nearly two feet.
damaging paper stock and part of Mi.
Bryan's library to the extent of several
hundred dollars.
The Arbitration Conference.