Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-06-30

Isaw before. The highest wave had no
Iyet come, but already the water was 81.
feet deep in the houses and stores far
thest away from the river shore, and al
the bottom lands were from two to tel
feet under water, which was rushing
down every street, around the corners
covered by all kinds of drift, houses
floating down stream, or tipped Owe
against their neighbor, and lodging II
and about this desolate waste, a few
boats bringing some family to the hills
and safety.
Every hour of the early morning the
crowds along the bluffs side increased
and vague rumors were started as to the
loss of life and property. No story was
thought improbable, in face of what was
before them, and it was just as easy to
believe the statement that thousands OF
lives were lost in that vast flood, as II
was to believe it possible for the water
to come up so high.
Prompt police protection was taken,
and relief parties were formed to care
for those who were forced to leave their
homes. All business except in the re-
tail stores uptown was suspended.
Everybody was looking at the great
river and wondering if it would 60 much
higher. 1t steadily rose till about 8
p. NJ, when it became stationary, at
thirty-five feet above low water mark at
the bridge across the Missouri, and six
feet five inches high in the waiting room
of the Union Depot. Fifteen bridges
across the Kaw were known to be wash
ed away. One only was left standing,
that belonging to the Missouri Pacific
Railroad, and that was kept in place be-
cause it had been loaded down with loco
motives Saturday. All communication
with Kansas City, Kan, was cut OH. No
trains we're running on any line OF road.
No wonder the first report to be sent out
would be the most gloomy and exaggerat-
ed.
Tuesday, the second day of June, the
waters were reported to be falling slow
ly, and new courage seemed to como
with this cheering prospect. Business
men turned to boat building, and thus
secured means to 60 to their submerged
houses. Plans were made what to do
just as soon as the waters receded. Some
of the railroads cut holes in the top OF
the cars and took out perishable goods
by aid of boats. Some lines of street
cars were started by having water haul
ed to their power houses by teams.
Lines of railroads running south got
trains started in that direction. The
food supply was found to be sufficient.
The refugees were taken to the big Con-
vention Hall, and many Of the churches.
A relief committee was organized, and
was doing everything necessary for the
care of the unfortunate. Many reported
drowned the day before were found to be
alive. The only serious Inconvenience
was the lack of water in the pipes, while
there was so much of it in the streets
and houses in the bottoms.
Each day following saw more OF the
spirit of recovery, heard the death list
grow less, saw business men begin the
to see who would be first to get
their places ready for trade, and before
the week was out everybody was looking
on the bright side again, except the
homeless. They will have to start anew
The water left about three inches OF
mud in all the houses, so the first work
done in building was to clean out this
visitor, then ascertain the
amount of damage to stocks of goods,
then begin getting out shipments from
the dry floors.
The resumption of business, the clear
ing away of the debris and mud was
taken up as daily occupation, and
gradually the evidences of the flood
passed from sight to become a page in
this city's history.
A brief summary to help fix in the
memory the chief events of the disaster
is appended.
1t was the worst flood since the city
was built.
The area covered was very small
proportion of the total acres within tho
corporate limits. The submerged por-
ton was the vital part of the city's bust
ness interests.
The number of lives lost proved to he
eighteen, instead of thousand.
The property loss will be great, and
not fully known for several months.
One illustration to show how the water
cuts away the alluvial soil of the bot
toms is seen in the Atchison, Topeka u
Sante Fe Railroad yards, where hole
was washed out under some tracks
where locomotives were standing, and
into which three engines and two Pull
man palace cars fell, and were out OF
sight till the water was pumped out.
This excavation was an acre in extent,
and twenty-six feet deep.
Steps have already been taken to i'm
prove the water mains SO they will DO
beyond injury from like catastrophe,
and the houses which will be built in the
flooded district in the future will be
more substantial and capable of with
standing the rivers fury. This will be
one of the benefits of this great disaster.
GEO. A. TALBOT,
500 Askew Ave., Kansas City, Mo.