The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1903-06-04
BY FIRE AND FLOOD
Death and Devastation in the Wake
Of Eigh Wsiefs.
TALES Of TERRIBLE SUFFERING
Inhabitants of North Topeka Cut OF
From All Chance OF Rescue Much
Loss of Property.

The City OF Topeka suffered frighiful
less Of life and property last week by
both fire and food. The story Is told
In the following dispatches OF Sun
day and Monday mornings:
Topeka, kans., Special-People who
aid not leave North Topeka Saturday
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 be-
yond reach OF rescue. The Kansas river
is rising at the rate CT three inches an
hour. Thirty are known to be dead and
the list will be larger Hundreds are
missing. People are drowning and
others are burnin. to death. II any por-
ton OF North Topeka shall escape de-
struction by the food. IL seems as
though fire would finish the work The
large lumber yards OF Jonathan Thorn
as caught fire this afternoon and the
whole block OF houses were burned.
Burning houses are floating through
..
It. is reported that the Union Pacific
depot and hotel have been burned.
There is no possible way of quenching
the flames. The loss OF life will be ap-
palling, and the property loss In the
millions. Nobody can tell just what has
been destroyed The water extends
around Shorey and other suburbs.
Every foot Of North Topeka, inhabited
!, al
current is SO swift that no boat can
live in it. Seven thousand people have
escaped to the southside and are being
cared for as well as possible. The re-
naming hundreds have not yet been
accounted for. They have been forced
to the top floors or the roofs Of build
ings, and are waiting for the water to
subside or carry them down stream.
They are safe only as long as the
building remains standing. Below
town scores OF men are in tree-tops,
yelling for help. Thousands OF revolver
shots and screams have been heard on
the north side, signals for aid. Women
and children in the western part OF
North Topeka are standing on the
highest points in reach and yet in
water to their necks.
Burning houses are floating about,
setting fire to others. The lower sto-
ries of the burning buildings contain
10 feet of water. The current is so
strong that no boat can approach any
of them. People are gathered on the
tops of houses and will meet death
either by fire or drowning. The cries
for help can be distinctly heard mile
away. The whole city is wildly excited
because no aid can be extended to the
sufferers. The river at North Topeka
is five miles wide. No possible esti-
mate of the financial loss Is obtainable,
but it can be stated that it will reach
into the millions.
North Topeka was the manufactur
ing district Of the city. Three large
flour mills, three wooden mills and
other manufacturing enterprises are
entirely destroyed. The water supply
of the whole city has been cut off. The
water from, the river extends nearly
a mile on the south side. The Rocl
| Island depot has been abandoned, and
more than five hundred people on this
side of the river are also homeless
but no loss of life has resulted il
| South Topeka. The Kansas avenue
| bridge is the only one across the river
| for miles and the approaches to tina
bridge are flooded by thirty feet O
water. A pontoon bridge is being
erected. in an effort to reach the suf
| fererS.
| Seven thousand or more people ar
on this side Of the river sheltered II
the public buildings. Topeka is nov
able to take care OF all the unfortu
mates. The work OF caring for the refu
gees Is being pushed with the utmos
rapidity. From the State house a.
many as go fires can be counted In diff
ferent parts of North Topeka. The en-
tire central portion of the city hat
been burned out at 10 o'clock and i
is safe to say that by morning no
a house in that part Of Topeka will
be left standing. When it is stated tina
North Topeka has 10000 inhabitants
the extent of the disaster can be re
allied. People are sticking to the roof
of houses and to trees, and many ar
giving up in despair and dropping int
the waters below to be carried ava
by the swift current.
The dispatches of Monday mornin
give fuller account of the loss. Thes
follow:
Topeka. Special.-At l O'Clock tn
number of drowned people was know
to be at least $50 and large numbe
were yet missing. Several were n
ported burned to death, but this coul
not be substantiated. From all owe
eastern Kansas boats are being rushe e
here for the rescue of the sufferer
Shortly after daylight nine boats a,
rived from Ottawa on special trai
and they were put into active rescu
service at once. Soon after reports {
drowning began to come in. A boa
containing eight men was swept ava
in the swift current about o'cloc
and as far as known all were drowl
ed. Other small boats were not abb
to live in the whirling current. Mort
!, Topeka is a scene Of utmost desol
ton. Not square foot Of land can
seen in any direction. There is but
small chance of any of the residence
being left standing at the end Of II
, flood period Sherry Oakland, and ii
reform school north of Topeka, are q
under the rushing waters, but the 81
uaticn is favorable in these piac'
compared with what North Topeka
undergoing. Nearly all the fires We
put out by the heavy rain, which fe
nearly all night
Tho total lose of life is vet pu