The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-31
FIRE ADDS TO TERRORS OF FLOOD AND THE
 TOWN OF NORTH TOPEKA, KAS. SEEMS DOOMED

All day long the need of boats was felt The Kansas river ordinarily is 6 very shallow stream and there are no boats of any size obtainable. If a steam launch were at hand many people would be saved whd are now facing certain death. At the Chicago Lumber Company's yards A. B. Betts, a member of the Lestsla- ture had a gang of men engaged nearly all day in making scows that kept com munication open between the two parts of town. The scows played most in- portant part in the work of the day.
 Oakland, suburb five miles northeast of Topeka, is deserted. At o'clock the water from the river Backed up the street car tracks in East Topeka. The way for the people between Brewer Street and the river to get out was not made moment too soon, as that part of the city Is to- night completely flooded. Farther out between Ennis and Benton Streets the water rose early in the afternoon. In this locality several people are still in dangerous positions. The houses In this section are being footed and the police are trying to get possession of all the boats and stop the plundering.
 About 8 o'clock current began to now with great swiftness through break in the buildings lining the block between Crane and First Streets. A great lot of drift commenced to come down, the new current pressing with great force against the pontoon. A number of men were stationed at thts point with pike poles, and, by hard and continuous work. the drift was kept from piling up and pushing the bridge away. One of the men who worked all the afternoon with a pike pole was Dr. Raster, chief surgeon of the Santa Fe. The most prominent men in the city worked as common la- borers all day
 In the auditorium tonight 2,0o0 home less. people are quartered. The society women of the city are there attending to the refugees needs. Great wagon loads of clothing and provisions have been sent and the immediate needs of the unfortunate have been provided for. A number of these are afflicted with con- tagious diseases. but 1t is impossible to enforce any quarantine regulations. The physicians of the city say that as a re- suit of this an epidemic of sickness of all kinds may be looked for.
 As the water advanced it became nec- essary to drive carriages and ambulances to the south end of the pontoon in water so deep that the horses had to swim. Among those who took a hand in this work were James A. Troutman, Cyrus Leland. politicians, pastors of the leading churches, Father Hayden of the Church
  the Sheriff and his deputies. Several well, known Journalists distinguished them selves in the work of rescue. number of trusties at the county jail were liber- ated by the Sheriff to give them chance to help the sufferers there. Sheriff Lucas says that no man gave better service | than these prisoners.
 If it became necessary to get out into | the water shoulder deep they did it willing | ly. One of the men named weatherly was credited with saving five lives on the north side of the pontoon. The entire city is thoroughly at he mercy of any fire tha, might break out. The fire chief tonight issued an order to all citizens to take ev. cry precaution, The Board of Health to. | night issued the following order:
 Don't drink any water unless 1t is l boiled. even cistern water. Burn up all | the refuse matter that lies on the ground"
 The physicians say that the boiling oi water is of the utmost importance, as there is grave danger of a typhoid fever epidemic after the flood subsidies. Mayor Bergundthal tonight issued the following Tt is of the greatest importance to the people of Topeka to come to the relief of the flood sufferers Contributions of cloth ing, especially shoes. bedding, money and in fact anything are solicited"