New-York tribune., 1903-06-01
RESCUES IN TOPEKA.
Thrilling Experiences Saving People Ma
rooned in Trees and on Roofs

IOOU6u III lIeSS duu VI leOOio-
Topeka. KAN May 81-Chief of Police Goff and
his family are among those not yet accounted for
They may be among those on the tops of the build
ings, but this is hardly the case, as their house
was in the direct path of last nights fire
Isaac Standon succeeded in reaching the b street
Baptist Church with 5ol pounds of provisions lie
was two hours In making the trip of not rnuch
more than a mile.
Half a dozen persons are in abandoned street
car north of the bridge and have been there for
thirty hours but will be rescued. Eighteen people
rescued this afternoon from a house at no
12S North Monroest From this place the current Is
now swift and after great labor the place was
reached 4 man who has just returned from the
food says he could many as ten persons
hanging from trees near the Sardou-ave bridge, at
the foot of Morse-st. Z. D. and Charles Waldon
Sante Fe employees started out in a boat early
to-day TO rescue Russian whom they saw on the
roof of a house not far from the bank OF the
river . They got the Russian in the boat, which
Immediately capsized. The three found resting
places in trees. where they remain at this time
The first flood victom to be rescued by means
Of the cable was the Rev. A. N Pearson, pastor
of the North Topeka English Church. Mr.. Pear
said:
We were fairly warmly dressed. but had only two
time. All day Saturday and to-day we had moth
ing to eat. Our situation was desperate and . ex.
faith in the ultimate ability of our friends @ to
rescued; to-day my turn came, and cannot beglh
TO tell how thankful L am.
w " Kepard and wife, aged people, were
rescued at o'clock They were so numb that
they could not feel and had to be knocked down
into the water before the men could reach them
They were standing close together in the attic
OF a house, and SO severe had been the experience
that their minds gave way under the strain Ihey
cannot recover.
A Mrs Anderson and her year-old baby had been
for three days in a tree, in plain sight of people
who were powerless TO rescue them. The mother
clasped her child close in her arms. and man
aged TO brace herself against the tree in a rea-
sonably secure position. For three days she kept
up the battle for life At o'clock her rescue was
very near, but she lost consciousness Both mother
and child fell into twelve feet OF water ana were
Immediately drawn under by the current ,s
a thrilling experience, He took boat on Wedne;s-
day night. and made his way to house, in the
names unknown, were in the house, and Parsons
took & them into his e boat The Tb9 b9y had 9ny
contryed to get himself and the Others up intG t
afternoon. when rescued; They were brought ] 10
place Of sfety but Mae Will D mot 0o see at
430 O'clock. one from ottawa and the other from
St 0eP BY s eons ns Of 5he M wqTh da 81 br6
eighteen people over and landed near the desiccat
became lost north of the Melan bridge. This was
before the Hood had reacheu lts hesht. % IN
tv-four hours their condition was desperate until
they taken off at 4:i0 o'clock with the AID OF
the big cable s.o.,
b. L: Wise. former city engineer vas dragged
from the hayloft of barn. He was uncorscious
ar d h puR fTG Sfq o The @ hood SGGP @ Tssc
By aid Of the small steam and gasolene Launches
They had perched in trees. They had had nothing
for thirty-six hours Thesf" men We're in
watch Of the sitTation All they could see was the
aea M @ aeoH od aa fb e cod not f hear
each other speak above the roar of the water. I'm
certainty was thus added TO their other misery and
of them had hopes OF escaping.
Patrick Beline, his wife and three small chdren
The parents were Obliged to hold the two younger
They were nearly starved, and probably cannot re-
cover.
tiers of the Union Pacific. was forced TO leave the
her mother and young sister the plucky young
woman took up quarters IN an 5 9sT R9fsg
rose foot above the floor of the car. but there
they had TO stay until to-day, when they were in
Near the Rock Island station s a passenger
train 9f a Fdy hight The R6 Iand
washed out as did also most Of the MADE it lag: ana
cannot ' be m moved out Of here for two weeks
h@@dred 9s nd INF y T8n are on the train
They have not, at any ume, been IN real da1ser T!
are are We'll Veil cared for by the road and them
rsnseent to the % uncertainty Of securing suitable
North TopesS as s0osS fooWs pff1p f1 Street fTc M
in Topeka woolien Mills 100; in Caseys -four MILL
II e. IN a an Bsey and ID r F. M NJ Ae2ander performed
se5of n nv at the aSt Tesest risk r ' Of ives
they succeeded in reaching one OF the burning iud
Srfne On ae %s & 70 the soa na sn4rf nS % s a but
laIuIea from ON Sid II al a,, eril1 e.
fos and iAe nai resched s the pontoon bridge
oTer sls the S5's Mea abHs Bridge e4t?g to safety
TIT s is og nenf Gne 1f men o te dwn dgnne5 o
skins and, submerged up to their breasts, worked
To women and children was given the precedence
in he S TGT9 IF o this SIDE Of e vT today
With no head The women and children were al
most frantic & in their al @ m mn Se1 e fof OF the the
swirling flood In the bulletin windows OF the
newspapers appeared notices signed by scores OF
women asking that information be sent TO them
OF their husbands as soon as their fate was known.
anticipation was the arrival Of the steam iaunches
railroads were all in helpless condition J. ~. H.
Cowdry among those who escaped from the
food. When asked for story of his experience,
oh, it was terrible: can't describe il It seems
last two days. Early on THURSDAY we saw that
slstence Of people who dislike to leave their own
homes put off the time as long as possible; ssh Il
OF North Topeka. It seemed. overhowed within an
hour. The water came creeping up FASTER tnaIl
in such a hurry that could not even take
blanket. I am satisfied that our house Was Wa e de-
All have in the world Is the clothing that I
now wearing Hundreds of others are IN as oad
condition as we are
Mr. Cowdry was unable TO make an estimate OF
the loss Of life, he left the dangerous LOCALITY
before the fire was at its height
II. J. Henry, hardware merchant Irst sent ms
father and mother TO safety, and then undertook
10 remain and keep their property out or tho hands
Of loofers He managed escape by riding a
trusty horse when the flood came AS far Mr..
Henry knows at noon to-dsy, his stock OF hard
ware had been swept away. Wltn the pululHS anu
entire establishment
These are only few OF the numerous instances
OF distress Hundreds who were rich are now poor.
and the poor people in distress. Many lost an
solutey everything. They had the savings or years
taken ny the water