The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-04
PEOPLE GOT OUT.
Was Little Loss of Life in KAN
sas City, Has.
Loss of Property win Come Up
to Early Estimates.
DEBRIS % FEET DEEP.
Piled Up in Principal Streets of
the City.
A Foot of Mud on Top of Flat
Rooted Houses.
DEBRIS % FEET DEEP.

Kansas City. Mo, June 1.-The reports
of heavy loss OF life in Kansas City
Kan, IS not true and the stories of
bodies lying in the drift are unfounded.
The loss of property has not been over
estimated, however. An Associated
Press launch crossed to Armourdale to-
day and cruised for miles through the
water lanes that formerly were city
streets. The entire city is under water
in many places 20 feet deep, and all of
the 10000 Inhabitants have fed. Except
the watchmen in the packing house on
the river front not human being was
to be seen or even domestic animal. In
many Of the houses the upper windows
were opened and the rooms in confus-
ion. Red and white flags hang from the
upper windows on some houses. the oc-
cupantS of which mad evidently been
rescued. No steps have been taken TO
protect the household goods in the
buildings Arnourdale viii not be
habitable for a long time after the flood
subsidies. Every building has been moe
or less damaged hundreds utterly ruin
ed. A strcng current has set through
the town, and the river may persist in
following the course. In the old chan
mel on the front of Armourdale the
stream flows moderately, but through
the town the water rusheS madly
Where the water is deep and still there
viii be six feet OF sOlidly packed mud
when the flood abates, and this will
need to be cleaned away On the fiat
roofs of houses that have been uncov-
cred foot of mud lies.
Kansas avenue, the principal thor
oughfare of Armourdale presents an eX-
traordinary appearance, being chOked
25 feet deep with the debris OF houses,
telegraph poles, sidewalks and fences.
The brick buildings have stood, losing
al Fc5r hf1r no TOR hae
packed the streets with rubbish. The
cleaning away of the mud and ruins
viii be a work of months.
Argentine seen from the river seems
to have suffered little further injury
since Sunday
In the west bottoms of Kansas City
the waters of the Kansas river are rush
ing through the streets like a mountain
torrent Several old brick buildings,
undermined by the water, fell today.
Not one wooden building is fit to be
used. The elevated railroad is tearing
down a number Of its stations, which
were tottering. The police are very ac-
tive IN the wholesale district where
many loaded freight cars stand on the
tracks and the warehouses are full of
valuable goods Men prowling about in
boats are compelled to account for
themselves, under the threat of shooting.
In the stock yards district dead horses,
mules and cattle are floating on every
side. The elevated railways are full of
cattle driven from the pens and the
necessity of looking after these animals
makes the district busy. men going
about in boats.
The loss of the railways on loaded~and
empty cars standing in the yards is
even larger than represented. The con-
tents Of the loaded cars must be seri-
ously injured, and especially all of the
thousands of cars which have been over
turned, twisted or smashed. The sub
sidence of the water left a fringe OF dry
area next to the bluffs in the west bot
toms. The owners of houses and stores
vacated by the water promptly took
possession and began cleaning the mud
from the floors.
The following has been issued by
Mayor Reed and the Commercial club:
inquiries are being made respecting the
effect of the flood upon the business of
Kansas City Mo. There is absolutely no
ground for any anxiety concerning the
business and financial conditions of Kan
sas City Mo. in which city the large bust
ness establishments are located. The
wholesale houses situated on the lowlands
have resumed business through branches
already established up town. The waters