The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-05
MANY KNOWN
Bodies Have Been Iden-
titled and Five Are UnknOwn-Be-
Lost Their Lives-The Mississippi
AwfulIy High at ST. LOuis-Three
Children Drowned While Out to
See the FIOod-The Situation I'm
proving.

Topeka, Kas., June 3.-The Kansas
river is rapidly falling. In few more
days, the work of rehabilitating North
Topeka may begin. The situation to-
night may be summarized thus:
At o'clock the river had fallen four
feet
The total number Of known dead is
%; unidentified dead, 5; reported dead,
Sc.
The commercial club will accept all
offers for help
The depth of the river is yet % feet,
known previously.
Governor Bailey has issued a proc
lamation calling for help and asking
that contributions be sent to William
| Simms, treasurer.
The general relief fund has passed
| $4,000.
The Elks' fund has passed $4,000.
The fund in the hands of the COVER
nor now amounts to S3,5O0
| The weather bureau predicts for to-
morrow: CLOUDY tonight and tomor
row with probably light showers, rising
tempeature."
1t is expected that the water supply
will be resumed some time tonight
All who are held in buildings in
| North Topeka are safe and comfort
| able. No one in the flooded district is
| in danger. The homeless are being we'll
| cared for
| Over 200 deputies are guarding the
| property in North Topeka.
| The only railroads operating out of
| Topeka are the Missouri Pacific. South
| and the Santa Fe west.
| The governor may call an extra Ses-
| sion of the Kansas legislature to pro-
| vide state relief for all sufferers from
| the floods in Kansas.
| Governor Bailey hopes his appeal for
| help will bring enough money to meet
! the emergency If it fails he said he
| would probably ask the legislature to
| make the necessary appropriations.
| Topeka, June 3.-Three deaths from
| drowning are reported since last night.
| There are still about one hundred per-
! sons in the flooded district. but all are
| safe.
| The river fell during the night at the
rate of an inch an hour and today is
! still going down rapidly. The refugees
/ are beink taken care of in a systematic
| manner and there is no acute suffering.
| Today there is plenty of fresh water,
| much provisions is being sent in and
the flooded district is becoming avail
| able.
| SHOT A LOOTER.
| st. Louis, Mo, June 3.-The rescuing
| party sent from here to Topeka COM
| posed of seventy-five men with steam
/ launches and row boats, returned and
| their places will be taken by other VOL
| unteers. The st. Joseph men rescued
| two hundred school children from the
| Grant School, imprisoned there since
last Friday. The children were in a
| half starved condition.
| The rescuerS shot and killed a negro
| caught in the act of looting deserted
| houses. They brought back with them
the names of thirty identified dead.
| FOUR CHILDREN DROWNED.
Hannibal. Mo. June 3.-Four lives
| were lost by drowning here today in
| the collision of the steamer Flying
| Eagle, towing a barge filled with Sun
day-school excursionists with pier Of
| the Hannibal bridge.
About $50 children from the Park
Methodist church Sunday-school at
| Hannibal had boarded the barge and
number We're on the steamer. The
excursion left Hannibal to run to
| Quincy and afford n view of the swol-
| len Mississippi. AS the boat swung out
| into the river the swift current seized
the craft and despite all efforts bore it
straight down toward the stone pier of
the DrlQSe nearest the SnOre. with q
| crash the steamer was hurled against
the pier and wrecked, but did not sink
Immediately. For a time it was wedged
against the pier by the current and
held while the terror stricken children
and the accompanying adults climbed
up the pier to the bridge. In this way
/ almost half of the passengers We're
saved. Before all could reach safety
the barge was veered around by the cur
rent and finally swung loose from the
pier and floated down stream. In the
sudden swinging out Of the barge the
three children were thrown into the wa
ter and swept away to their deaths.
Further down the stream the catas-
trophe had been witnessed and at hand
were a number of skiffs and row boats
With one thought these boats were
manned and like miniature fleet they
shot out into the swollen stream to
meet the barge. The rescuing boats
surrounded the barge and the children
: were quickly taken from it and were
. safely landed.
The cause Of the accident was the
blowing out of a cylinder head of the
boats engine disabling her and placing
| the craft at the mercy of the swift cur.
| rent.
. TWO MORE VICTIMS.
Kansas City, Mo-. June 3.-FIooc
conditions were materially bettereC
during the night and on all sides to.