The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-06-05
HIGH WATER
TIES UP TRAFFIC
Railway Tracks in the West Are
Inundated.
TRAINS ARE UNABLE TO RUN
Flood Situation Worst Ever known
in History of Sunflowcr State
Thousands of Acres Are
Under Water.


standstill on account of the floods
The Rock Island and Union Pacific
are not running any trains. while the
Santa Fe runs only to Emporia, anc
the Missouri Pacific to Fort Scott
The flood situation is the worst evel
known in the state. Perhaps Csc
houses I in the flooded district in
Topeka, including several mills and
elevators and the Wolff packing
house. The conditions in Little Rus.
sia,' the Russian settlement in North
Topeka, is serious. The entire set
tIement is under water, and a cur
rent has started through the district.
Fear is expressed that the channel
of the river may change. Several
houses already are twisted on their
foundations, and they probably will
collapse. Every family has had its
household goods damaged, and some
have lost everything. The Kansas
river is five miles wide at ST. Mary's,
and the town is half submerged.
The Kansas river bridge there is par
TALLY washed out and the river is
rapidly rising. Late Friday after
noon the Kansas river bridges at
Maple Hill, Rossville, Silver Lake.
Bellevue and St. George were washed
out. The new steel bridge at Willard
is damaged beyond repair.
Panic in Abilene.
Fifteen inches of water fell in Abb
lene Thursday night and more Friday
afternoon. Business houses are col
lapsing, and the entire town is panic
stricken. tits impossible'to get around
on account of water. Women are pros
trated, and the people are afraid of
what will happen. The Smoky river
is three or four miles wide at Abilene
and every wagon and railroad bridge
around there is out.
Thursday nights rain extended all
over central and northern Kansas, all
of which is drained by. the Kansas
river. Rain fell during the morning
at many of the flooded points, and at
four o'clock another heavy rain, all
most c%loudburst, fell. This will make
the situation much worse.
The police and fire departments in
Topeka have organized to rescue peoe.
pie from the flood on the north side
of the river. The condition there is
alarming. Rain is still falling.
Thousands Homeless.
The water has surrounded the whole
OF North Topeka. Over 1000 people
are homeless. The river is rising fast
and it is estimated that by noon to-
day fully 10000 people will be home
less. The Union Pacific station is
flooded.
River Bank Full.
In Kansas City, Mo-, the Missouri
river is bank-full, and still rising, and
already has caused great damage to
houses and other property in
the bottoms and along the Kaw river.
West from its mouth at Kansas City,
KAN, the lowlands for miles r under
water, hundreds of families have been
rendered homeless, and thousands of
acres of grain are under water.
Abilene Flooded.
Abilene. Kan, May 30.-The flood
waters from Mud creek, swollen by 1a
hours rain, swept through this city,
loing damage estimated at $500 900.
Solomon Talmage, nearby
Jared equally as bad as Abb
enc and the loss to the country is ire
nendous. Abilene has no water, lights,
post office service, or newspapers. The
lamage here is estimated at 100000.
No lives, have been.lost so far as known.
IN the Smoky Hill bottoms 10, 900 acres
Ire under water and persons are being
in boats.
Town Under Water.
Word from Americas, Kan, north
vest of Emporia, says that that
own is three feet under water and
hat the Neosho river is four feet high
r than ever known before. Runners
ave been sent out from Emporia to
the farmers along the bottoms
ast Of that city that a high water
is coming down the Neosho.
Loss VIII BE 100000.
Council Grove, Kan, May 30.-TheJ
oss by food in Morris county is esti-
hated at 81, 1000, 900. Four person were
rowned here Friday night. Edward
lements persisted while e~ndeavoring
, save his daughter. Ralph Phillips,
lille trying to rescue a little girl
AIMED Woods, was drowned with her.
baby was found dead in the Missouri
acifc yard. Stacking lime set fire to
M. r. Smith lumber yard, which
as burned, together with the Farm
and Droyers' bank, the Indicator
tore and Robbins drug store, the total
being $4,000. The big Main street
ridge over the Neosho river went
own. All the business houses were
CODED. Miles of Missouri Pacific and
tracks were washed out. More I
ian a hundred houses are under water
nd 2ohave foated away.
Traffic MT a s~tandstill.
Denver, Col, May 3o.-All traffic be-
Denver and western Kansas is
) a standstill on all roads, and in
any instances no attempt was made
get trains ont Throo IIp;op Do.