The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-06-03
SITUATION IN KANSAS CITY.
No Gas or Electric Lights and Water
works Shut Down.

Kansas City, June with gas and
electric lights extinguished, the water.
works shut down and the city prac.
tically at the mercy of the first fire
that shall break out with railroad
transportation feeble and uncertain,
Kansas City may, if the waters do not
recede within the next two or three
days, be compelled to fight for her life,
and today the skies are dark and
threatening, the rain is falling heavily,
more stormy weather is sweeping
up from the west and the Unsuitable
river is holding its own.
1t is practically stationary now, but
what the flood has it keeps, and there
is no certain promise of when it will
recede The stage is $40, Chief Con-
nor of the weather bureau says that
while the outlook is for continued
rains, it would necessitate a very
heavy fall if the present high water is
TO continue.
The first authentic information from
Kansas City, Kan, was received last
night. In that district 10000 people
are homeless, many have been drowned
and the number cannot be really esti.
mated. The property loss has been
heavy The situation there is a par.
allel to the situation here-apparently
no better and no worse.
There is no great probability that
there will be further loss of life. IL the
river does not rise very suddenly. All
through the wholesale districts and in
the east and west bottoms there are
people still in the houses, many of
them anxious to be taken away, a good
ly number Of them content to remain
where they are with all the chances of
flood. The police have done wonders
in rescuing people, and have probably
brought 250 of them safe to the high
ground since sunrise.
In the east or west bottoms a num-
ber of obstinate people are still cling.
ing to their homes. Although the
police have run boats beneath their
windows and offered to save them,
they refuse to leave and will take their
chances for another night at least
It Is utterly impossible to form any
estimate Of the number of dead in
Kansas City. There have been mani-
fold stories of how boats laden with
people have been seen to sink-there
have been reports without end of bod
les seen floating by on wreckage. of
men who have tried to drive wagons
laden with their household effects
against certain death in the swift cur
rent and gone down in the flood. The
majority of these stories lack proof,
however, and even If true, the proof
may never be had.
1t is likely that the number of fatal.
ties in Kansas City, Mo-, will approx
mate so.
Down in the wholesale district peo-
pie at dusk were waving white cloths
to attract attention. The condition of
some of these people is pitiable, They
have been held prisoners for two days,
threatened with death by drowning,
and at one time by fire. For the most
part they were without food and for "a
hours without drinking water. Every
effort is being made, and they will all
be saved today unless the water rises
more.
The financial damage is about as
great nov as it is likely to be, unless
the water rises much higher. The
great danger is that the foundations of
may be undermined. How
ever, the buildings that have with
stood the flood all day have an excel
lent chance of holding out for some
time.
There has been no suffering in the
city beyond that sustained by the peo-
pie driven from their homes. Excel
lent work has been done by the local
relief committees and those in control
of this work are confident that the city
will be able to care for its own with
out calling upon other cities of the
state.
Last night the city was in absolute
darkness, save in buildings which have
their own electric light plants. Power
of the three street car lines that have
resumed operation is furnished by
water piped from a small stream In one
of the valleys.
The newspapers have been com.
PEELED to discontinue the use of their
machines because Of lack
Of power, and are setting type by hand