Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-06-02
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
The Western Foods.

Kansas City, Mo-, June AT late
hour last night reports of a startling ma
ture telling of the drowning of one thou
sand persons across the river in the food
ed districts of Kansas City, Kansas, were
received. but because of the sources of
the information but little credence is
given to them. The conditions in Kan
sas City, Kansas, are understood to be
fearful. however, and it is thought that
possibly the loss of life may reach
one hundred. With the exception OF
uncertain trolley communication to
Leavensworth, Kansas City, Kansas, is
isolated from the world. The iooters are
are getting in their ghoulish work and
shot gun rule prevails. The city coun-
Gil has passed ordinances regulating the
prices OF food and water. Any merchant
attempting extOrtion will have his place
closed and his stock confscated to be
paid for at what appraisers think is a
fair valuation. The food situation is
alarming. Not more than three days
supply of any thing except canned goods,
is on hand. The greatest danger except
the constantly rising water, is typhoid
epidemic caused by the lack of city water
for flushing purpose. Forty thousand
flood sufferers remain homeless and thou
sands of them will never again see their
homes in the East or West bottoms, Sec
tons of Kansas City, Kansas, Armour
dale and Argentine.
Hundreds of houses have gone with
the water. In some cases in the two
latter towns, entire blocks were swept
away, and even the streets obliterated.
Communication with Kansas City today
is intermittenly effected by means of
steamers. To get news from Argentie
and Armourdale, Kansas City is obliged
to send many miles over land through
Westport, south of this city. Telephone
service was stopped this morning. De-
spite the fact that the city was in abso-
lutte darkness last night, the immense
special police force had little to do
Criminals seem to be awed by the inten-
ton of the police officials to shoot to
kill.
Any estimate which places the death
list in this particular food section at one
thousand or even at several hundred is
exaggerated. The dead will never be
counted but if all the people drowned
who are said by witnesses to have lost
their lives, the total would not be 200.
Comparatively normal conditions
exist today in the food market. The
panic has entirely subsidized and thou
sands of people are loaded up with staple
groceries bought at fancy prices which
they will be able to use. Candles, ham
and bacon cannot be bought here this
morning but a supply is expected to be
in tonight. Vegetables, except potatoes,
which continue unreasonably high, are
sold at a slight advance. There is some
fresh meat and as the butchers are not
gouging patrons they sell what they
have at a comparatively normal rate.
j. w. Thomas, the first newspaper
man who got into and out of Kansas
City, Kans., reported to the Scripps-
McRae Press Association today as fol-
lows: "The situation in Kansas City
cannot be painted too black. Fifteen
thousand people are absolutely destitute,
and are being cared for in churches,
halls, and municipal buildings. The re-
lief work is not nearly as well in hand as
on this side of the river. Between 500
and 600 refugees are seriously sick. "
Washington, d. c., June 2.-The
Weather Bureau today issued special
river bulletin dealing with the flood sit
uaion in the West. 1t says: There
has been but little change in the food
situation since Monday morning. The
Missouri river at Kansas City is about
stationary at 35 feet. North of st. Louis
the Mississippi is above danger line as
far as Dubuque, particularly between
Keokuk and Hannibal, where the waters
are 81 to Al feet above. The Missouri
east of Kansos City, is several feet above
the danger line and still rising. The
rise will continue for two or three days
longer east of BOonville, Missouri, and
several feet more of water may be ex-
pected at st. Louis. In the Mississippi,
north of the mouth of the Missouri, the
additional rise will not be marked. "