Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-05-28
FLOOD VISITS ABILENE
MUD GREEK COVERS MUCH OF
THE CITY.
Cloud Burst Up the Stream Sends
Great Volume Of Water Through
tho Streets Story Of o Night.

49, : =
n Amt NO use to murmur and complain.
us inst as cheap and easy to rejoice;
when God sorts out the weather ana send
rain. e
Why rains my choice. ~
1 James whitcomb Riley
Abilene became miniature Venice
Monday night. The excitable and or
ratio Mud creek went on its seven
year tear and flooded the'town. 10 was
the most extensive inundation N "
Years and covered with lake lake o.
muddy water something IKE one
third Of the city, at least Of that por7
ton lying south Of Eighth .tDs street ssAs9s
The fiood was the result Of q down
pour Of rain that amounted to cloud
burst northwest of the city. Ihe
storm was the eastern edge q Ter
rife rain that flooded Salina, SOLO
mon, Brookville and Ellsworth IL
reached Abilene with a, whiri q
lightning and crash ofwilnSd e fS ifao'
the rain coming with binding force
and fairly flooding thesstreets. With
It was some hail but not enough to
do damage. The severe rain lasted
so minutes, then aitera milder fall II
cleared away. 1t had come out OF
the southwest and it went on NORTH
evidently becoming heavier it went
until nesrTalmage it was averitable
opening of the sky. Harrington had
no rain, Enterprise very little ,spqtR
Of town there was onlyaa shower. NY
CREEK COMMENCED BUSINESS. !.
Those who were anxious about the
storm went to the Third street bridge
and saw the muddy waters rising
rapidly. 1t was not until about mid
night that the situation began to be
alarming Then the waters which
had turned the lowlands Of the creek
valley into lakes and covered the
bridges out OF sight swept out upon
the streets. They came through
the low dikes at Fourth street and
. i. F
overfowed at Sixth. They went west
and east and soon the town awoke.
II was picturesque parade. Teie-
phones aroused those who slept, lam
terms were lighted (the electric lights
were of dutyl and rubber boots were
at q premium. Hundreds of people
were out, the warm, still night offer
ing an opportunity for the most
timid. There was no dressing for
the occasion. Some Of the costumes
were delightfully."- informal, The
white Mother Hubbards gave I ghost
" air to the ceremonies and there
were many young women--and some
not SO young--who did not get shoes
or stockings wet in crossing the
flooded streets. Men and children
went neutrality-suspicious. there were
others. A few reports Of broken
reservoirs and OF homes swept away |.
xept the interest keen and the inky
olackness Of the night made the con-
lition seem more serious. II
WHERE STREETS WERE STREAMS.
As stated above, the creek over
lowed at Fourth and above. The
water then came pouring down Wal
tut, Mulberry and Cedar; filling I
Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets, {
ccording to their respective levels. {
The business part of the city was
Ugh and dry; all the south side Of
bird street was untouched as to the q
esidence lots; one or two cellars we're 8
lied on the north side. Ii
The waters all ran toward the I
outhside and were damned by the s
Ailway tracks in many places As a Q