The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-02
Appalling.
Continued from First PaSe.o

Deen rescued are suffering Intensely
Unless they have help soon 1t is feared
that many will die Of exposure.
Burning houses are floating about,
letting fire to others. The lower story
at the burning buildings contain ID feet
OF water. The current is so strong that
no boat can approach any of the burn
ing buildings. People are gathered on
the tops OF houses n Will meet death
either py fire or drowning. The cries
OF help can be distinctly heard a mile
away. n whole city is wildly excited
because no aid can be extended to the
sufferers. The river alta North Topeka
is five miles wide. No possible estimate
Of the financial loss is obtainabie, but
it can be stated that it will reach the
millions.
North Topeka was the manufacture
ing district of the city. Three large
flour mills. three wooden mills and other
manufacturing enterprises are entirely
destroyed. The water supply of the
whole city has been cut off. The water
from the river extends nearly = mile on
the s~outhside. The Rock Island depot
is abandoned and more than 500 people
pie on this side of the river ara also
homeless but no loss of life has result
ed in South Topeka. The Kansas ave-
nue. bridge is the only one across the
river for miles and the approaches 10
that bridge are flooded by thirty feet
OF wafer A pOllIOO1l DTluSt Is pellS
erected. in an effort to reach the suf-
ferers.
Seven thousand OF more people are
on this side of the river sheltered in
the public buildings. Topeka is now
able to take care of all u~nfor-unateS.
The work Of caring for the refugees is
being pushed with the utmost rapidly.
From the state house dome as many
as eighty fires can be counted in differ
ant rn--- ~ \-1--l- rF@~nl-n H. {1~-
central portion Of the city has beer
burned out at 10 o'clock tonight and
it is safe to say that by morning not
a house in the main part of North
Topeka Will be left standing. When it
is stated that North Topeka has 10000
inhabitants. the extent of the disaster
can be realized. People are sticking
to the roofs of houses and maui are
giving up in despair and dropping into
the water below to be carried away by
the swift currents. It is deatah by fire
or drowning to four hundred persons.
unless means can be found for their
rescue. Great efforts are being mad
to construct a steam launch to go to the
aid of the sufferers and what ever is
done must be dom promptly or the
loss of life will be appalling.
About 5 o'clock a current began to
flow with great sWiftnesS through q
break IN the buildings lining the block
between Crane and First streets. This
widening of the current made it still
harder work to pull the boats across
to the pontOon by means of the line. A
great of drift wood began to
come down the new current. pressing
with great force against the pontOon.
A number of men were stationed at this
point with poles, and it was only by
hard and continuous work on that part
that the diff was kept from piling up
and pushing the bridge away. One of
the men who worked all the afternoon
with a pike pole was DR.. Raster, chief
surgeon Of the Santa Fe railroad. The
most prominent men in the city worked
as common labererS all day.
In the auditorium tonight 2,00e home
less people are quartered. The society
women of the city are there attending
to the refugees needed Great wagon
loads Of clothing and provisions have
been sent and the immediate needs of
the unfortunates have been provided
for. In this large number Of refugees
are Russians, Italians and many Of
the poor classes of the city'S pOpula-
ton. A number of these are afflicted
with contagious diseases, but 1t is i'm
to enforce any quarantine
regulations. The physicians of the city
say that an epidemic of sickness of ala
kinds may be looked for. Quarantine
regulations are lost sight of by the res
cuers. Many children are suffering
with scarlet fever.
Kansas City, Mo, May 30.-Unprece--
denied floods are raging in central and
eastern Kansas, northwestern Missouri,
eastern Nebraska and southwestern
Iowa, the result Of ten days of almost
continuous rainfall. The general situa-
ton is considered most grave. with no
immediate relief in sight. Many lives
have been lost and it is estimated that
no less than $4,000 persons have been
driven from their homes, many of
which We're washed away. and that the
property lost Will run we'll up into the
millions of dollars.
The greatest damage has been &C.
casiOned between Kansas City and
Ellsworth, Kas., one hundred miles
west The chief sufferer is north
Topeka. which has been separated from
the man part of the city and become
an island. At Kansas Cit" Kas., and
IL the suburban towns of Armourdale
and Argentine, and al Harlem and
Sheffield, Mo. near Kansas City. Mo-,
An aggregate of 10000 persons have
been forced to leave thei- homes and
5000 emnloyes of the numerous packing
houses and railroad shops in the bot
toms are out OF employment.
The situation Summarized is as fol-
Homeless
Kansas-North Topeka. 800: near
Emporia. 5000; SaIina ano vicinity. 500:
Lawrence, 500; Kansas c.;y. armour
dale 5000.
NiTsiuro-Harlem ana Sheffield. 700.
lc".2-Des Moines. 6.cGH: Oottumwa,
200.
Nebraska-Llncolr zoo. Beatrice, 200.
Financial Losses:-
KanSaS-NOrth Topeka, $1,000. 600:
Lawrence. 800, 600; ConcOrdia, $3.50. 600;
Alkaline and vicinity, $500, 900: Salina
and vicinity, $50. 600: Solomon. Chap
Detroit and WOodbine and inter
rening country, $500, 900; Des Moines.
500. 600.