The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-03
PEOPLE SHOULD LEAVE.
Nothing Gained By People Stay
ing in North Topeka.

Ralph Stahl of Auburn. and A. p.
Smith. who lives two miles south OF
Topeka. who have been at work con-
stantlA- rescuing people from the North
side, urge that people ought to be COM
PEELED to come over before the water
gets so low that boats cannot run. Mr,
Smith started in on the rescue work
Sunday but Mr. Stahl did not hear of
the conditions until o'clock Monday
morning He Immediately loaded his
boat into a wagon and came to Topeka.
and has been resCuing people ever since.
Both Of these men were over a con-
siderable territory west of Kansas ave
nue. ate Tuesday afternoon. and they
say they found a good many people
there then. many of whom refused t.,
come across. thinking they could re
main till the water recedes and then go
to their homes. Both men say this will
be impossible, and that people ought to
be compelled to come across as soon ar
possible. because ii viii be harder 10
reach them when the water gets so low
that boats cannot run than it is now
The streets Will be washed out, and it
VIII be very difficult even to get sup
plies TO some sections.
we found as many as so people in
the Davis elevator as late as O'Clock
last evening. There We're % in the chop
mill on Gordon street, u in houses
near by, eight at 1905 North Harrison
and TO in two houses two blocks further
west. The water is already getting so
low that boatmen must 90 away
around some places in order to make
any Roadway and keep from getting
stranded There is big sand drift
near the pickle factory, for instance
that must be avoided. and the St Jo-
seph launch made only one trip across
t. this side Tuesday for fear of getting
stra nded
AT 1905 North Harrison is w IT
Keller and family and a neighbor fam
lily Of theirs. They had had nothing
% eat from Monday morning until We
sol thefe at o'clock Tuesday evening.
some boys had gone to their place with
provisions but had capsized lust as thew
reached the house and all the provf.
sions had been lost
"A good many of the people strn over
Ihere refuse to come out. Dut they ought
10 be compelled to- As soon as the yz7afe1
Eecedes SO that they can not be reach d
IN poats IL viii be almost impossible to
get in and ont at all for a time the mud
ana slime viii be very deep. There are
oeaa animals over there everywhere aud
North Topeka viii not be fit for human
habltation until it is thoroughly cleaned
up up mink INK particular stress should be laid
T. Level a eolored man who has had
experience in flood work and who has
Dfgn ~ Worh ID rescue and relief work
5lso efnpha sizes the fact that people can
og 10 sood py remaining on the north
soc ana that there is more danger after
the 49Od recedes than while it is coming
up. he SAYS he saw two 2-storv frame
nuilcing collapse Tuesday while the flood
was going down. One was the Porter
building on Central avenue and the Other
was between Central avenue and jackson
street. He says that the earth settles
when the water recedes there is much
more danger of the buildings collapsina-
than while the water IS coming up. aud
tnat those who are remaining in the 2
story buildings thinking they are safe
now that the food is going down. are real
ly in great danger
II is suggested that as soon as it is pos
slple 20 do so gangs Of workmen should
be thoroughly organized under the direc-
tion of competent men and that the bodies
Of an dead animals and refuse of that
character should be burned as quickly rs
possible. that water main should he laid
and the houses and streets flushed Here
again is "a difficulty. because the sewer is
caved In and many places and is proba blv
Choked with sand in others and the drain
age will be very imperfect