Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-06-06
DEATH LIST
NOT So LARGE
Reported Loss of Life at Topeka
Was Exaggerated.
ONLY "a KNOWN TO BE DEAD
Waters Are Falling and Situation
Somewhat ImprOVed-Probab
SO Lives Were Lost in
kansas City.

age:
Cases of sickness due to flood. $50
Lives lost "a
property loss ST 600
Not rescued and in peril. ........ 200
Topeka, Kan, June AT 6: 80 o'clock
Monday night the water in the Kan
sas river had gone down IA inches and
was falling at the rate of half an inch
an hour. From Manhattan, up the
river, comes the report that the water
there is slowly falling. At Wamego the
same condition prevails, and it is now
reasonably certain that the waters
here will steadily recede. At this time
there are "a known dead. The dis
tress Of the sufferers is being relieved
Those who are still in North Topeka
are being supplied with food and they.
are in practically no danger unless it
be from sickness.
No lives were lost in the fires, and
only eight buildings were destroyed
by the fire.
Early reports were unavoidably eX-
aggerated. The burning of lumber
piles gave the impression that the
whole of the north part of the city was
going, and no one was found who
placed his estimate of the loss of life
under the hundreds.
With the smoke cleared away, the
Kaw falling and communication by
boat less difficult, additional light on
the subject was received Monday
morning and the reduction in the esti-
mated loss Of life followed.
The property loss will be $4,000
at least. This includes damage of
CT North Topeka, losses by the rail
road companies of S20O,0OO and by the
Topeka Street Railway company of
SIS. 600. Besides these losses various
manufacturing plants have been seri-
ously damaged. 1t is impossible as yet
TO figure out the total damage on ac-
count of the inundation of the land. It
is also feared that not few struc-
lures will give way under the pressure
of the water.
Fear of Epidemic.
One of the most distressing features
of the situation now is the possibility
that there will be a spread of conta-
gious diseases. People of all classes
are huddled together in houses not
large enough for them, and on all sid es
they are surrounded by water. Doc
tors and medical relief cannot reach
sufferers to any great extent.
The physicians of the city. under the
direction of the city health board, are
making heroic efforts to check the
threatened calamity. In this work they
are being well aided by the health
boards of the state and country.
Scarcity of Provisions
Provisions Of all sorts are becoming
scarce in Topeka. No freight trains
have entered the city for several days,
and as large quantities of groceries
were destroyed in North Topeka there
will not be enough for the people to ca
If this situation lasts much longer
1t is charged that certain of the mer-
chants have formed a combination for
the purpose of controlling the prices
on provisions. A prominent miller
said: give do not intend and have
never intended, to raise the price of
flour, no matter what the grocers are
thinking Of doing. The price of flour
will continue the same. We do not
wish to make any money out of a
calamity. Unless the markets go up
our -four will be sold at the same
price" 1t is reported that local com
mission firm bought up all the pota-
toes in town last Saturday and adj
vaneed the price so cents bushel 1t
will be at least a week before freight
trains from the east can enter Topeka,
and perhaps longer. An effort will be
made to secure stock of provisions
from the smaller towns down the road
south of here, and this may tend to
relieve the situation somewhat.
Rescue Work.
Tt was learned that a Rock Island
relief train had reached North Tone
ka in the vicinity of the reform school
The train brought 60 boats and two
steam launches. Boatmen from Lake
Contrary are in charge, and they are
doing splendid work in taking flood
victims to places of safety. The chief
Of police at St. Joseph and eight Off
So1S the Train. y long TRAIN
of Rock Island passenger coaches were
also brought, and in these the people
are being placed.
The people of Topeka have respond
ed Loyalty TO the calls for supplies and
shelter for the needy and the home
less. Up to the present time the relief
committee has had no trouble at all
to supply what clothes are necessary
and to feed all the hungry. Further
than this no steps have been taken.
Many of the people have only been
cared for temporarily, and the big
gest demand on the generosity of the
people is yet to come when the fitting
out of thousands of homes becomes a
necessity. The relief work is we'll in
hand and is progressing in good shape.
The committee has been able to keep
up with the calls upon it and fill all
demands for supplies.