The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-03
Subsiding Waters Bring Hope
to Kansas City.
LIVES LOST For OTHERS
Two Men Perish in an Effort 10 Rescue Fellow
Beings in Distress The Silunti9n
Now Shows Great I'm
prov1ment.
(By the Associated Press.) }


Kansas City, Mo, June 2-Blue sky
was visible above Kansas City this after
noon. The rains have disappeared and the
sun was visible for the first time this
week.
The waters of the Kaw River have
fallen eight inches today and tonight are
steadily declining at the rate of about
one-half inch an hour In the Missouri
the righ stage of 35 feet is still main
tained, but this is due to the rise which
has been coming down the Missouri proper
and has been able to offset the fall in
the Kaw. 1t is the water of the latter
stream, however, that has caused all the
damage in this city and in Kansas City,
Kas., and with it at a normal stage, busl-
ness IN Kansas City soon will resume
usual conditions. This CITY, by narrow
margin has escaped a serious shortage
in food, has faced the peril Of fire, utterly
helpless to avert its consequences, has
suffered millions Of dollars of damage to
property and sustained a loss In life
that in all probability, never viii be ae-
curately measured and now it IS com
nIencing to believe promises of better
things.
The situation tonight shows improve
ment on almost every side; the waters
are falling, the water works will resume
operations tomorrow, the gas has been
turned into the mains once more and
there is no immediate danger Of a serious
shortage of food. The city has cared for
its own and is abundantly able to do
so still, but there is not sufficient food
on hand to permit the relief committee
and the municipal officers to feel easy
over the outlook The transportation fa-
Icilities at the present time are so limited
that not much freight can be brought
In at a time and there is danger that the
demand may outrun the supply.
Two men lost their lives today in the
attempt TO save others. ]. S. keenan,
was drowned while endeavoFing to rescue
some people from the Adams House III
Union avenue and Edward Brooks lost
his life IN Liberty street, where his skin
was overturned by an eddy while he was
cndeavoring to get another man out OF
building. A number Of bodies We're seen
floating down the stream, but are believed
to be those of people drowned further up
the Kaw, probably at North Topeka.
Fully fifty people were brought to the
Twelfth street viaduct during the day by
boatmen. None of them had been in
great danger Many people are still in the
warehouses and office buildings and will
remain there until the flood subsidies
They are entirely safe and fairly com
Portable.
There is very little probability of much
greater financial damage than has already
been done. There have been some reports
of settling of various large buildings in
the wholesale district but they appear to
have settled in remarkable manner and
expert examination viii be required to
prove that they are in a dangerous con-
dtion.
The close of another day brought only
another night of wretchedness to the
thousands of refugees at Kansas City,
Was, without water, save for urgent
needs without beds, the upper part Of the
town being unable to house in any comfort
the hordes of refugees. Tonight bids fair
to ba a repetition of others since the com
ing of the flood.
The wretchedness. however, is more
mental than physical, although the dis
comforts due to herding large bodies of
people IN DulIdlngS not DullC IOf the puE-
pose and trying to feed an army without
commissary department. Leavenworth
to the north, the only way by which the
suburb can be entered with supplies, is the
place to which all turn with hope. Ra-
tions sufficient to last several days, if care
fully eeonomized were brought in during
the day and additional bedding, clothing,
medicine and other supplies are expected !
within the next twenty-four hours.
Much mental discomfort exists because
of the separation of members Aof families /
who had little time for escape from the
flood Since Sunday, fathers, mothers !