The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30

the water was swirIing across rapidly
but still shallow. The last trip of the
patrol into the residence district was
made shortly after 4. Some OF the
bravest work done there i'm water four
to six feet deep at the corner of Norris
and Monroe streets was done by
negro boy called 'Arnief, a trusty pris-
oner Of the city. Arnie swan ana
Waded ahead of the officers, carried a
half dozen women from houses to safe
ty and toiled cheerfully back to dry
land He rode with the police all the
morning until the wagon was finally
capsized ia deep water on Crane street.
On this trip the women from three
houses near Norris and Monroe, several
children and an invalided or aged man
OF TWO were taken out. A light wagon
driven by W. w. Gillespie and manned
by three college boys took out several
OF theSe- The two wagons ma king their
way IN together. After that time, prob
aDiy 4-43, no effort was made to rescue
people from residences in that locality
although it, was evident that by no
means had all escaped. While the cur
rent was very swift on Norris street it
stood quiet i'm the built blocks of houses
and II is not thought there is any dan
ger of collapse from undermining.
ne rescue work was conducted after
o'clock, principally in that part of
North Topeka south of the Union Pa
clnc yards and west of Kansas avenue.
MANY BRAVE DEEDS
work, for the bravery of which Moth
ing too commeudable can be said was
done by ex-Detective O. NJ Capron, Jno
Orendorf. Robert Campbell. boy
named Dagan and one or two others
whose names could not be obtained, in
poats. The four men mentioned are ex-
pefts, cool and coura geous bOatmcD.
Against current flowing east on Cur
us street like flooded mill race these
men forced their boats into the west
part OF North Topeka time after tins,
Iahlns trom inundated houses probably
-vV persons between the hours of and
~ @ clock. kisIng danger of capSizing
at every trip In eddying currents these
men went and went again with no
tnought Of giving up until the rise Of
water had made the Melan bridge the
only dry place on which to land their
rescued.
BY that time the river had made
Crane street on the south side of the
bridge impassa Bile for wagons. The wa
ter was four or five feet deep in front
OF Seymour's commission house and
even the heavy patrol gon had been
washed away. Then with IS of the ref
ugees huddled together on the south ap-
proach of the Melan bridge the boat
men carried their boats across and be
gan the work Of carrying their once
rescued charges to places of greater
safety and comfort. The scene OF tears
and woe incidents pathetic disgusting
and amusing by turns. viii never be
wholly forgotten by the men who help
FIRST BOAT AND IT'S BURDEN.
The wire fence on the west side of the
approach was torn away and the first
boat shot out with its precious burden
into the water that deeply covered City
park. The current was less swift near
the bridge but it required the utmost
skill TO keep the boat righted as it pass
ed through the park and hoated into
Kansas avenue. to be rowed from the
center Of Crane street to dry land near
the Rock Island depot.
For the most part the rescued men
were brave One man whimperingly
tried to force himself into boat with
several women and children, but he was
harshly thrust back by the disapproving
boatmen- The women We're given the
first attention. Some of them had bun
dies containing only they knew what
But no bundles were allowed and had to
be abandoned in the empty street cars
that stood on the approach of the dis
mantled car bridge
While yet there were a half dozen
women and children waiting TO be taken
over, what cannot be described as other