The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-01
People Are LabOring NObIy to
Take Care Of Sufferers.
Many Pathetic Scenes at the
Auditorium.
SUPPLIES FLOW IN.
Clothing and Bedding Comes in
by Loads.
There Is Still a Demand for
More.
NO SCHOOLS TODAY.
They Have Been Dismissed I'm
til Thursday.
The Organizations Throw Open
Their Halls.
They Have Been Dismissed I'm
til Thursday.
The Organizations Throw Open
Their Halls.

The immediate assistance which was
given by the citizens OF this city to the
Thousands of people who are today
homeless as the result of the devastat-
ing floods Of this week, win go down in
history as one Of the many things which
Topeka has to be proud Of And not
only did they respond nobly to the call
for help when the excitement was at the
highest pitch and the country was ring
ing with the news of the awful results
Of the food but now that the principal
danger is over and all that remains to
be done is the taking care Of the suf-
ferers, the people are offering their SER
vices with the same good viii and are
working with the same energy
All day Saturday and Sunday when
the people who had been saved from
the high waters by the rescuing parties
in North Topeka. were landed on the
south bank Of the raging Kaw they
were put into hacks or buggies and
without charge. were driven immediate
~ to the Auditorium. unless they were
sick OF hurt in which case they were
taken to one OF the hospitals. Every
precaution was taken in order that
families and relatives might not be sep
arated but in spite of all precaution this
happened in many cases and today
many children may be seen at the Audi
forum with tears running down their
cheeks and when they are asked the
cause of their grief they try to swallow
a lump in their throat in order that they
may answer that they do not know the
wherea bouts of their parents. This is
also the case among many of the older
people who have no idea what has be-
come of their children.
The scene at the Auditorium viii be
remembered for long time by those
who have seen it. 1t seems to be one Of
wild disorder but in fact there is a sys-
tenn about every thing that is being
done. The place is crowded during the
day time and everybody seems TO be get
ting in the way Of others but in spite
of this general appearance of disorder
much work is being done Everybody
has something to do and is doing it.
Even the reporter who had gone there
with only the one purpose Of getting
material for story found himself as
sisting several men in carrying some
clothing and provisions into the build
ing from wagon which was standing
in the alleyway back OF the building.
The men at the Auditorium are tireless
workers but the women are not one bit
behind them. A great many Of them
are so-called society women who some
people think never do anything but wear
fine clothes Those who have this inn
preston Of them should correct 1t i'm
mediately, for it is this same class OF
women who are doing the best part Of
the relief work. They may be seen
during the day constantly moving in
and out among the flood sufferers like
so many rays of sunshine leaving light
hearts and bright faces in their wake.
One little colored boy about or 7
years of age who was wandering
around among the benches in the Audi
torium Sunday afternoon with tears in
his eyes attracted the attention of one
girl who after Wiping his tears away
hnv handkerchief him
what was the matter. He answered be-
tween stihed sobs that his mother and
father were still on the other side of the
river and that he had had nothing to
eat since Friday noon. 1t did not take
the girl long to act. She Immediately
notified her companions of his condi-
ton, and quicker than it takes to tell
II he was surrounded by a crowd Of
well known young ladies' who each had
something in her hand that would as.
sist In making him comfortable One
would have thought from their actions
rnat ne was parsonage of great im-
portance instead Of a simple little coll
ored boy who al any other time than
this would attract no attention at all.
But such is the spirit with which tbs
work is being carried on at the Audi
forum. The different classes of So
ciety are a thing unknown to the good
angels who are doing all that they can
to better the condition of the people
from the flooded district. There the
highest and the lowest meet and work
side by side with the same object In,
view. that of relieving the suffering or
the refugees. The race problem is
thrown aside. Wealth or poverty is not
considered White and col0red. rich and
poor and old and young are all alike
and all are anxious to contribute to
the work Of making the homeless and
hungry comfortable.
Immediately after the last edition Of
the evening papers had been issued on
saturday evening and the people had
rood of the r,r
perfect stream of people began pour-
Ing into the Auditorium carrying bun
dies Of every description. Some had
clothing, others had food and still 9th
ers had money There is a variety of
contributions as we'll as a quantity and
the women's relief committee is now
able to supply the various wants Of the
refugees. Even as late as Yesterday
evening the contributions were stiII COM
ing in and the platform at the rear Of
the big haH is now literally piled up
with wearing apparel The food suf-
ferers have no trouble at all Ia being
fitted on account of there being so
much clothing of different sizes but
even if this were not the case they
would be satisfied for most of them are
so wet and cold when they reach the
building that all they ask is something
that is dry and warm Plenty of shoes
are to be had and this is good thing
for shoes are more in demand and are
needed more by the refugees than any
other one class of clothing. Although
plenty of clothing is ia the possession
Of the womens relief committee it is
not given out recklessly
Al man or woman who is in need Of
any certain article has first to go to the
d WINGED OF said persons needs an order
Sis issued on those who have charge of
he distribution of the clothing. Here
I'D there person is found who Is par