The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-02
TWENTY THOUSAND
PEOPLE HOMELESS
Continued from page ~

anu arc Ouly lew wires In
shape to do business east.
The river gauge this morning
showed 35 feet, having risen from
30.7 during the night. This is nearly
nine feet higher than the previous
high record in 1881. There was eight
feet of water in the union depot. A
great swirling lake, dotted with float
ing cottages, trees and telegraph
poles and other wreckage, covers the
lOwlands as far as the eye can reach.
Similar floating objects came rush
ing down the Missouri river, some of
them possibly from Topeka.
The committee having in charge
the work of relief and rescue were
busy early, and special meeting of
the city council was held during the
forenoon.
Thousands Of refugees at the con-
ventiOn hall made their breakfasts
from the rations issued by the relief
committee. The police have been
ordered to shoot on sight any one
caught plundering. The number of
iiNCo looC III tllIS Slly ne
learned for some time, and probably
never will be known definitely. How
ever, there seems to be ample verifi-
cation of reports which account for
the loss of more than a dozen lives
in the bottoms.
Word was brought this morning to
police headquarters that number of
people were looting houses in the
east side bottoms. They had impro-
vised RATS from logs and were pro-
pelling them with poles and making
their way into houses through the
second story windows. AS soon as
this word was received by Chief of
Police Hayes, he ordered detach-
ment of officers to the place with
strict orders that the thieves should
be shot down at once.
Des Moines, May 3O.-Four feet of
water was coursing through a large
section Of East Des Moines business
district at daylight due. to rise of
the river of one foot over all past
records and the carrying away of
section of the levee and dam at Cen
ter street.
Thirty-fve thousand people in East
Des Moines and 1000 in North Des
communication with the main section
of the city. Absolutely no attempt
is being made to transact business
The street railway company does not
expect to be able to start cars for a
week.
Six Thousand persons are homeless,
80 per cent of whom are practically
without shelter and have been unfed
for "a hours, during which time they
have been exposed to the inclement
weat har
Women and children shivered all
night long in rain soaked garments,
unable to find dry place on which
to lie.
Box cars were placed within reach
of the refugees this morning in which
hey could find shelter from the rain.
inestimable suffering prevails. The
suddenness of the food gave no time
for preparation or organization Of de-
tense.
This morning, the Des Moines river
is two miles wide.
The damage cannot b. computed
because of the fact that close TO two
Thousand buildings are submerged
and it cannot be told whether they
will be carried away.
Great damage was done by the
breaking of the levee along the Chi
cago, Burlington e Quincy track
which inundated the principal fac
tory district.
A dozen ice houses have beer
washed away, resulting in an approx
mate loss of 100000.
Topeka, Kan. May 30.-North To
peka, with its 1000 inhabitants. is al
island, and can be reached by boa
alone.
Houses with the water below thu
second story windows are the eXcep
ton in the residence district.
Three business houses collapsed
carry tCudS. uSN Hdu bStll uS
serted and no one was hurt.
The Jay-Thomas planning mill wa
destroyed by fire, started from a liv
wire.
Gas. water and electric lights ar
shut off, while down Kansas avenue
the main street, water is pouring i
swift stream that at many point
would swim a horse. 1t is imposs
Bile to estimate the damage.
, The river is still rising. All nigh
t families over the worst flooded POI
lions roasted on the roofs of buil(
ings and in upper stories, shootln
: revolvers and shouting to attract a
5 tention.
A baker and four of his workme
+ who camped on their roof over nigf
t escaped on planks today. They sa'
= woman and two of her childre