Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-06-11
TOPEKA ASKS HELP
FLOOD BURDEN TOO GREAT FOR
ONE CITY TO BEAR.

Known dead, forty-eig1t.
River falls three feet and is now
receding at the rate Of two inches
an hour.
Distress will be great among the
refugees.
Governor Bailey issues a proclama-
tion calling for help for i.Jod suffer
ers Of the state.
Fifty deputy sheriffs armed with
Winchesters go to North Topeka to
protect property with orders to shoot
looters wherever they are caught
stealing.
Governor Bailey's proclamation
calling fer outside aid was decided
upon at mass meeting today, when
the governor was requested to issue
the call 1t was decided to make a
general appeal to the people all
along the flooded districts Of the
of the state rs well as those in To-
peka. The plan is TO make Topeka
headquarters and to distribute the
aid from here to the other parts OF
the state. There will be a general
appeal made, an appeal through the
fraternal organizations and other
appeals through various sources.
A meeting Of the representative
people Of North Topeka who are on
the south side was held today TO
arrange for systematic protection Of
their property in North Topeka.
Immediately after the meeting
large number OF men left in boats
for the north side, where they will
guard property, and their orders are
to shoot.
The river is three feet below high
water mark. The fall Is plainly in
dicated on the Seymour building at
Kansas avenue and Crane street. The
water has Teceded on Kansas avenue
to the platform Of the Rock Island
depot distance of go feet. 1t is
the opinion of experts that the river
will go down "a idly from now on.
The Blue, the Republican and the
Solomon have spent their force and
the volume of water spread over the
Kaw bottom will hunt its channel
quickly.
The situation In the od-stricken
districts Is better than it has yet
been, for the reason that fewer peo-
pie are marooned lie houses, In trees
and on islands Nobody is now
clinging to trees. Those who had 70
cling were either rescued or dropped
into the river. Tonight not to ex-
coed 400 persons are In North Topeka.
The work Of taking them out began
at an early hour today and it is be-
lieved by night few were left in the
flooded town.
There is no way OF getting at the
amount Of damage done by the food
In Topeka and vicinity. The dam
age may reach two million dollars.
The Commercial Club at noon
today voted to ask for outside aid for
the sufferers. Yesterday the club
voted that no aid from the outside
would be accepted but the distress
uf the peOpe today Is SO great that
the community cannot provide for all
and so the charity of the country is
appealed to.
This action was taken after an
address hy Governor Bailey, who has
just returned to the city from MJund
City, where he had been water. bound
since last Thursday. The governor
points out to the club the necessities
Of the suffering people aud the inabil.
ity OF the community to provide prop
ely fJr them and relieve their wants
and said that while lie wanted to
work in harmony with the town peo-
pie and its charitable organizations
he saw bis duty clearly, and he would
issue proclamation calling upon the
charitable people Of the country to
send aid in the form Of money.
Governor Bailey and the CONNER
cial club are drafting proclamation
to be sent out TO the world concern
the acceptance Of relief.
my idea" slid the governor, lis
to first call on The people of the
state who have not suffered to give
out Of their abunda nee to the suffer.
ers. This is ii tremendous calamity,
and 1t is something that cannot be
COPIED with in few days, but it will
take months. The territory devas.
tated is equivalent to a strip 200 miles
long and six miles wide through oul
most fertile territory. | have care,
fully computed this and it is con,
sentative estimate. Not only is the
crop swept away from the farms anC
much of the live stock, but In many
instances the Accommodations Of life,
time are gone. We must combat III
ease and relieve distress, and 1t is
tremendous undertaking. But before