The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-31
A TALE OF DESTRUCTION.
Running Account of the Frightful Calamity at North Topeka, Kas.

Running Account of the Frightful
 Calamity at North Topeka, Kas.
 Topeka, Kas., May 30-The whole of North Topeka has for hours been sepa- rated from the main city by the nood md is burning.
 People who did not leave North To- peka last night when they had chance are now in the greatest danger Of losing their lives As far as can be estimated at this time over 800 people are beyond rescue The Kansas Ricer is rising at the rate of three inches an hour. Thirty are known to be dead and the list will pc larger. Hundreds are missing. People are drowning and others are burning to death If any portion of North Topeka escapes destruction by the flood 1t seems tonight as though fire would finish the work The lumber yard of Jonathan Thomas caught fire this afternoon and whole blocks of houses are burned Burn ing houses are floating through the streets and setting fire to others.
 It is reported that he Union Pacific depot and hotel has been burned. There is no possible way of quenching the flames The loss of life will be appalling. The property loss will be three million dol lars or more. Nobody can tell just what has been destroyed. The water exists around Sheerey and other suburbs. Every foot of North Topeka, inhabited by 10000 people is under water. The current is so swift that no boat can live in 1t. Seven thousand people have escaped to the south side and ahe being cared for as well as possible. The remaining large number have not yet been accounted for. They have been forced to the top floor or the roof and are waiting for the water to sub side or carry them down stream.
 They are safe only so long as the build Ing remains standing. Below the town Ecores of men are in tree tops and yelling for help. Thousands of revolver shots and screams of children have been heard on The north side-signals for aid. Women and children in the west part of, North Topeka where the water Is probably deeper than at any other point in the Immediate part of the city are standing m the highest points in reach and yet In water to their necks. It is reported by men who have been in sght of the district that hundreds there are suffering and sick The current Is so strong that cars are useless and early in the afternoon a gang was being organized to row as far as possible and then to swim the rest of the distance. Several boats and wagons have been overturned and women have been struggling in the water.
 The river reached the Rock Island depot on First Street this morning The water m Crane Street Is eight feet deep and the current is like a mill race. Perhaps a hundred people have been dumpd into the water at that point. The river IS 25 feet above the low water mark and Is still rising The weather is cold and the people who have not been rescued are suffring intensely. Unless they have help soon 1t is feared that many will die of exposure.
 Tn the Street colored Baptist Church on the north side more than 100 victims or the flood are ga athered.
 The water flooded the building and the people are standing upon pews in order to keep their heads above water The work of rescuing and caring for the flood survivors is being Slfried forward syste- maticaliy. Contributions are being rushed into the relief committees cih-