The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-05

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Des Moines. Iowa June 1.-The situa-
ItiOn in DeS MoineS is still diShearten-
ling. although the water continues to
tfall rapidly. The wide territory that
Twas flooded presents a sad picture.
Men n women who have anXiouSly
watched for the water to go down to-
lday wandered over the muddy streets
Ito the houses which had been their
ihOmeS.
Train service here OH the main lines
lis once more nearly normal. At OF
ltumwa. the water has begun to decline.
lbut 1t is still rising between keosauqua
land keokuk. Water floats through the
lmain streets of OttumWa, our miles Of
Imain line of the Burlington tracks are
under water. the light and water plants
jare shut down and business is pros
FORTY-EIGHT DROWNED AT
TOPEKA.
Topeka, kas.. June 1.-The flood stu
Iation IN Topeka tonight may be brief
lily summarized thus.
The known dead number forty-eight
The river has fallen today three feet
is now receding at the rate of two
inches IN hour.
Distress will be great among the
refugees.
Governor Bailey issues a -proclama-
ton ea III 4ga for oTa help for ths aed suf-
Fifty deputy sheriffs, arn4>A with
Winchesters, go to North Topeka to
hooters whenever they are caught steal
ing.
Governor Bailey'S proclamation call
ing for outside aid was decided upon
at a mass meeting today when the gov
.ernor was requested to issue the call.
1t was decided to make this a general
appeal for the people all along the
flooded districts of the state as we'll as
for those in Topeka. The plan is to
make Topeka headquarters and to dis
the aid from here to the other
parts of the state.
There Will be this general appeal, an
anpeal through the fraternal organiza-
an other anDeal through various
4 meeting of the representative peo-
pie of North Topeka, who are on the
south side. was held today to arrange
for systematic protection Of their prop
.erty in North Topeka. Immediately at
ter the meeting a large number Of men
left IN boats for the north. where they
will guard property n their orders are
to shoot.
The river is three feet below high
water mark. 1t is the opinion of eX-
lNl - NliSA NI4V l. 81 ~ tAN
ly from now on. The Blue. the Republi-
can and the Solomon have spent their
force and the volume of water spread
over the kaw bottom will find its chan
med quickly.
Governor Bailey will communicate
with the federal authorities and eX-
poets to have no trouble in securing the
use of whatever tents are needed.
DROWNING NEAR ST. LOUIS.
st. Louis, June 2.-Thirtv feet, the
danger point. was reached and passed
today by the food that is coming doWn
the Mississippi river The river con-
.tinues to rise rapidly and a point con-
.siderably higher han 81 feet. which
Weather ForecaSter Bowie. had pre-
.dicted would be reached by Thursday
or Friday. will fe accomplished. The
crest Of the flood in the Kansas and the
Missouri river is yet to come. n when
it shall reach here and be increased by
water in the Mississipni, some loss
|of life is feared and great destruction
TO property must follow.
The first loss attending the present
IN this vicinity was reported today
i'm the drowning of Mrs. William
Schmidt and her 80 children. in an
attempt to escape on a fiat boat from
Island. in the Missouri river
Schmidt and his family of four were
compelled to abandon their home on the
island early today and nut some of
their household goods in the small BOAT
in which they depended for safety. In
mid-stream the boat capsized and
Schmidt was able to save only one Of
his children