The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-31

nave dled IN any event. DeIlcdte WOm-
en- and children have been without food
or shelter since early last evening.
Business in Topeka was practically
at a standstill because of Memorial
Day, and most of the stores were
closed the greater part of the day.
The flood and the condition of the
sufferers took the attention of every
one, to the exclusion of all else.
An army of men was engaged in
the relief work and it would be idle
to attempt to place an estimate on
the immense number rescued by their
efforts. Fire Chief Wilmarch was in
a boat which came near being swamp
ed. When his boat struck the swift
current under the Tenth avenue
bridge, it was jerked loose from the
hold the men had on a safety wire,
which had been stretched from pier
to pier The chief succeeded in catch
ing hold of the guy wire, but was COM
PEELED to remain there several hours
until taken off by skiff.
Insane Asylum Threatened.
The insane asylum is very near the
river on the south side, and on account
of the rapidly rising water, it is not
improbable the whole institution may
have to be abandoned before morning.
The asylum is composed of ten build
ings, and is the largest public institu-
mates. The asylum has already lost its
ice and water supply. There is no dan
ger to the inmates, and when neces-
sity shall arrive they can be removed
in safety.
All day the need Of boats was felt.
The Kansas river ordinarily is a very
shallow stream, and there are no boats
of any size obtainable. The small
boats cannot be rowed against the
swift current which sweeps the streets.
If a steam launch were at hand many
people would be saved who are now
facing certain death.
AT the Chicago Lumber Companys
yards, A B. Belts, a wealthy citizen
and a member of the Legislature, had
a gang of men engaged nearly all day
in making scows that kept commune
cation open under the bridge that con-
meets the two parts of town.
Deserted a suburb.
Oakland. a suburb five miles north
east of Topeka, is deserted. The people
began leaving this afternoon, having
been warned by the city engineer.
AT O'Clock the water from the river
backed up over the street car tracks in
East Topeka, near the Santa F'e shops.
The way for the people between Brew
err street and the river to get out was
a haf
part of the city tonight is completely
flooded. Farther out the water rose
early in the afternoon. In this local
ity several people are still in a danger
Gus position.
1t is said the police have all the
boats under their charge, and that the
houses in this district are given this
much protection. The houses in this
section are being looted, and the police
are trying to get possession of all the
boats to stop the plundering.
About 8 o'clock a current began to
flow with great swiftness through a
break in the buildings lining the block
between Crane and First streets. This
widening of the current made it still
harder to pull the boats across to the
pontoon by means of the line.
A great quantity of driftwood began
to come down the new current, press
ing with great force against the pom
toon A number of men were sta
toned at this point with poles, and
it was only by hard and continuous
work on their part that the drift was
kept from piling up and pushing the
bridge away.
One of the men who worked all the
afternoon with a pike pole was DR..
Raster. chief surgeon of the Santa Fe
Railroad. The most prominent men in
1saf.
all day:
Further Rise Feared.
Reporters who have just arrived
from the river say the water is still
rising. An uncon1rmed report from
Wamego and Manhattan, west OF To-
peka, says that another rise is coming
down the Republican and Blue rivers.
If this be true, the situation here will
be greatly intensified.
Fire Chief Wilmarth says that the
fire on the east side of Kansas avenue
in North Topeka is rapidly taking the
remaining buildings. The fire is going
toward the wind. and this will serve
to check its progress, but there is so
much burning wreckage floating about
that the destruction of the remaining
houses is regarded as certain.
People on the roofs OF houses are yet
heard calling frantically for help. 1t IL
said that two boats loaded with peo-
Die were swamped. and that a dozen
or more persons were drowned.
Shorey. another suburb Of the city,
"a now inundated Jackson School
house shelters 100 people. they entered
the building before the water become
50 high. ana now they cannot escape.
The building ~ on slightly raised
ground. and II no further rise takes
place, the prisoners may BE- rescued.
They are now standing on benches, the
water covering the floor several feet
deep. The Harris elevator also shelter
hffy people.
The water IL now 10 high that 4 Il
rapidly spreading out over fhe country
north - Topeka,
AZ midnight earlier estimates Of ths