The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-31
FLOODS MAKE 10000 HOMELESS
FOURTEEN LIVES HAVE ALSO
BEEN LOST IN THE WEST.

ManSeS. NeOVaskA, Iowa ana MlesOurl
Suffer Mest-Thousands Of People
Compelled 70 Flee to the Hills-Many
Cities Cut on NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Undermined BY the water. FAN.
ST.. LOUIS, May Fourteen lives, It
is estimated, have been lost, fully 10000
persons have been rendered homeless, and
financial losses, including damage to houses
and stock washed away and railway tracks
and bridges rendered useless, that will
mount high into the hundreds of thousands
OF dollars, have already resulted from the
almost unprecedented foods now raging
in Oklahoma. Indian Territory. Kansas.
Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa. Lives are
reported lost at these places: Topeka, g;
Dies Moines, 4: Kansas City, 1; Oklahoma
City, 1. The homeless are estimated:
Topeka, 1000; various interior Kansas
places. $500. Kansas City, Kan, and neigh
borhood, $500; Des Moines, 5000, and
Nebraska places. 1000
Thousands Of persons, particularly at
Topeka and throughout Kansas, spent
last night on housetops. Hundreds at
Des Moines are without food or shelter
and great suffering is being experienced all
through the flooded district
Railway service, particularly west and
southwest OF Kansas City, is demoralized,
Dozens Of bridges, even as far west
as Manhattan, Kan, have been washed
out, and many miles OF track are under
water. Rain is still falling at many places
In the Southwest, and the Weather Bureau
predicts that the disastrous hood records
of 1881 will be exceeded, and that the worst
Is yet to come
KANSAS CITY, May 30.-The food situa-
ton here and in the Kaw Valley is far more
serious to-day than it was yesterday. The
Missouri rose two feet to-day, and further
rise Of two feet il predicted before morn
ing. In Armourdale. Argentine and Kansas
City, Kan, western suburbs Of this city,
5000 persons have been driven from their
homes by high water. Harlem, suburb
opposite this city, Is depopulated, not
family remaining In town. All that pre-
vents the place being swept away is rail-
way embankment, which Is momentarily
expected TO go.
Should the predicted rise in the Missou ri
come, the damage will be incalculable,
Two companies Of the National Guard
were ordered out to-day to assist in saving
lives and property. Many persons in the
bottoms spent the night on the roofs Of
their dwellings, and were taken of this
morning
BUILDINGS COLLAPSE IN TOPEKA.
TopEKA, Kan, May 3o.-The food situa-
ton here has in nowise improved. Several
people have been drowned, and thousands
OF acres Of farming land are submerged
and wheat and corn irreparably ruined.
Three stores, undermined by the water,
collapsed to-day. running the stocks Of
goods in them. North Topeka. with
its 1000 inhabitants Is surrounded by
water, the only way to reach there being
by boat. The roofs Of houses and tree
tops were points OF refuge for many in
the flooded district during the night.
THOUSANDS ON THE HILLS
SALINA, Kan. May s0.-Salina was cut
of yesterday from all communication
with the world One telegraph wire is
now open by way OF Denver, but may not
improved to-day. The city was almost
entirely submerged yesterday. The water
WAS foot deep on the business streets
A big rise in the Smoky River last night
caused people to leave their homes on the
East Side, and hundreds are now encamped
on the hills east OF town.
Three boat 10 ads Of provisions were de-
spatched to the hills yesterday. A mes
senger reports from there to-day that
every one is safe and doing we'll under the
circumstances.
Most OF the business houses are closed,
as many OF the buildings are not con-
sdered safe. One large. two-story brick
building fell yesterday with a sudden
crash, but, luckily. all occupants escaped.
There are no fatalities reported. but
hundreds OF people have abandoned their
homes, and members OF families are scat
tered miles apart.
MEANWHILE, Kan, May 3o.-It is still
raining in Marysville. The Big Blue River
is still rising. The rise from Beatrice,
Neb., is now here. Fully thirty families
along the river have abandoned their homes,
and some OF them are living in tents.
Tho Blue Valley train Is tied up here, and
has been since Tuesday. Trains from the
East and West are all late, and the service
is very irregular.
NORTHWESTERN MISSOURI wATER-BoUND.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. May 30 Water bound.
with no prospect of relief, sums up the
SITUATION IN ntOtnWcst uhioOouii. hltHOuEt
there has been no loss OF life in ST Joseph
from floods, the property loss will be enor-
NOUS Railroad traffic Is practically at a
standstill, and passengers who are COM
PEELED to board ira ins do 80 with no guar
antee that they will reach their destination
Corn and wheat are in bad shape, and in
many counties crops are ruin ed. The
gauge to-day showed the wa ter to he 20 rs
above bench mark, which means Ill feet
above danger line, the highest point reached
for many years. Washouts render traffic
on railroads unsafe. and railroad officials
are working night and day wrestling with
the water problem.
BONNEVILLE, Mo. May a0.-The Missouri
River is higher here than it has been in
eleven years. 1t went over the banks on
the Howard county side at noon. The
lowlands are being submerged. The in
habitants on islands east and west Of Boone
vile arr being removed by steamboat 20
places Of safety. 1t is indicated that the
river will 80 two feet higher by Monday
morning. Franklin Junction. across the
river from Bonneville. is in immediate
danger,
DIES MONIES, Ia, May 3o.-Ths river