The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-06-05
The First Authentic Information
Since Kansas City, Kas., Be-
came an Isolated Place.
TWENTY THOUSAND PEOPLE HOMELESS,
Nut May Ne Much GREATER KAnsas
CITY. Mo-. In Peril froaa Flrc by ReAsoa
OF Cutting Oh Of tho Water and Power
supply.


waterworks shut down and the city
practically at the mercy OF the first
FIRE that breaks out; with railroad
transportation feeble and uncertain.
Kansas City may. II the waters do
not recede within the next two or
three days. be compelled to fight for
her very life.
The first authentic Information
from Kansas City. Kas-. was received
Monday night. In that district 10000
people are homeless. A number which
can not be estimated. have been
drowned. and the property loss has
been heavy. The situation there Is a
parallel To the situation here-ap-
parently no better-and no worse.
There is no great probability that
there will be further loss Of life. il
the river does not rise very suddenly.
All through the wholesale district,
and in the east and west bottoms.
there are people still in houses-many
of them anxious 10 be taken away--a
goodly number of them content TO re-
main where they are, with all the
chances OF the food. The police have
done wonders in rescuin- people. and
have probably brought TWO hundred
and fifty of them safe to the high
ground. One hundred and fifty of
these were brought to the viaduct at
Twelfth street. and the balance were
saved in the east and west bottoms
by boats.
People Clingtnx to Their Homes.
Twenty people Were taken from the
Martin school and 30 from O'Brien's
lodging house in the east bottoms
The balance of them were brought in
singly and in small numbers Mon
day night, in the east and west bot
toms a number OF obstinate people
were still clnyirg TO their homes,
and although the police ran boats be-
meath their windows and offered 10
save them. they refused 10 leave.
Ii is utterly impossible 20 form any
estimate of the number Of dead in
Kansas City. There have been mani
fold stories OF how boats laden with
people have been seen 10 sink-there
have been reports without end Of
bodies seen floating by on wreckage:
OF men who have tried 10 drive wag-
ons laden with their household effects
against certain death in the swift cur
rent and gone down in the food. The
majority Of these stories lack proof.
however. and even il true. the proof
may never be had
There l. no possible way getting at
the names Of the dead and no chance
of forming any estimate that can con
fidently be termed accurate Ii j.
likely, however. that the number of
fatalities in Kansas City. No., viii
approximate fifty
waving white Cloths.
Down i'm the wholesale district peo-
pie at dusk Monday night were wav-
ing white cloths TO attract attention
The condition Of some of these was
pitiable. They had been held prison
ers for two days, threatened with
death by drowning. at one time by
fire. and for the most part without
food. and for "a hours certainly with
out drinking water. Every effort 10
being made to save them.
The financial damage is about an
great now as il is likely TO become
unless the water rises much higher
than at present. The great danger is
that foundations may be undermined.
AMI buildings. with their contents.
topple over into the food
There has been no suffering in the
city beyond that sustained by the
people driven from their homes. There
has been excellent work done by the
local relief committee and those in
control Of this work are confident
that the city will be able to care for
its own without calling upon the bal
ance OF the state Every demand has
been promptly met thus far, and the
only danger seems to be in a long-con-
tinued stage Of high water. Then.
necessarily. the demand will exceed
the ability of Kansas City 70 supply.
city IN Absolute Darkness.
Monday night the city was in abb
soIufe darkness. There was not the
Climmer Of gas jet or the flare OF an
electric light save in buildings which
have their own electric light plants
Steam for these is supplied by water
nIule0 IFOIu iht fHti- III hAA AhS
buildings in the city elevator service
has been discontinued. The newspa-
pers have been compelled 20 discon-
tinue the use of their type setting
ma. hines. and because of lack Of pow
er. are sticking type in the good old
way.
In the hotels. all of which are
crowded to their utmost capacity, the
most elaborate care is taken TO pre-
vent the waste of water. In front OF
every Mushroom a guard is stationed.
and no guest is admitted. even to
wash his hands. unless he Identifies
himself at the desk. secures the key
to his room. and in this manner hav-
ing proven his character and intention
good. he j. permitted 20 enter. dip
out water from q pail and do the
best he can with IL.
Lieutenant scents Danger.
Iieu;enant-of-Pol Harry A. adams
alone scented danger in the Missouri
Pacific embankment. which sighfseers
Al q