The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-01
rRoUBLE IN AUBURNDALE.
Situation in the Suburb Has Been
Very Serious.

While all eyes have been averted to
the untold losses of life and property
north of the Kansas river almost no
attention has been paid the sufferingS
Of the people on the north side of Au-
burndaIe. Only a strip four ana one
half blocks long and of about equal
width, forming the northwest part OF
that suburb and situated in what has
been an old bed OF the kaW. on both
sides of the Rock Island right OF way,
has been visited by the flood.
Twenty houses, the shelter of perhaps
eighty lives, are inundated. The ten
ants of these were forced to flee for their
lives Friday evening and night at the
same time the evacuation of North To-
peka commenced. Now only tree tops
and roots can be seen north of Walker
avenue, the curVing roadway which
foOts the rise in ground south Of which
the greater part of the suburb stands,
high and dry. These people are all we'll
sheltered by kindly neighbOrs and are
not suffering for food or clothing al
though but few of them saved more
than the clothing which they wore.
Two boats were busy all Saturday
taking what property could be secured
from the houses but these boats worked
under the greatest difficulties. One Of
them has since been pressed into duty
in North Topeka.
The territory inundated is bounded or
the west by the asylum grounds where
a large amount of garden for the use of
the asylum inmates has been washed
away A large ice house belonging to
the asylum. containing hundreds of tons
of ice put up during the winter for sum
mer consumption was washed away
Saturday and has lodged in the timber
farther down stream. The contents, OF
course are lost. on the south the in
undated district is bounded by Walker
avenue from Story street east to HaW-
thOrne. Hawthorne street forms the
west boundary Of an untenanted part
7f r7rpr1ph which y
ditch runs UP this depression the
river has backed as far south as Laurel
avenue. At the point there where the
asylum car line crosses the draw the
bridge is under water and car service
to the asylum has been suspended. The
water covered territory extends north
and east around Potwin, all of which is
high above water
The streets where houses are under
water are Hawthorne, Winter, Cory,
Waite and Story.
Among those in AuburndaIe who have
been driven from their homes are:
Joseph J. Fields, ex-treasurer Wa
baunsee county.
Judge w. f. Rightmire.
Charles Parr. Fred Parr and J. N
Parr. Their houses are caught in the
trees.
Joe Lester, gardener. across Rock
Island tracks
J. Fechtley, baker at insane asylum,
who lives on The Drive.
William Humphrey, teamster, on Win
ter street.
c. Langwel, carpenter, on Hawthorne
street.
O. Carlson, ex-policeman.
p. Moore, south of The Drive.
VIM Phillips, on Winter street.
VIM. Hanley, carpenter.
A. woodruff. carpenter, on Circle
street.
oliver Garrett. Iaborer. on Circle
street.
Joe Josey, plasterer, on Corey street.
+. Louck, William Ellis and John FL
( lis.
Every house on high ground in Au-
/ buTndaIe was thrown open to the un-
fortunates. who were cared for without
outside help.
/ Although these people are not suffer
( ing for the immediate necessities of life
many are without money and viii need
aid from the relief committee of the
/ city before long. Councilman George
+ Tincher is making an effort to secure
money for them.