The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-07

station as being cut off, and that the
house was flooded with water. When
the matter was called to the attention
of Chief Wilmarth he at once made
arrangements to go to their rescue.
i Most of the people who live in one
story houses left their homes last
refuge in them.
Stores Are Deserted.
Practically all of the stores on the
North side this morning moved their
stock into upstairs rooms to . the
South side In some instances large
| tables or frame stands were erected
in the middle of the rooms and the
goods piled on top of these. Kansas
| avenue presents a desolate appearance
save for the anxious faces which are
seen everywhere patiently waiting for
the river to recede.
Large Territory Is Covered.
| At noon today the overflow from Sol
der creek had practically covered more
than half of North Topeka. All of the
| territory north of Gordon street and all
of the territory west of Van Buren, is
| inundated, leaving the northeast corner
of the city unf1ooded.
At the deepest points the flood does
not measure more than five feet.
Bridge Didn't Go Out.
At IL O'Clock this morning the wire
cables by which the city railway bridge
was anchored to the Melan arch bridge
were cut by City Engineer McCabe. 1t
|
were severed the structure would go
out. But their breaking seemed to
make no difference. Yet it is only a
matter of a few hours until the street
car bridge will be swept down the
stream. 1t is hopelessly wrecked and
| battered so badly that entire recon
struction will have to follow.
Seven Feet Less Than Last Year.
1t has generally been reckoned that
the high water mark last year was 81
q lG &c M Wit he
government gauge this year as a
basis The government gauge, which
has been established since the last
flood, has a different oasis for low
water mark than the old gauge which
was on the old street car bridge prior
to last years flood.
On basis of the government gauge
the high water mark last year was
just about 80 feet, or " feet above
the highest point reached this morn
ing. This was ascertained by meas
Kuehne pickle plant this morning. At
the time the government gauge reg
istered 22k feet, on the Kuehne
building. Immediately across the river.
highest point reached last year.
The Rock Island tracks in North
Topeka held the water back from
coming down through the business
part of North Topeka. Above the
Rock Island bridge, between the B
Street Baptist church and the Rock
Island tracks, the water swept in from
the river to the north. 1t poured
over the Union Pacific tracks and on
a block north before it could get east.
This threw it into Gordon street.
North of Gordon street Kansas ave-
nue. was covered at an early hour this
morning. The water in the cutters
extended a few feet south of the
North Topeka fire station, but did not
come any higher. Central avenue was
flooded as far north as one could see
and Gordon as far west. At Gordon
and Jackson the water was up to the
wagon beds.
Teachers Taken Around.
The Rock Island railroad yesterday
had an excursion train load of school
teachers gathered from points along
the railroad from the Colorado state
line, who were bound for the worlds
fair.
The excursion train was run nearly
to Topeka before the washout oc-
CURED on the line, and the train was
taken back to Belleville and run up
the Omaha line to Fairbury and from
there to Horton and st. Joseph, and
around in that manner to St Louis.
All the rolling stock of the rail-
roads and the equipment of all kinds
was transferred from the North side
over the Santa Fe bridge during the
night.
Sleep at Auditorium.
About 100 people slept in the Auditor
brought their own bedclothing with
them, while blankets were furnished
by people of this city and by some of
the stores. The majority of the people
who came from the North side were
housed in homes on West Second and |
Third streets. Many went to hotels. No
steps were taken last night to organize
a relief committee but that will prob ,
ably be done this morning for the pur-
pose of finding places to sleep for the
homeless.
Holmans Did Not Leave
In Holman's addition near Soldier creek
the people are little frightened and early
last evening elected to remain. This point
is about rs feet above Soldier creek even
these people remained in their homes
Throughout the flood and were entirely
are on the lookout for any people who
may be in trouble and suffering The
place served as a good life-saving station
last year.
Not Alarming at junction City.
Junction City, Kan, July AT IL
o'clock today the Smoky Hill river |
here is up II feet and Z inches and
still rising, but the rise is less than |
stationary at eight feet, and the Kaw,
below the junction of the Republican |
and Smoky. is II feet high. The !
water is six feet below the highest
point reached last year.
The rise of the Smoky during the |
night was 10 inches, and the Repub-
lican had been stationary all night.
At Abilene the Smoky had fallen |
three inches this morning, and at Clay |
Center the Republican had fallen nine |
inches.
There was rainfall of a quarter of |
inch here during the night and it |
is raining today.
junction City is cut off from all rail-
road communication, except east to
Manhattan and west to Carneiro in |
Ellsworth county. The last train into
Junction was Union Pacific passen- |
ger which ran Wednesday afternoon |
from Topeka to Manhattan over the |
Rock Island and then went west over