The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-28
REFUGEES IN TOPEKA.
Mayor Davis Provides Breakfast for
Them.

Thirty-six refugees from devastated
San Francisco passed through Topeka
shortly after O'Clock this morning on
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
train No 80. Five of the number are
bound for their homes in Kansas City
and the remainder for st. Louis and
points near there.
There were ten women and two chill
dren in the party, the rest being men,
and it did not need a second look 10
realize that these people had sxperi-
enced the throes of an overwhelming
disaster. Most Of the men We're dressed
in nondescript clothes, trousers of ore
sort, coats of another. Only a few Of
them had on linen shirts and those
who had shirts were minus collars and
had handkerchiefs tied around their
necks AS for the women, they were
CARRIED a little better but most of them
presented a sorry appearance. The bag
gage of the entire party could be carried
easily by one man.
In fleeing from the stricken city,
where most of them were visiting, they
had left their all behind them. But
under the circumstances they appeared
to be a cheerful lot cheerful no doubt
because after long and tireSome jour
ney they were nearing home and
friends All of the party are being
carried free by the Rock Island. they
having been turned over to the road by
the Southern Pacific at Los Angeles on
Thursday.
Not one in the party was in the pos
session of funds when they left the
coast and during the entire trip they
have been fed by the railroad company
at points along the line where eating
houses are in operation and at other
points at the meal hour the citizens of
those places have furnished coffee and
food.
When word was received by the Rock
Island officials here this morning that
these refugees were going through on
No. 80. steps were at once taken to see
that they had a good breakfast.
George Heatherington, chief clerk
to F. T. Dolan, general superintend-
ent Of the southwest district of the
system. communicated with Mayor
Davis and the latter responded
promptly that a breakfast would be
provided.
o'clock Mayor Davis was on hand
with a dozen baskets filed with eat
ables of all sorts. which he had Sc
cured at a nearby restaurant, and also
a large pail Of coffee. He had planned
to provide a breakfast for thirty, and
sack.
These sacks were eagerly and
thankfully received by the refugees,
who were travelling in a chair car,
but it was found that there was not
enough to go around, there being
thirty-six in the party. The train only
stayed in the station here a couple of
minutes, but Mayor Davis determined
that every one in the party should
have a good breakfast, so he tele-
phoned over to the eating house at the
Union Pacific station and ordered six
more breakfasts to be placed on the
train when it got there.
Governor H0ch had been told by
Mayor Davis of the coming Of the refu-
gees and he said he would be on hand
to meet them. He was a little late in
starting, however, and arrived at the
station in a street car. just as the train
pulled out Mayor Davis hustled him
back on the car and they went over
to North Topeka and met the train at
the Union Pacific station, where Cove
nor Hoch boarded the car and 2reefed
the refugees with words of encoura ge-
mept.
Every one in the party had a thrill