The Topeka state journal., 1908-08-27
Nearly Entire City Under From
4 to 9 Feet of Water.
OPERATORS MOVE OUT
When the Water Reaches the
Top of Their Tables.
Three Persons Drowned and
Much Property Damaged.

loiy early IueSddy, continuing through
the day up to late hour last night. |
Water from the river and the canal |
surged down the city until depth of |
from six to eight feet had been reach |
ed in territory bounded by Fifteenth |
street to the west to the extreme east !
ern boundary of the city. So far as
known three persons have been drown |
ed. Reports of capsizing boats in the
swift currents have been received but
not verified because of the utter chaos
that the city was thrown into by the
sudden rise of the water resulting in
confusion. Two fires were reported in
the flooded district. Lime stored in
warehouses coming in contact with the
water was said to have been the cause
of explosions which destroyed the ware
house of the Nixon Wholesale Grocery
company and the Nixon & Danforth
cotton warehouse. This, however, can
not be confirmed. Fire was in the di-
rection of these concerns and as
neither the fremen nor anybody else
could get to them it is only by conjec-
ture that the firm names are given.
The fires were a spectacular addition
to the devastation already rife and the
people were compelled to stand idly by
and watch the new feature of destruc-
ton.
People Were Warned.
The local weather bureau issued a
that the river would reach height of
between 30 and 81 feet by 6 o'clock
Wednesday evening, at which time it
was predicted the river would have
reached its highest point. This predic
ton was exceeded by several feet, the
river having reached between 40 and
As feet, the danger line being 33 feet
Immediately upon learning the
weather bureaus warning. those liv-
ing nearest the river began moving out
for higher places, and by the time the
water reached their homes they were
well on their way to the hills.
There is a great deal of suffering
among the poorer classes of whites
and the negroes who occupied houses
nearest the lowlands. When the river
began to rise people could be seen go
ing through the streets with what lit
tie bedding and other articles they
could hurriedly gather up and handily
carry on their backs. Women were
seen with their children in their arms
making their way toward higher
places. while the men were driving
live stock.
Thousands of people went to bed
Tuesday night with the thought that
they would wake up in time to esca pc
from the flood, but greatly to their
surprise they awoke to find themselves
surrounded by water and cut off from
escape except by boat.
Harvest for Cabmen.
The cabmen and those possessed of
boats were quick to see their Oppor- |
tunity and at once began to charge
exorbitant prices for moving those un-
fortunate enough to be caught in per-
ilous positions.
Many people in attempting to wade
or swim from their homes or from
places of business in the flooded dis
trict, to points of vantages, lost their
footing, and only saved themselves
from the rushing torrent by catching
to tree limbs or anything else they
could get hold of.
1t is reported that a number of peo-
pie were caught in these positions and
when the boatmen passed near enough
to be hailed they would refuse to go
to the assistance of the unfortunates
unless they were assured of being paid
exorbitant fees. One man was seen
| in a tree. who was pouring forth pitt
| full appeals for assistance and offering
| fifty dollars to any one that would res
cue him.
The police department early estab-
| lished temporary headquarters at the
health and drainage department office
on May avenue outside OF the nigh
water district and patrolmen were
placed on beats up to the water line.
They made few arrests however, the
people seeming to appreciate the sit
uation and keeping within the law
limits.
l ODerdIOEo DffNCn Out.
| At the Western Union Telegraph Of
hce when the water began to rise many
operators left the building for their
homes Five remained, however, and
thev were compelled to abandon the
| telegraph office and seek safety in the
chamber of commerce building where
wires were found still intact and they
were in communication with the At
lanta office about midnight. No BUSY
ness was handled. however, as there
were no means of handling it. At day
break this morning the operators in
, this building reported that the water
| had fallen four and half inches since
midnight and if the fall continued tele-
graph communication with the outside
world from Augusta would be re-
established by noon today. At tn =
Postal Telegraph office the operating
force were compelled to desert the Of
| flee when the water reached the top of
the operating tables. The Postal COM
pany was about to move into new
quarters, but the many changes in
wires had not been completed but de-
spite the fact that the flood came on
so suddenly this company was able to
make enough changes to establish a
through service east and west on
few wires and then every one had to
/ seek places of safety. No business was
transacted by the telegraph companies
after dark Wednesday. The telephone
service in Augusta was held up about
7:30 o. m. and finally collapsed.
1t is not possible to give an estimate
on the final loss resulting from the
flood When it is taken into considera-
tion that every business house, every
bank and store was submerged in from
four to eight or nine feet of water. and
lneariy all the residence portion, in
! cluding the fashionable residence dis