The Topeka state journal., 1908-06-08
KAW RIVER BREAKS OUT OF ITS BANKS

creek that had already flooded Little
Russia. The water was two feet deep
at IL o'clock in all that section of
town east of the Santa Fe tracks, but
little harm was being done as the cur
rent was slight. In only few in
stances had the water reached from
the streets and alleys into the yards at
noon today.
When the water from the overflow
up the river passed down Gordon
street and crossed Kansas avenue at
noon it passed on east down Gordon
street and joined the back water that
was creeping up from the east. From
all the streets became very rapid.
Men who had gone to their homes on
Quincy street. and in fact, all streets
north Of Gordon were cut off and had
to leap across an ever widening
stream. Many people had to wade
back to the high ground on the ave-
nue. south of the fire station. 1t was
all very funny to those on the bank
at the time. Comedy and tragedy are
always handbreadth apart Only a
touch, an incident, moment are
needed to span the break.
Ready for Trouble.
There appears to be little chance
for a repetition Of the tragic incidents
of 1903, even If the river should con-
tinue to rise several feet higher than
it's present stagS. The people on
the North Side are prepared. All day
Saturday. all or Saturday night, Sun
day and Sunday night moving vans
hr1c fro of
erty and merchandise across the
bridge. Only since noon today was
the rise of water rapid enough to cut
off the stubborn ones who staid with
their homes to the last. The people
generally are calm and resigned to
the expense, worry and inconvenience
of the rising waters. There was no
hurrying to and fro on the North Side
today. There was method and sys-
tenn. No confusion. No risks. A few
people refused to give up until the
last Many were badly frightened
Saturday and Sunday. No wild ru-
mors were af1oat about the condition
of the river. 1t was generally un-
derstood on the streets over there at
noon that the worst of the rise had
been faced and that the river was fall
ing at Manhattan. They expect the
river to rise until tonight and their
streets to be covered with water and
their property damaged, but they re-
fuse to believe that the terrors OF
1903 will again be visited upon them
At noon today many merchants were
selling goods in their stores south OF
Gordon street while the water was
ri inc xr-tfI ,ir III 20
Yes" said a merchant Il expect
the water to enter my store and run a
foot or two deep over the first floor
but 1 am prepared for it. The water
will soon go down. 1 shall move when
the stream enters my doorway. The
damage. will be considerable, but ii
could be ten times worse
Break in River Bank.
The magnitude of the break west of
the tie plant was not known until II
o'clock today. The town had only suf-
fered from the still back water which
rose slowly, but when the back water
and river current Joined the rise was
very rapid. Had the town not been
prepared, and the women and children
and valuable personal property removed
to high ground there would have been
many narrow escapes, much damage
and the pressing need of boats for
rescue purposes. AS it was the only
escapes were the comedies of wet feet
and long jumps across the fast grow
ing rivulets that swept up and down
every street from every direction.
1t was down West Gordon street that
the people looked most anxiousiy this
morning for the coming Of the real
flood. even though part of their town
was covered by backwater from Soldier
creek. At 10 o'clock a small stream ap-
peared flowing leisurely along the
street a few inches deep. Inside of an
hour this stream had passed Topeka
avenue and reached the first street
west of Kansas avenue. In a half ar
hour it had crept up to within a few
feet of the avenue and two skiffs were
moored to the front gate of a big white
house a half block west of the avenue
Three women and their children sat or
the front porch of this house watching
the rising water and waiting for theil
husbands in the boats to give the wore
for them to leave their home and be
ferried to a place of safety.
The crowds Of curious and amuse
ment seeking people who throng the
river banks on the south side and lool
across the flood and those who cross
the bridge in buggies cannot appreciate
the sorrow and misfortunes of these
people who are leaving their homes tt
the mercy Of the water. Even though
they return this week and wash away
the mud, it is hard to face at this time
The GOODNESS and fortitude and
method of these people are to be ad
mfred. They are facing the flood brave
ly. They see it just as it is, not as il
was or might be.
1t is bad enough. but could be ia
worse. North Topeka is hemmed il
!: