The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-30
FIVE YEARS AGO.
When the Great Flood Swept
Down on Topeka.
Thirty-One People Lost Their
Lives.
NOT THE SAME TOWN
North Topeka Has More Than
Recovered From Disaster.
Many improvements Completed
and More In Progress.
NOT THE SAME TOWN

Five years ago yesterday, on the
same day Of the week. Friday, on the
some month OF the year, May %. the
flood waters OF the Kansas river crept
down Tyler street and Joined those Of
Soldier creek and the big food
which inundated the whole OF North
Topeka and made lake OF the Kaw
valley was on. Not until five days had
passed did conditions better them
selves. About six and one-haH inches
Of rain had fallen for the month of
May according to the records of the
weather observer on May 20, 1903. This
however was greatly exceeded at points
up the river-at Abilene, for instance.
where Is inches OF rain fell in a few
hours.
On Friday afternoon the water was
within few. inches of the bottom Of
the Rock Island railroad bridge across
the river, while Little Russia on the
banks was deserted by Its residents
who had moved their household effects
to place Of safety and left their lit
tie homes barely showing above the
overflow waters Of the Kaw which had
spread out to such an extent that only
one small corner OF the City park was
visible. Numerous washouts along the
lines Of the Union Pacific, Rock Island
and Santa Fe railroads had tied up all
traffic and the only way residents of
Topeka could get to the east was to
travel west by way Of Emporia and
from there by way of the cutoff to
Kansas City, and this of course only
on the Santa Fe railroad. The Rock
Island and Union Pacific railroad yards
in the city were covered with water and
only the switch engines puffed and
grunted around, the through bound
trains were water bound with a sche-
dule that was hopeless1y impossible.
A Sad Memorial Day indeed
On Saturday. May 80, likewise Me-
mortal day, at 2:30 in the afternoon the
river was Is feet eleven inches above
low water mark and rising at the rate
OF three inches an hour. Six thousand
residents of North Topeka were home
less and a fund for the flood suffer-
cial club with $1,000 subscribed. All
the preceding night police, fire depart
ments, private citizens bent unending
energies to rescuing the homeless and
those endangered by the waters which
were silently sweeping with relentless
force over the entire site of North To-
peka. At noon Of Saturday the water
had reached to the Rock Island depot
on the South side and pushed its way
a few hours later passed the Chester
cut off at O'clock in the morning and
fire was reported as breaking out in q
number Of places in North Topeka. All
during the night rescuers worked with
employed on constructing f1atboats in
the lumber yards. The Auditorium
and other public halls were thrown
open to house those that were driven
from their homes by the invasion of
the water.
Thirty-One Lives Lost.
At 1880 Monday the river was slow
ly falling and had gone down IS
| inches. It started to fall at o'clock
| Saturday but was going down at the
rate of about one-half inch an hour.
| Freeman Sardou had rescued upwards
| Of 100 people bringing them over in
| boat, w. H. Davis and his brother
| had done almost as well while many
others worked in a heroic fashion
bringing many people to the South
Side safely. Many were brought over
Major A. M. Harvey. on Monday
partial report Of those who had
been drowned or who died from ex-
posure after having been rescued, was
| first secured. This first report gave
ing. An emergency board of health
was established with DR.. L. Y. Grubbs
in charge Of the work.
On Tuesday evening Edward
Grafstrom, mechanical engineer for
the Santa Fe. who had constructed a
work during the day, was drowned
by the capsizing of the craft in mid
| stream. Seven occupants Of the boat
were thrown struggling into the water
and though Grafstrom was an ex-
perienced swimmer he was encum-
bered with heavy boots and clothing
(which made 1t impossible for him to
| struggle successfully with the water.
All the remaining members of the
| crew were rescued.
On Saturday, June 6, seven bodies
were found in one house on North
Harrison street, the home of Mrs
Nancie Shonkwiler and where she and
her son, George, and Mrs. Nancy
Stout and four small children were
caught in the vortex Of the waters
beyond a possibility of escape.
In all thirty-one persons were
drowned or died outright from ex-.
posture, and Of this number fifteen
were colored.
North Topeka Better Than Ever Before
Over $4,000 was contributed as q
relief fund by charitable people of To-
peka and the United States not to
mention the vast amount of supplies
received. The property loss ran up
into the thousands of dollars.
| Today, though it has not forgotten
that awful experience. North Topeka
has taken step forward towards inn
lprovenrent which shows that 1t pinned
fast to its faith OF the bright pros
poets of that part OF the city. Streets
have been paved, Central avenue.
Kansas avenue and jackson street is
now in the process of paving. The
two former streets are the beau
ideal OF brick paved streets in the
city, there is nothing prettfer than
the vista down North Kansas avenue
or Central avenue with its cement
curb and butter. New Industries have
been brought to the North side, plan