The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-08

fire engine, which had been caught
standing in front of the station, looked
like soup-plate floating on the mud
dy water. During that night, the en-
CINE disappeared completely. The cur
rent which rioted down Park street
from the west, toreeup and carried for
some distance, stone crossings and sec
lions of sidewalk The same current,
when 1t struck Quincy street, bored a
hole which looked like a louisiana
crevasse. and was for long time after
the flood considered bOttomless.
Large houses and barns f1oated
through the city, turning over and over
in their fight, and crushing other
houses which CHANGED to be in their
way. A part of the town took fire, and
burning debris by the carload drifted
through the stricken city, while the fire
department fought yiciously from boats
and RATS. To add to the horror of that
occasion, the mercury dropped to 40.
and the sun did not shine for many
days, while a cold drizzle of rain con-
tinued to paralyze the victims who
were caught on the roofs, in trees and
clinging to telegraph poles. The Melan
bridge approach broke, and the rescue
party hastily strung a cable and con-
structed an overhead trolley, by which
many sufferers were ferried to safety.
Several persons became crazed by
the horror Of 1t all, and were taken
from their homes by force. Others.
half starved and sick from exposure,
were carried out by the rescue gangs.
A brave man, who had constructed a
rescue boat and was doing excellent
work. lost his life, and his body was
never recovered Narrow escapes were
an everyday occurrence for ten days.
and became so common that they were
not considered. When the waters be-
gan to recede. the work Of gathering
the decomposed, mud-soaked bodies of
xyio hut ut
number of deaths in North Topeka
alone during that flood will never be
known. e.e
Therefore the North slider has still
cause to be thankful The difference
between the few inches of water now
invading the streets, and the volume
Of water which swept over the same
spot five years ago, is sufficient to
drown a tall man standing on another's
shoulders.
There are several reasons why the
present flood cannot compare In vio-
lence with the 1903 flood. The Melan
bridge approach which formed a kind
of dam at that time, and was OF ma
terial assistance in backing the water
across the banks west of town, has been
increased in length by two spans, al
lowing a greater volume Of water to
pass at that point The old street car
bridge, which was up stream from the
avenue bridge and constructed entirely
of wood, was swept down upon the con-
crete structure, and damming up the
remaining arch space, raised the water
two feet in 8 minutes. This old wooden
structure has been replaced by steel
bridge, down stream from the Melan
bridge, which disposes Of that danger.
Beside this, levees have been con-
structed at various low points along
the river, and side distractions re-
moved. When the river gets bank-full,
Soldier creek Is sure to back up, be-
cause OF it's level but Soldier creek Is
comparatively harmless. Nothing but
a six-mile current can do great dam
age in North Topeka at this time, an!
the weather indications do not indicate
any such possibility.