The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-09
vERSLEAVE
RUIN in PATH
81 Lives. Toll of The
Floods.
THOUSANDS ARE HOMELESS
Railway Tracks Still Inundated by
Waters.
rl1.ssuraans spend Night OF Terror
o. House Tops-sunering OF
\ Refusees May Become

Kansas City, July s.-Close to two
ohsosand persons rendered temporarily
home1ess. with a property loss esti-
u1nfed 1t t1.5o0.00Q. six persons drown
~ ana two others injured. railway
frame TO the north. west and south
o. Kansas City demoralized. thousands
o. acres Of rich farming land and miles
u railway tracks inundated. sum-
marises the food situation In Mis-
souri, and Kansas up to this evening.
The eight dead and injured were
those reported yesterday. No addi-
tional casualties were reported today.
The greatest suffering today was at
eprinxneld. in Southern Missouri and
IT ottawa, Kans., ffty-seven miles
southwest Of Kansas City. Both these
towns were practically submerged by
the sudden overflow Of local streams.
Elaewhere in these two States nearly
overy stream was receding and the
worst OF the flood was believed to be
ever.
Even at Springfield and Ottawa the
water began to recede almost asNsoon
~ u had accomplished its damage.
Daybreak revealed much distress
throughout the flood stricken districts
o. Missouri and Kansas. Thousands of
people along the Missouri river. the
Grand river IN Missouri and the Marais
1es Cygnes river In Kansas. who have
been forced to take refuge In upper
stories from the rising waters. arose
after q night filled with terror lest the
hood would wash away the founda-
ttons Of their homes. Besides great
damage to unharvested crops and the
wAsl1ing away Of property, the flood
has caused much suffering to many
farm people who are marooned on re-
mote and inaccessible spots. Several
relief trains set out from Kansas City
and other points were unable to reach
their destination and boats loaded with
dood and other supplies which had put
out to go to the rescue were forced
back by the swirling current
Suffering Ii Acute.
In several small towns almost the
entire population had to seek safety
on the roofs Of their homes and un-
less aid is extended to them soon It
~ feared the suffering will be acute.
At Pattonsburg. Mo-. about 1900
people. crowded into the upper floors
o. store buildings. lodge halls and the
school house have been without sleep
for over two days. One OF the most
serious situations ia at Pomona. Kans..
where yesterday 800 passengers on a
west bound Atchison. Topeka and San
ID re train were marooned when part
into eighteen feet Of water. These
people after being rescued by boats
and rowed distances varying from one
20 two miies. passed the night In the
homes OF hospitable farmers.
A call for relief sent out from Pat
xonburg says conditions there are
nouriy growing worse. Mayor Maui
PIN. OF Pattonsburg. has taken person
81 direction OF the relief work there.
Ills own home. which Is large and
which ID the only one in town which
has no water on the first floor. has been
thrown open, and is filled to its capa-
city with refugees.
The water is within. foot OF the
door step.
Main street is eight feet deep in
rushing water. Three-fourths of the
people In the town have lost every
thing they had.
Conditions Are Improving.
Conditions In Missouri and Kansas
improved rapidly. however. during the
morning hours. Except at Kansas
city, where the Kansas ana Missouri
rivers converge, most of the streams
In this part OF the Southwest were re-
cedfng ana Il IL believed the worst
stage has been passed.
At Pattonsburg, Mo-, the water fell
fourteen inches during the night and
continued TO recede today. The last
Of the refugees have been removed
from house and tree tops this morn
ing and the relief train from St. Jo-
seph which had been stalled near San
Hosa. landed its passengers within
two miles of Pattonburg and from
where the remainder of the Journey was
made in boats. Ample food, at least
for present needs, was distributed to
the refugees.
At Pomona. Kansas all of the ma
roonsd passengers from the wrecked
Santa Fe passenger train which ran
into the river yesterday had found
shelter and were safe.
Sweeps Through Springfield.
Gmrfn nAalA Tn