The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-15
Many Thrilling Rescues

ScUlGIlHi6 lOOdy
Many Thrilling Rescues.
Many thrilling rescues along the
banks of the creek last night were re-
ported this morning.
Mayor Arnold was already on the
scene with most of the fire and police
departments and thousands of volun-
teering citizens. Every available wagon
was pressed into service. Dazed fami-
lies huddled in yards, marooned on
roofs, mingled appeals with the voices
of their rescuers. Hundreds of specta-
tors cut off from retreat by the flood
before they realized tleir danger were
next rescued by volunteers who dove
into the flood and carried them ashore.
Frenzied relatives of trapped families
pressed to the front and hindered.
Wagon after wagon w>s driven into
the flood to return again and again
with women and children in drenched
night dress. Those who insisted on
saving effects were dragged from their
homes.
John A. ouigley. his wife, mother
and baby were the first rescued. His
mother, 60 years old, stumbling back
into the current had to be rescued
again.
Fred Olsen. years old, stood alone
on the bank crying for his mother and
baby sister. He had saved himself by
swimming.
''We'u get them,'' said Mayor Ar
mold.
A wagon plunged into the food and
although the water swept it aside at
first, it crept to the Olsen home where
three rescuers entered and returned
with the mother and baby held tightly
to her bosom. A shout greeted the
return of the wagon A squad of pa
trolnen rescued a score from house
tops on Market street and hurried
them in a hay wagon to the auditor
ium.
Practically the entire resident dis
trict from Broadway east to the city
limits for blocks on each side and
Broadway TO the Platte river between
Thirteenth street and Seventh avenue
a two feet deep in water this morn
ing The area is about four miles of
the resident and business district
Denver Golf Course Badly Damaged
The food that swept down Cherry
creek, which divides the Denver Coun-
try club grounds, for five hours last
night inundated the lower portion Of
the course, swept away bridges and
washed out completely the fourth,
sixth and fifteenth greens. The low
lands that were not undermined were
strewn with mud and debris.
The flood was the worst on record
since 1854 and resulted from a cloud
burst at the headwaters of Cherry
creek yesterday afternoon. the crest of
the water reaching Denver about II
o'clock last night The damage was
such that it will require months If not
years to put the course back into the
condition that was the admiration of
the scores of golf experts entered in the
tournament
Members of the board of governors
were at the grounds early today view
ing the destruction and going over the
urdamaged but water-logged portion Of
the course. After inspecting the course
thoroughly it was decided that no at
tempt should be made to begin play in
the qualifying round today. but that
tho entire program would be carried out
beginning tomorrow over a nine hole
course.
Meanwhile the $50 entrants including
all the golf experts from Pittsburg to
the coast and many title holders spent
the day quietly at their hotels or the
clubhouse where impromptu social fes-
tivities supplanted the scheduled ac-
tivity on the links.
Hero of the Flood.
Alton, Ill, July 15.-William Dacey is |
the hero of the deIuge which resulted |
in the death of four persons here yes
terday. But for Dacey's wading and |
swimming from house to house and |
al ousing the inmates it is believed |
many more lives would have been lost |
Dacey warned the people in the path |
Of the flood, caused by a downpour Of |
rain to flee to higher land. The city's |
gas plant which was flooded has not |
yet been able to resume operations The /
city council is scheduled to meet to-
night to begin work of relief