The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-11
NOTES OF RAIN


Water creeping into houses in the
vicinity of Fourteenth and Madison
streets caused the police to organize a
rescue party in that vicinity but as
the water quickly receded after the
rain stopped falling the danger was
reduced.
The rain was heavier at Topeka
the local weather bureau. Ottawa
came next with sos inches and the
rain sent the Marias DIES CySnes river
to the 19-foot stage but at last reports
there will be no flood there This
river must go to the 25-foot mark be-
weather bureau. There is no doubt
but that there would have been a
flood in that vicinity had the rain
been general but it was largely a local
affair with Ottawa in the center.
One young lady on her way home
about 5 clock "Wednesday afternoon
found a young creek confronting her
at Fourth and Jackson streets. She
met the situation III a practical way
and instead of walking several blocks
to find crossing, swiftly removed her
shoes and stockings, raised her skirt
and waded thru the swift torrent to
the opposite side of the street.
The making of a great railroader,
ton genius. was brought to light in
the deluge of rain Wednesday evening.
At Eighth and Wesf ern avenue. the
crossing was almost impossible to Pc
destrians. A great-flowing pool of knee
high water flooded the street. The
street cars were not running on many
lines. Persons walking home reached
this lake-paused, looked long, and
wondered.
Half of success lies in the ouickness
with which opportunities are grasped.
A small boy genius-the owner of
little wagon saw the chance. At 10
cents a head he hauled passengers
across the lake furnishing the motive
power himself. Business was wonder
full for almost an hour. There was
nothing in the world this lad hoped
for but more rain.
A rather bulky man had stood on
the corner for some time watching the
passenger make the trip from curbing
to curbing. Finally he called the boy
over with his wagon. He looked at it
rather doubtfully, tested it carefully
to see that it would bear his weight
tried the wheels and found them
solid, sized up the boys strength
possibly picturing himself stranded in
the middle of the flood, parted with
a thin dime and bravely embarked on
a successful voyage.
One man, who wanted to take a
street car down town at 8 o'clock
Wednesday night, sacrificingly waded
to Huntoon and Garfield only to find
the car stationary, headed west, half
way between Garfield and Mulvane
avenue. The motorman was seated in
the middle of the car waiting pa
tiently for the atmosphere to clear of
the excess static, and possibly for the
downpour to let up enough so that he
could see thru the darkness to engi-
III 1t NH, Tod
to go down town gave up at the dismal
outlook.
The three hundred chickens at the
county poor farm were in peril dur
ing the storm Wednesday night. II all
started before it was their usual bed ,
time and 1t did not even occur to
most of them that it might be best to
go to bed early. 1t was only with
persistent herding effort on the part !
of John Taylor, superintendent of the
farm, that the chickens were saved |
from a watery grave. No fatalities
were reported.
Residents in the vicinity of Four
teenth and Van Buren, streets became
alarmed when the waters began to |
rise in their yards and around their /
porches. A call was sent to the police
for boat. Kflmaurs King wel1are
worker, sent one to the scene. but !
after the flood began to recede it was
sent to the police station where it
would be handy for emergencies. Sew
eral persons residing near Fourteenth !
and Van Buren, declared they felt /
much more Comfortable" with the I
boat near when the water was at its
highest point
It was a bad night for automobiles /
Several motorists who were uptown
when the heavy rain began in the eve
ming found that their cars were |
drowned out" after the deluge- In |
some cases they were hauled to gar |
ages, but there were a few which I
remained on the street all night
The display of silk hosiery and 9TH I
er dainty things the women wear, but /
usually unseen, was especially bril- I
liant and fascinating. and many a |
powdered knee became dampened |
when the first storm struck Wednes-
day afternoon shortly after 5 o'clock J