The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-09-13
THREE RIVERS
RISE RAPIDLY
AFTER STORMS
Many H0useholders. Taken
Unawares, Rescued From
Roofs in Row Boats
HOUSES WASHED AWAY
Telephone Girl Is Heroine,
Sticking to Post to Warn
Sleeping Villagers

Emporia, kans., Sept. l3.-IR)-
Three persons were known to have
lost their lives, hundreds were home
less or maroQned in their houses and
damage to livestock and buildings
was mounting steadily today as flood
waters Of the Neosho, Cottonwood
and verdigris rivers swept south.
eastern Kansas, following rains yes.
terday and last night which In some
sections approached cloudburst pro-
portions.
Starting at the head waters OF tho
three rivers. the flood swept south
east through EmpOria, Madison. Bur-
lington and intermediate points,
swelling in volume as it came. Water
threatened hOuseholders fled for
their lives. Many, taken unawares,
were rescued in row boats from the
roofs and second stories Of their
homes.
A large section of the town Of
Neosho Falls. about IS miles south
east Of here. was reported virtually
inundated at midnight, with some
residents forced to the roofs of
houses. A banker, who reported the
situation to Wichita. said he stood
in water on the second floor Of Y
building while telephoning the re-
port.
City Of 5000 Threatened
The section hardest hit apparently
included a territory nearly rs miles
wide, starting about ~ miles west ~of
here and extending more than 80
1nn hal a
Cottonwood valleys. lola. n town Of
nearly 5000 population, was threat
ened early thl. morning. The NeOsho
was reported with the highest point
in the history Of lola and was rising
slowly. The torrent had not reached
the central section Of city, but had
driven scores uf persons from their
homes in the western residential dis
trict.
Rainfall ut Neosho Falls broke all
records for the storm with IL inches.
The village Of Leroy reported IL
inches. At Florence, seven inches
fell. About four inches was reported
here and at Burlington, Cottonwood
Falls reported six and One-half
inches. junction City reported six
inches. Definite records were not
reported ut lola but 1t is estimated
that upwards Of 10 inches fell there.
Livestock LOSS Heavy
Fourteen miles southeast Of Bur-
lington. on the Neosho, the towns Of
Moody and Leroy were hard hit. Dan
Braun, county agent for COffey cOun-
ty, declared last night that 20 farm
homes were completely washed away
in his neighborho0d with heavy loss
es Of livestock.
The damage in Burlington was
caused when the waters Of Rock
Creek, cuttin~ through the heart Of
the business section, could not empty
fast enough into the Neosho and
backed up, inundating the business
district and about so homes.
Charles Rodgers, 60, farmer
near Burlington, who served as coun-
ty commissioner during the disas-
trous floods here of 1922, dropped
dead yesterday when he peered from
his bedroom window to see the tide
rapidly encroaching on his front
steps.
The heroism of telephone girl.
Mrs. June Chubb, who stuck to her
post in spite of the rising waters TO
spread the alarm, probably saved
the lives of many Burlington resi-
dents who slept unaware OF the dan
ger. She was rescued in row.
boat from the second story Of the
telephone exchange.