New Britain herald., 1926-09-13
Heroic Phone Operator Sticks to Post, Broad- casting Warning and Saving Many Lives.
Rainfall in Some Sections Totals IA Inches-20 Houses Washed Away by Surging Torrent in One County.

Emporia, Kansas, Sept. 13(P1- Three persons were known to have lost their lives, hundreds were home less or marooned in their houses and damage to livestock and build ings was mounting steadily today as flood waters of the Neosho, Cotton wood and Verdigris rivers swept southeastern Kansas following rains yesterday and last night, which in some sections approached cloud burst proportions.
 Floods Swirl Onward
 Starting at the headwaters of the three rivers, the flood swept south east through Emporia, Madison, Burlington 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.
 People Forced to Roofs
 A large section of the town of Neosho Falls, apout S5 miles south east of here. was reported as virtual ly inundated at midnight, with some residents forced to the roofs of the houses. A banker who reported the situation to Wichita said he stood in copnrH floor of a building while telephoning the re- port.
 Hits 25 Mile Strip
 The section hardest hit apparent ly included a territory nearly 25 miles wide, starting about ten miles than 50 miles southeast, along the Neosho and Cottonwood valleys. The Ncosho was reported at the highest point in the history of lola and was rising slowly. The torrent had not reached the central section of the city, but had driven scores of persons from their homes in the western residential district.
 II Inches of Rain
 Rainfall at Neosho Falls broke all records for the storm with fl inches. The village of Leray reported II inches. At Florence seven inches. 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 at lola but it is estimated that upwards of 10 inches fell there.
 20 Farm Houses Gone
 Fourteen miles southeast of Bur- ljngton, on the Neosho, the towns of Leroy and Mood were hard hit. Dan Braun, county agent for Coffey county, declared last night that 20 farm homes were completely washed away in this neighborhood with heavy losses of livestock
 The damage in Burlington was caused when the waters Of Rock | Crook, cutting through the heart of the business district, could not emp ty fast enough into the Neosho, | backed up and inundated the busi- I ness district and about 50 homes.
 The Neosho was rising early to- I day after subsiding somewhat yes- ! terday afternoon.
 The Neosho is fed by the swollen | Cottonwood river at a point south | cast of Emporia.
 Sees Flood, Drops Dead
 Charles Rodgers, 60, a farmer near Burlington, who served as county commissioner during the dis | astrous floods here of 1922. dropped dead yesterday morning when he | peered from his bedroom window to see the tide rapidly encroaching on his front steps.
 Heroic Phone Girl
 The heroism of a 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 residents who slept unaware of danger. She was rescued in a row boat from the second story of the telephone exchange.
 Sante Fe. Missouri Kansas, Texas and Rock Island railroads abandon ed service to many towns. Burling- ton, Madison and villages in this section are completely cut off from railroad service.