Morning Oregonian., June 01, 1903, Page 2, Image 2

2
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1903.
ROOSTING IN TREES
Topeka Refugees Suffer Tor
ture for Hours. ,
AGED COUPLE BECOME INSANE
Mother and Bahe Fall and Drown In
Sight of Rescuers, After Hoars
la Treetop Rowhoats
Are Upset.
TOPEKA, Kan., May SL At 1 o'clock
the number of drowned people -was
known to be at least 150 and a large
number were yet missing. Several were
reported burned to death, hut this could
not be substantiated. From all over
Eastern Kansas boats are being rushed
here for the rescuo of the sufferers. All
of tie pontoon bridges to tho North Side
were washed out'early this morning, and
the" only way of reaching the survivors
then was by boats.
Shortly after daylight nine boats ar
rived from Ottawa on a special train
and were put Into active service at once.
Soon after reports of drowning began
to como in. A boat containing eight
men was swept away in tho swift cur
rent about 7 o'clock, and as far as
known all were drowned. Another boat
containing two men was capsized.
More boats arrived from Emporia at
10 o'clock, and hurry messages had been
sent to other towns for more. Tho river
remained stationary after having fallen
seven inches. Heavy rains were re
ported from up the stream, however, and
it was feared that another rise would
set in.
Elghty-Eeven people are high and dry
in the Page elevator. If the building
holds together they will be rescued.
In the B-Street Colored Baptist Church
nearly 100 people have been standing
since yesterday. Many of them have
doubtless fallen from exhaustion before
this and drowned. The building stands
intact, however, and those who are left
alive may be rescued .
As seen from a high place on North
Tyler street, near the Bock Island bridge,
the stream appeared to be widening.
The bridge had not gone out, as was re
ported last night, but it was getting very
shaky. The current was running with an
Incredible swiftness. Small boats have
no chance at all, and many of them
have been already swamped. Even if
they could successfully traverse the
whirling, eddying stream for a mile, they
would almost surely be overturned by
striking against houses and other wreck
age. No Lnnd in Sight.
North Topeka is a scene of utmost des
olation. Not a square foot of land can
be seen in any direction. There Is but
a small chance of any of the residences
being left standing at tho end of the
flood period.
Sherry. Oakland and the region about
the Reform School, north of North To
peka aro all under the rushing waters,
but the situation is favorable in these
places compared with what North Topeka
is undergoing.
The plan of trying to cross tho river
near what remains of the Kansas-avenue
bridge lias been abandoned. Boats will
be taken in wagons -to a point wear Au
burndale, a. suburb 2s miles southwest.
They will then be launched and allowed
to float with the current to points where
people are to be rescued. This plan, of
course, will involve much danger to the
rescuers. 1
Nearly all the fires have been put out
by the heavy rain which fell all night.
The sky was overcast and the rain bid
fair to continuo all day. It was soon
recognized that rowboats would bo of
no uso In battling With the currents.
Steam launches must be secured at once,
and to this end rush messages were sent
to the superintendent and agent of the
Rock Island at St. Joseph and to Mayor
Belrgenthal and the secretary of the
Commercial Club, as follows:
Topeka Sends for Boats.
"Topeka wants from three to six steam
launches and 12 or IS clinker-built row
boats with men to handle them sent
hero by special train at once to rescue
people in North Topeka."
The agent was ordered to load the train
at once, secure a clear track and pro
ceed to Topeka. The train was to feel
its way as far as possible on the sub
merged tracks and then the boat would
be launched. Topeka citizens guaranteed
all tho expenses of tho undertaking.
It was expected that the launches could
reach here about 4 o'clock, in which event
many of the people on the "North Side
could yet be saved. Boats were received
here on a number of special trains run
by tho Missouri Pacific and" the Santa
Fe over the circuitous routes, but the
current in the river seemed to be growing
more powerful every minute and they
were powerless to cope with it. Mean
hllo the beleagured ones wero bains
encouraged as far as possible to hold on
a little longer in the hope that rescue
would soon bo effected.
Tho 85 people in the Page elevator in
North Topeka were in desperate straits
for food, having had nothing to eat since
last Friday. At 10 o'clock two boat
loads of provisions were started to them.
They had not yet reached the elevator,
after engaging in a hard battle with the
waters Xor an hour.
Chief of Police Goff and his family aro
among those not yet accounted for;
Refugees Supplied "With. Food.
Isaac Standon succeeded in reaching
B-Street Baptist Church with E00 pounds
of provisions. He-was two hours in mak
ing the trip of not much inoro than a
mile.
Half a dozen are in an abandoned
street-car Just north of the bridge, and
have been there for 30 hours, but will
be rescued.
Eighteen people wero rescued late this
afternoon from a house at 10S North
Monroe street. A man who has Just re
turned from the scene of the flood says
he could see as many as ten persons
hanging from trees near tho Sardou
avenue bridge at the foot of Morse street.
E. D. Lang and Charles Waldon, Santa
Fe employes, started out In a boat early
today to rescue a Russian whom they
saw on top of a house not far from tho
bank of the river. They got the Russian
In the boat, which immediately capsized.
The three found resting places In trees,
where they remain at this time. Another
party is trying to rescue the three.
At S o'clock tho water began to recede,
At 4 o'clock the water had left the first
floor of the Rock Island general offices.
but was yet six feet Just outside the
building. It was then that a gang of tel
egraph linemen succeeded in getting a
heavy wire cable stretched across tho top
of the pontoon bridge. A large hand
flipper was attached to this and used to
take quantities of provisions to those
who were not yet rescued. The first
victim to be rescued by means of the
cable was the Rev. A. N. Pearson, pastor
of the North Topeka English Church.
Mr. Pearson said:
"We spent three days on tho top of
our house, we were fairly warmly
dressed, but had only two loaves of
bread for our family of four during that
time. All day Saturday and today we
bad nothing to eat. Our situation was
desperate and extremely uncomfortable.
but we at no time lost faith in the ulti
mate ability of our friends to rescue us,
Testerday my wife and children were
rescued. Today my turn came and
cannot begin to tell how thankful I am.
Suffering: Brings Demcatla,
SV. N. Keppard and wife, aged people.
?ver, rescued &t 4 o'clock Thej; were so
numb that they could not leel and had
to bo knocked Into the water so the men
could reach them. They wero standing
close together in the attic of a house,
and so severe had been their experience
that their minds gave way under the
strain. They cannot recover.
A Mrs. Anderson and her year-old baby
have been for three days in a tree In
plain sight of people who were powerless
to. rescue, them. The mother clasped her
child close In her arms and managed to
brace herself against a limb In a reason
ably secure position. For three days she
kept up tho battle for life. At 4 o'clock
her rescue was very near but sho lost
consciousness. Both mother and child fell
Into the water and were drowned, being
immediately drawn under by the current.
Harvey Parsons, a local newspaper man,
had a thrilling experience. He took a
boat Friday night and made his way to
a house in the hope of making some res
cues. A woman and her baby, name3 un
known, were in the house, and Parsons
took them into his boat. They had pro
ceeded only a short distance when tho
boat capsized. Parsons contrived to get
himself and the others up into a tree
and there they remained until 3 o'clock
this afternoon, when rescued. They wero
brought to a place of safety but will
probably not survive.
Two small steamboats wero put into
service at 4:30 this afternoon, one from
Ottawa and the other from St. Joseph.
By this means the work of rescue was
greatly facilitated. The boats Brought IS
people over and landed near the dessi
catlng "plant.' They floated down half a
mile and became lost north of the Melan
bridge. This was before the flood had
reached its height. Fourteen people had
entered a stranded street-car but soon
had to seek the roof. Standing In this
uncertain position for 24 hours, their con
dition was desperate until they were taken
oft at 4:45 with the aid of the big cable.
B. I. Wise, ex-city engineer, was
dragged from the hay loft of a barn. He
was unconscious and numb from cold,
but soon revived.
Without Food for Hour.
By aid of the small steam and gasoline
launches 40 men In South Garfield Park
were rescued. They haM perched them
selves in treesi They had had nothing to
eat for 36 hours. These men were in a
fenced grove where they could not keep
a close watch of the situation. All they
could see was the angry water rushing
about among the trunks of the trees. One
of the men said they could not hear each
other speak above the roar of the water.
Uncertainty was thus added to their
other misery, and not one of them had
any hopes of escaping.
Patrick Bellne, his wif6 and three small
children, were taken frpm tho attic of
their small dwelling. The parents were
obliged to hold the two younger children
constantly In order to keep their heads
above water. They were nearly starved
and probably cannot recover.
Miss Ahnle Noble, operator at the Union
Pacific Railroad headquarters in North To
peka, was forced to leave tho building
when the water covered the floor. 4 With
her mother and young sister the plucky
young woman took up housekeeping
quarters In an abandoned horse-car. This
was good enough shelter until the water
rose a foot above the floor of the car, but
there they had to stay until today, when
they were included among the rescued.
Near the Rock Island depot a passenger
train of seven coaches was stalled by the
flood. Tho train came in Friday night.
The Rock Island "Y" washed out, as did
also most of the land on which tho track
was laid, and as a resuK tho cars cannot
be moved out of here for two weeks or
more after the flood subsides. About
150 passengers are on the train. They
have not at any time been in real dan
ger, but their real situation is anything
but pleasant. They are well cared for by
the road and most of them have remained
on the cars.
SLIGHT FALL AT DES MOIXES.
All the Roof-DTrellers Hnve Been
Taken to Shelter.
DES MOINES, la.. May 3L Once more
hope has been inspired In the breasts, of
.the 6000 flood refugeee by the report that
the river has begun slowly to recede.
Aftor rising all night a fall of two inches
was noted between 8 o'clock and noon. The
condition of tho sufferers has been slight
ly alleviated by the better organization of
the relief forces. But isolated instances of
extreme need of food have been discovered
.and those who are living la rain-soaked
tents have nearly all been removed to
places of comfort In public buildings.
The need of bed covering is still im
perative. Not a wheel Is turning in the
factory district and no effort is made to
open any business houses. Boats afford the
only means of communication between
North, South and East Des Moines and
the main part of the city. This la ex
tremely perilous. So far as Js known but
seven authenticated fatalities have been
reported. Reports of a score or more
have been recelvd from that section of
the city that is cut off from communica
tion, but cannot be verified.
The Northwestern operated one train out
from the city limits today, mall being
conveyed to it by boat. The Rock Island
is trying to get trains through to the
West. The main line east is tied up. The
Milwaukee Is also making attempts to
operate trains. The Great Western, Wa
bash and Burlington roads have com
pletely abandoned their lines In this city.
The water and electric light and power
plants are still running, but it is only
by tho employment of several hundred
men to man the pumps and work on the
levees.
For over two days it has rained con
stantly and the mercury has. stood closo
to the freezing point. Scores of men.
women and children have spent hours at
a time in soaking wet garments, sitting
on the roofs of their homes awaiting the
arrival of rescuers. The last of these
was removed at 10 o'clock. More fatalities
will result from exposure than from
drowning.
Tho property loss will mount up into
the millions. The situation at Ottumwa
and other points on the Des Moines River
below here is little better.
FOOD AND FUEL ARE SHORT.
Des Moines Is Cut Off From Outside
Supply.
DES MOINES, la.. May 3L This after
noon, the relief authorities announced that
they wero confronted with a food and fuel
famine. Meat markets all over the city
declare they have but two or three days'
stock on hand. There are no trains en
tering the city and no prospect of . getting
a shipment of freight into Des Moines in
less than three or four days. Bakeries
are overtaxed by reason of ,the demand of
th.e 0000 flood: refugees through the relief
association.
The temperature of the past three days
has been such as to cause great suffering
and to threaten great loss of life through
exposure, jft now transpires that there
is but a meager coal supply and that the
light and power plant and the water
works have an Insufficient supply. Roads
are Impassible for team hauling and no
coal can be shipped in.
At the water company's office this af
ternoon it was stated that the situation
was alarming. Notice was sent to every
resident in the city to draw an extra sup
ply of water to provide against the clos
ing of the plant. Owing to the breaking
of another levee the commons, on which
GO tents were placed for flood refugees,
was flooded, completely submerging the
tents. The occupants escaped.
ARKANSAS RIVER OUT OF BASKS.
Rain. Keeps on Falling In Xadlaa
Territory.
MUSCOGEE, I. T., May 3L The flood
condition here Is growing serious. The
Arkansas River tonight is out of its
banks and the lowlands are flooded. The
river Is how even with the tracks of the
Missouri, Kansas & Texas bridge.
It has been raining all day, and there Is
no Immediate prospect of relief.
Pain In the side nearly always comes
from a disordered liver and is promptly
relieved by Carter's Little Uver Pills.
Doa't forcct this.
UNCLE SAM: "YOU CAN'T
SWEPT BY FIERCE FLOOD
(Continued from First Page.)
strong, that all that can bo done now is
to rescue those in the buildltrs surround
ed by water. It will be at least threo
days before tho correct number of dead
will be decided upon.
Launches PlcUIngr Up Survivors.
The work of rescuing the victims of the
flood Is being pushed forward with vigor.
Better results have characterized the ef
forts of the organized forces since 4
o'clock this afternoon than during the
preceding 24 hours. Two little steam
launches are now ' puffing up and down
the river, picking up survivors. - A train
load of small boats was in service today,
but were useless In battling against the
mighty current. A wire cable has been
stretched across the Kansas-avenue
bridge. To this will be attached a sand
dip, and refugees will be brought across
in this manner.
Large contributions have already been
received "for the benefit of the sufferers.
The amount given by Topeka citizens
alone will aggregate $100,000. To this is
to be added an Immense quantity of
clothing, provisions and general supplies.
Outside towns have generously offered
aid, among which is Galveston. Tex.
SCENE OF DESOLATION.
Expanse of "Water Dotted With
"Wrecks.
TOPEKA, Kan.. Ma 31. A representa
tive of the Associated Press walked out
on the pontoon bridge to the Melan arch
bridge, where a satisfactory view of the
flood situation was obtainable. Looking
to the north as far as the eye could
reach was one expanse of water, dotted
here and there by badly wrecked or dis
sembling buildings. The half mile from
Second street to the Melan bridge was
covered with water six to 12 feet deep,
through which a mad current was flow
ing. On the other side of the pontoon
bridge were brick business buildings, 63 In
number, which are completely ruined by
high water. The loss in this respect in
money will aggregate $500,000. This is the
district In which all the wholesale com
mission houses were located and Immense
amounts have been lost by the commis
sion men. All this is on the south side of
the river.
The reporter ventured out Into the
stream in a boat as far as the running
current would allow, and there It was
ascertained that last night's reports re
garding the burning buildings were some
what overdrawn. Last night the whole
northern part of the city seemed to be
aflame. Closer Investigation this after
noon revealed the fact that only about
one-third of the buildings on the north
side were destroyed by fire. Fully half
tho remaining buildings are so damaged
by the water that they are absolutely
useless.
There Is not a house in the entire north
part of the town that has not been seri
ously damaged. "When the value of the
stocks of merchandise destroyed is con
sidered the loss In a financial way as
sumes" enormous proportions.
The railway companies have abandoned
all efforts to keep their tracks In shape.
The water washed away the sandbags as
fast as they sank them. It Is simply a
waste of funds to continue the work.
As soon as the water goes down so that
tho tracks can be reached, hundreds of
men will be placed at work repairing the
damage.
FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY.
Swift Cnrrent Makes Trips of Sup
ply Bonts Hazardous.
TOPEKA, Kan., May 3L For the con
venience of the public and flood sufferers
tho public buildings remained open all
day. All grocery stores, meatsnops ana
dry goods stores also kept open to fur
nish supplies. The physicians, at a meet
ing this afternoon, advised the authori
ties to establish a camp on nign grouna
near the city for the flood sufferers.
Wichita and other cities which 'can be
reached will be called on for provisions
tomorrow. Already there is a scarcity of
meat and vegetables and staple groceries
are getting low.
Boats sent from Emporia, Ottawa, Kan
sas City and St. Joseph are all doing
good service. They are hauled two miles
above town, filled with provisions and
then run across to the stricken section.
The supplies are distributed among the
sufferers on the buildings ana people are
picked out of the trees and given shelter
in some house, when tno Doats gee so
far down that they cannot be pulled up
stream sufferers, are. picked up and
i brought to this side of the river a mile
jor so below town. Then the boats are
KNOWN BY THE COMPANY ,SHE; KEEPS;
COME IN, LITTLE GIRL, UNTIL YOU PART WITH YOUR FRIEND."
hauled to town and again .sent on a simi
lar trip.
Buildings In the submerged district con
tinue to collapse. Notwithstanding their
precarious condition, many of the suffer
ers held religious services today in the
buildings where they were confined. To
night 50 or more of the flood sufferers
are living in passenger coaches on tho
Rock Island tracks. Water surrounds the
cars, but there Is no danger.
The" Associated Press has reports from
Manhattan, Abilene and other points -to
the effect that the water Is falling slow
ly. There Is no probability that the river
In Topeka will go any higher.
DEAD ESTIMATED AT 200.
Few Bodies Are to Be Seen "While
"Water Is IIlj?h. .
TOPEKA, Kan., May sL At 5 o'clock
thls-revenlng people were quartered - In
North Topeka as follows:
In B-street Church, 600: In Topeka Wool
en Mills, 100; in Case's flour mill, U; In an
elevator, 56; in the fire station, '84. A boat
was Bent to the woolen mill with 1000 feet
of half-Inch rope, which was to have been
used In making a life line.
At 5 o'clock the first sight of floating
bodies was seen; 14 bodies were seen pass
ing by the North Topeka fire station.
soon alter this it was aennueiy ascer
tained that the following were drowned:
KARL RUPP.
ORVILLE RUPP.
TWO RUPP GIRLS.
G. H. GARRET'S 5-YEAR-OLD SON.
This represents only a fractional part of
the heavy loss of life. At a conservative
estimate, COO are dead. Where these bodies
are nobody can tell. When the waters re
cede the bodies will doubtless be found
at different places miles down the stream.
During the height of the rescue work
this afternoon a man occupied his time
in going amonsr the houses remaining in
North Topeka and looting them. Police
officers started after the fellow, with the
Intimation that it would go hard with him
when caught. Instances of this sort are
rare. People give It as their opinion that
never in an event of this kind has there
ever been' a minimum of this order of
crime.
As the number of rescued increase, the
supplies for their relief grow largely. Of
fers of help have been received from out
side towns.
GAIjYESTON PROMISES aid.
Knnsas Teople Can Cnll on Her lor
Assistance.
TOPEKA, Kan., May 31. Among other
messages was one from the Galveston
Tribune, reading:
"If we can do anything at all in the
aid of your city please feel free to call
upon us."
Other messages -from Kansas towns au
thorized the commission hero to draw
upon individuals for stated sums, and
as soon as the mails arrive a great num
ber of contributions from outside towns
are expected to materialize.
Topeka is doing nobly by her sufferers.
The wealthiest city of Kansas Is proud
to acknowledge that no calls on outside
help need to be made. It will be neces
sary to raise a great fund for relief work.
Weeks must elapfe before order can be
restored from the present chaos. Hun
dreds of houses will have to be rebuilt
entirely.
Needs Supplied for the Present.
TOPEKA, Kan., May 3L To all offers
of aid from outside the county the Com
mercial Club Is sending the following
reply:
"Situation is very grave and it Is im
possible at this time to estimate the loss
of life or property. We thank you sin
cerely for your offer of assistance, but we
are not willing to accept aid from the
outside unless It seems an absolute ne
cessity. The city and county and our own
citizens will provide for the present needs.
"JOHN E. FROST,
"President Commercial Club."
"WARNING OF GOVERNMENT.
St. Louis Will Have a. Stage of Thirty-Two
Feet.
WASHINGTON, May 3L The following
special flood warning was issued tonight
by the Weather Bureau:
"The flood situation in the Lower Mis
souri appears to be grave. Warnings for
a stage of 26 feet at Herrmann and
Booneville, Mo., and for 32 feet at St.
Louis lave been Issued. The danger line
at the last-named point is 30 feet."
"All flood records since the year 1834,
when -the district was sparsely settled,
have been surpassed by the floods dt the
last week In the Missouri "Valley." said
Alfred J. Henry, in-charge of the Fore
cast Bureau. "We have deemed it neces
sary to send out special flood warnings,
as the conditions continue very dangerous.
Rain has been falling today in Missouri
and Iqwa. The danger line at Kansas
City, for Instance. Is 21 feet, and today a
stagd of 27.5 feet was reported. This
means an alarming situation, zo far as
property is concerned, but the people have
From the Tacoma Ledger.
been sufficiently warned, so that there
should not be further loss of life. The
stage of 32 feet has been predicted for
St. Louis, where tho danger line Is
30
feet."
DIED OF EXCITE3IENT.
Two Men Saved From Drowning to
Die of Fright.
LAWRENCE, Kan., May 31. The water
here has fallen a foot. Half the houses
on the North Side are washed away, but
the people have all gone to high ground
and aro safe. Hundreds of homes have
been carried down the river. Almost all
of the 3000 people on the North Side are
homeless and have lost all their personal
property. Portions of this part of town
haveheen swept clean of every building.
There ha3 been much loss of livestock.
Harry Sedgwick and a man named Rich
ards died from the excitement from the
flood after they had bc9n moved to places
of safety, and a Union Pacific employe.
whose name could not be learned, and his
companion, named iatthews, were in a
boat that overturned. It is believed that
both wero lost.
DANGER PASSED AT DES MOINES,
In Spite of Steady Downpour the
River Falls.
DES MOINES, la.. May 31. At 6 o'clock
tonight water In the Des Moines River had
declined 14 Inches from its maximum
height of 24 feet, attained early this morn
ing. Notwithstanding the steady 'rain
that has fallen for three days it Is be
lieved the danger of a farther rise Is past.
The extent of suffering among several
thousand flood refugees has been reduced
to a minimum by the better organization
of relief work. The river continues to
bo from a half mile to two miles wide.
effectually cutting off communication be
tween the main part of Des Moines from
East, North, and South Des Moines, and
covers thousand of homes and business
houses. Railway street-car traffic con
tinues at a standstill.
The police report that thieves In boats
are plundering stocks of merchandise In
the business district to an alarming ex
tent and several arrests have been made.
Trains Creep Into Chicago.
CHICAGO, May 31. The railroads en
tering Chicago from the West felt the
effects today of the Kansas flood in over
due trains, that crept into the stations
from two to five hours late. All trains
of the Santa Fe road were delayed. The
Denver express, on the Chicago & North
western road was three hours late. The
Burlington and the Rock Island roads
were also affected.
Corn Crops Ruined.
HANNIBAL, Mo., May 31. The rise In
tho Mississippi River has brought heavy
damage to the Islands and bottom lands
In this section. Thousands of acres of corn
and other crops are submerged and every.
thing ruined, including all farm property,
as well as dwellings, and more than half
the livestock.
St. Joe Offers Its Aid.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo., May SL President
Letts, of the Commercial Club, has called
a mass meeting for tomorrow morning to
tender men, money and boats to all points
needing assistance. The six big packing
plants in south at. Joseph are in danger.
The Missouri River has risen three feet
since noon, submerging all bottom lands.
TORNADO CUTS SWATH.
One Man Known to Be Killed, and
Several Injured.
WELCH, La., May 3L A tornado start
ed about three miles south of here last
night and swept everything before It for
a distance of two miles. The two-story
house of s. J. Carroll, with all its out
buildings, was completely wrecked.
iawara burgess, a mrea man, was
killed, and Carroll and his wife seriously
lnjureo. uneir aaugnter was slightly in
Jured also. It Is reported that two white
men and a negro were killed by lightning
west ei nere.
VERY LOW RATES EAST.
O. R. fc N. Offers Bl Inducement to
Travel Long-Time Limit and
Stopover.
Many Portland and Oregon people no
doubt will take advantage of the vprv
low round-trip excursion rates to the East
offered Dy tne urcgon vaiiroaa & Navi
tion Comoany. the following belntr the
ures from Portland: Chicago, $71.50; St.
Louis, 5ts.wj; reona, ?&s.zo; uairo (III.)
$72.15: Memphis (Tean.), $73.50: New Or-
.latino Knnsas CltV Rt TncaWh
Atchison. Leavenworth, Omaha, Council
Bluffs, Sioux City, St. Paul, Minneapolis,
all $G0. Dates of sale: June 4, 5, 24, 35, 25.
27. 28, 25. 30; July 15. 16; August 25. 26.
Limit: Going, ten days from date of sale;
return, 90 days from date of sale. Stop
over privileges will be allowed within
limit In cither direction west of Missouri
River or St. Paul. For particulars, ask at
rv R. & N
ticket omce. iwa ana w &sn
ington streets, Portland.
WATER RISES VERY FAST
RESIDENTS FORCED TO TAKE
SECOND STORIES.
TO
Train Service Cat OS and Waiting
Passengers Seek Higher Ground
Farther Uptown.
KANSAS CITY. Mo.. May 31. The
greatest flood In the history of Kansas
City, Kas.. and the bottoms of Kansas
City, Mo prevails here today, and mill
ions of dollars loss will result.
A great body of water coming from the
west swelled the Kansas River at Kan
sas City, Kas.. this morning, causing a
most alarming rise. Waters rushed with
terrific force over the outlying raiiroaa
tracks and the crowded wholesale dis
tricts of the West bottoms, and finally
Into tho Union Depot. At 10 o'clock a
mile of big wholesale houses, elevators
and freight depots were entirely sur
rounded, basements that yesterday were
partially submerged were soon brimful
and water began to reach the first floors.
Within 15 minutes the track entering the
western end of the Union Depot were
entirely submerged, and at 11 o'clock the
water had risen at such a rapid rate
that the thousands of delayed passen
gers were making preparations to leave
for the high ground up town.
Union avenue, on which the Blossom
house and numerous smaller hotels, res
taurants and stores are located, is a run
ning stream. The water rose so fast in
the vicinity of .the depot that many 'per
sons were forced to remove to second
floors, and preparations were made hur
riedly to remove the passengers up town.
Trains that have been waiting in the
depot for hours for an opportunity to
start West and South stand a foot deep
in water. No trains have left Kansas
City for the West or South since last
night, and none will leave today, and
perhaps not for several days. Trains
from the East also are late, many appar
ently having, met the flood now being
caused by the rise In the Missouri River
east of here. The Santa Fe passenger
from Chicago, due at 10:30, is not ex
pected until this afternoon.
Loss in the Millions.
The losses In the wholesale district will
aggregate well Into the millions, and tho
losses to the various packing houses
nearer the river will be tremendous. The
street directly In front of the big Armour
packing plant Is under five feet of water.
Armour & Company have a force of 200
men working at pumps trying to keep the
rising water out of the buildings. At the
superintendent's office It was stated that
the plant will continue to operate with
a full force unless the water goes much
higher.
All of the hundreds of smaller concerns.
near the ordinary banks of the Missouri
River, which depend upon the river for
power, aro under water, and they will
be forced to suspend until the river re
cedes, throwing thousands of men out of
employment.
The entire stockyards, situated on the
State line, are submerged. Many of the
pens are five feet deep in water.
The basement of the livestock exchange.
containing 100 railroad and other offices.
as well as the big barns of the mule and
horse markets. In that district are several
feet under water. There Is no way of
reaching the stockyards except by boat
and from a point one mile east.
All night the forces of the stockyards
men were at work rescuing livestock,
hundreds of head being brought up Into
town. All trolley lines In both cities have
been shut down, the power at Rlvervlew
being under water and only one or two
cable lines on the Missouri side run
ning. All of the various roads enter
ing Kansas City which are located In tho
West bottoms on a level with the Union
Depot, are flooded, and the loss from this
source alone must be great.
Police Rescue the Imperilled.
Three-fourths of Armourdale was sub
merged under an ocean of water, the
packing-houses on the Kansas River here
were entirely surrounded and 15 feet of
water surrounded the Schwarzchlld &
Sulzeberger and Swift plants. The Kan
sas City police spent all night rescuing
persons.
At Schwartzchlld's plant 250 persons.
employes and people In the vicinity who
had been driven from their homes, are
Imprisoned. They have been held there
since early last evening. They are safe
from harm, but will not be hemoved until
those in greater danger in the low lying
ground near Armourdale and Argentine
have been taken to places of safety.
A steady rain has. fallen here and west
all night and still continues, and all
streams in the stricken territory ar
rising at an alarming rate. The property
loss In the wholesale district of the West
bottoms will be tremendous.
Both Kansas Cities are co-operating In
the matter of relief, and today the great
auditorium of Convention Hall on the
Missouri sde, capable of seating- 20,000
persons, was turned Into a relief camp
and the unfortunates brought there from
the Kansas side.
At 1 o'clock this afternoon half a foot
of water covered the first floor of the
Union Depot. Although the water was
rising more slowly as it spread out It
made It Impossible to move trains in airy"
direction.
"WASHOUTS ON RAILROADS.
Chicago fc Alton and Missouri Pacific
Suffer Daraape.
KANSAS CITY, Kan., May 3L High
water and much damage to crops and
railroads are reported from the Missouri
River east of this city. In Saline County
the Chicago & Alton and Missouri Pacific
have suffered from washouts and high
water. Many fields of corn and wheat
are flooded. Thousands of acres of corn
and wheat lands In the bottoms In Cooper
and Howard Counties are under water.
Two steamers were engaged last night
and today in removing families and live
stock off the islands above and below
Booneville.
BORNE DOWN BY CURRENT.
Husband and. "Wife Separated, the
Former Drowned.
KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 3L Notwith
standing the reports of great loss of life,
very few of the stories could be substan
tiated tonight, and it will be several days
at least before there is any accurate In
formation in this regard. William Hels
ley, 24 years old. Is known to havfe been
drowned near his home in the West Bot
toms this afternoon. In company with
hla wife, he started to leave his home,
and both of them were borne down. Mrs.
Helslcy managed to grab a bit of floating
Hair Vigor
Probably you know
how it always, re
stores color to gray
hair, stops falling,
and makes the hair
grow. Then tell your
friends.
J.C.AjrCo.,
Avers
sidewalk and clung to it until help ar
rived. Her husband was unable to fight
against the current and was drowned.
It Is estimated that 250 people were res
cued from buildings in the West Bottoms
during the day.
Among those who are said to have seen
people drowned was Sergeant Coughlln.
who Is stationed on the Twelfth-street
viaduct. From his station he saw, soma
distance away, a woman and three chil
dren afloat on the roof of a small cottage.
Suddenly the wreckage gave a lurch, and
he saw the occupants of the roof no more.
A boat containing five men capsized later
near tho sanro place, but whether the oc
cupants perished or not Is not known.
FOURTEEN REPORTED DROWNED.
Identification of Dead Is Not Possi
ble Now.
KANSAS CITY. Mo.. May 31. Fourteen
persons have been drowned In tho West
Bottoms during the day. Because oi ino
difficulty of recovering, the bodies. Iden
tification of most of the dead is impossi
ble. The dead as reported are as follows:
James Deerman, drowned on Osage ave
nue.
Unknown man. with two children.
drowned at Mill and Osage.
Unknown woman, dead in a mass of
drift.
William Herber and two other persons.
drowned at Second and Osage.
Two men and three women, drowned by
the capsizing of a boat near the Union
Pacific bridge.
A man on a Belt Line engine, which
was surrounded by water, was seen to
disappear.
"WENT DOWN WITH BRIDGE.
Twenty-seven Men at "Work Aro
Drowned.
KANSAS CITY. Mo., June 1. A message
to the Times from Kansas City, Kan., by
way of Leavenworth, at 2 o'clock thl3
morning, says 27 men at work on tha
Union Pacific bridge when It went down
were all drowned. It Is stated that many
persons saw the men drowning.
FARMERS CALL FOR HELP.
Imprisoned In Their Homes by the
Rising Water.
LINCOLN. Neb., May 31. Flood waters
in some of the swollen streams began re
ceding 'today, but the conditions remain
practically as bad as before. Salt Creek,
near Waverly and Ashland, overflowed
thousands of acres, the high tide of yes
terday at Lincoln reaching those villages
today. Help was asked to rescue farm
ers Imprisoned by the waters.
The rise In Blue River today carried
down bridges near Crete. The railroads ara
tied up and great damage Is reported on
all lines south of Lincoln.
A drizzling rain lasting all day added to
the flood. In Lincoln many families are
still being cared for by the city and
county authorities.
GOVERNMENT "WILL AID.
Orders Have Been Given Major-General
Bates.
WASHINGTON, May 3L The War De
partment will assist to the extent of its
power In efforts to alleviate suffering In
the flooded districts of the West. Orders
to this effect have been given to Major
General Bates, commanding the Depart
ment of the Missouri, with headquarters
at Omaha.
The supply department at Leavenworth,
Kan., will be availed of for the ship
ment of tents to the flooded localities,
should these be found necessary.
WATER IN OTTUMWA HOMES.
Des Moines River Rises to Unprece
dented Height.
OTTUMWA, la. May 3L All records for
high water here were broken today, the
water In the Des Moines River standing
21 feet V& Inches. Hundreds of homes In
the west and south part of the city aro
flooded. The work of rescuing the victims
occupied the day and it is reported that
all' have been saved. Railroad traffic is
cut off from all roads except the Burling
ton. Just before retiring, If your Uver Is
sluggish, onfcof tune and you feel dull,
bilious, constipated, take a dose of
And you'll be all right tn the morning.
Indigestion. Cause
Catarrn. of tKe
Stomach.
For many years it has been supposed thaj
Catarrh of the Stomach caused indigestion
and dyspepsia, but the truth is exactly the
opposite. Indigestion causes catarrn. Re
peated attacks of indigestion inflames tha
mucous membranes lining the stomach and
exposes the nerves of the stomach, thus caus
ing the glands to secrete mucin instead of
the juices of natural digestion. This ia
called Catarrh of the Stomach.
relieves all inflammation of the mucous
membranes lining the. stomach, protects tha
nerves, and cures' bad breath saur risings, a
sense of fullness after eating, indigestions
dyspepsia and all stomach troubles.
Kodol Digests What Yon Eat
Make the Stomach Sweet.
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