Nebraska Newspapers

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The Omaha Daily Bee.
'l
ESTAHL1S1IED JUNE 19, 1871.
03IAIIA, MONDAY MOllNINO, JUNE 1, 1903.
single Copy three cents.
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SMITH MAKES REPLY
Coea Into Detail in Answer to the Chargei
of Ei-Caihier Tulloch.
INVESTIGATED AT TIME FIRST MADE
Evidence Justified the Tnnsactiom that
lie Complained Of.
LACKEO KNOWLEDGE OF CONDITIONS
Oonrae Taken Keoewary to Meet the Situa
tion During War.
OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE MADE PUBLIC
Replies of Ferry Heath and
Aealataat Poatmaater General
Brlatow Are Among
Them.
WASHINGTON, May II. Postmaster
Osneral Payne today made public the reply
of former Postmaster General Smith, to
the charges of 8. W. Tulloch, former cash
ier of the Washington city postofnee, re
garding the postal administration. Mr.
Smith says that ha Investigated the al
legation of Irregularities when they were
made and the evidence adduced in most
cases wis believed to be a Justification of
the transactions complained of, adding; that
the criticisms betrayed a lack of knowledge
of conditions Incident to the Spanish war
and the measures necessary to meet tte re
quirements, Mr. Payne said today that Mr? Smith's
lettor practically closes the Tulloch Inci
dent, although other documents on the sub
Joct will be made public later. These In
clude the replies of Former First Assistant
Postmaster General Heath and of Fourth
Assistant Poatmaster General Brlatow, tho
report on the former Investigation of the
Tulloch charges to which Mr. Smith refers,
and the reports of the poatoflice inspectors
who Investigated the Washington postofflce.
owing to the great volume of the docu-
ment, Mr. Payne said that all of the docu
ments except Mr. Heath's reply will be
briefed, although the documents themsolves
will be open to public Inspection If wanted.
The first answer of Mr. Smith to the
Tulloch charges will not be mado public.
Mr. Payne explained today that Mr. Smith
had forgotten about Mr. Tulloch's charges
and the investigation he ordered and that
until the papeis were actually found by
Mr. Francis W. Whitney, secretary to Mr.
Payne, It was not known that the charges
had been Investigated at the time. These
papers showed that Mr. Smith divided the
charges Into groups, noting directions for
Investigation as to each group and pubee
fluently recording against each group the
results of tbe Investigation. Those r.Mu:i
constitute "the exhibit" to which Mr. Smith
refers In his letter.
Mr. Payne said that Mr. Smith In his
prior letter, had entirely forgotten the Tul
loch charges and did not recall the namo
or the fact that he had Investigated the
charges. Mr. Smith,' socond letter, Jn full,
ollows: ; . . ...., ,
Text of "Smith Letter. ;
'Philadelphia, May 27, 1903-Henry C.
Payne, 1'ust master Genernl, Washington.
t. C. Sir: 1 am In receipt of your letter
of the 20th Inst., inclosing copy of a letter
addressed to you by Mr. S. W. Tulloch,
respecting the conduct of the Postofnce de
partment and the Washington oitv post
ofllce during the years IbDH and ixa8.
in reply, I bog to say that the sugges
tions ot Irregularities made by Mr. Tulloch
on his retirement from his position of
cashier of the city postottice were duly
acknowledged at the time and the facts In
the cane were ascertained. The result of
that examination was embodied In a lull
exhibit of the alleged Irregularities and of
the explanations In each Instance, which Is
on tile in the department. To this exhibit
1 refer as embracing a particular and de
tailed answer to Mr. Tulloch's statements.
Without undertaking to repeat here Its
specific and minute evidences, let me aav
In general terms that In most cases It pre
sents what was said to be a Justification of
tne transactions oompiainea or. ine trans
actions mostly grew out of the conditions
Incidental to the operation of the Spanish
war and the criticisms betrayed a want of
knowledge both of the conditions and of
the methods adopted to meet their require
ments, ine war was declared on April ll,
reads Available.
Within a few weeks an army of 250.000
men was raised ana organised In rimm
It became necesaary to provide at once
for the prompt handling of the malls of
tnis large body of .soldiers and their mil
lion frlenda at home. Any failure to do so
would justly nave excited universal co.i
dsmnat
mon.
At the outset no aite.-rlal ap
propriation waa available and the means
had to be provided from the general postal
appropriations. Afterwards congress made
a special appropriation for the militnrv
fostal service, to be expended entirely at
lie discretion of the postmaster general.
In meeting the demands of the service
and In making good out of one fund what
had been temporarily and unavoidably
drawn from the other, rhanses and Irani.
fera and special employments were made
which might not be understood bv thnu
who had only an Incomplete knowledge of
mi lacin.
Machinists oa Payroll.
It wss round expedient as a matter of
. practical sdniinletruilou to treat tne camps
and afterwards lor u time the oltloea of
i orto Kico as branches of the Washington
oQice, as those of Cuba were treated as
blanches of the New Vork office. This In
volved the enrollment of the men employed
for Porto Kico on the Washington roll fur
a time and soma of the ex ti n ti u
in the department was provided for in the
. same way. out ot these tacts Ignorantly
araw some ef the allegation of irreuuUr.
uy. Compared wlta ms magmluje ot the
military aerwee, not many new appoint
ments were muae. It was the policy or the
Ooparimein to seiuct trained and expur
leuied men alieauy In tiu service nd detail
tnem to tne military and island work
louring two yuars congress 'ipp.-op.-tated
t&uu.uuv tor me military postal service to be
expended at the discretion ot tne poai
master general. Of tnla amount -Hio4.a5
waa apeia und the remainder, J,:i.J. kt "
covered back into tbe treasury
borne ren rei.Lo ha been made to the fac
tliKt a lew mucluitiats appealed to bo en
rolled on the clerical roll. This may have
grown out of one uf niy acts. .After exam
ining the suPJucl 1 determined to cut down
tha annual rental uf cancelling machines
used In the postottioes of the country to an
extent which effected a saving of about
Jimi.uotl a year In the aticregate to the gov
ernment. In consideration uf (his lurge re
duction the department agred to take care
of the machines. This required three or
four machinists, who should travel from
oitioe to office for the purpone, and direction
was given that the inaclilniata already
familiar with the work should be employed
I am frank to say that 1 do not now recall
lust how they were enrolled, but it waa
1 thouylit that It could be lawfully done In
exempted places and tio more red tape or
form was allowed to stund In tne way of
what waa believed to be for tha good of
the service.
The examination of the alleged Irregu
larities In the connection of the department
with the Washington oltlce as already
atated Justified most of them, I should not
be altogether candid If I did not say that
In some caaee I was not thoroughly con
vinced of the propriety of the transactions.
These questionable transactions coiu.ii.ied
for the moat part of placing on the roll a
few persons, the need of whose services
wss not clearly shown.
When theae developed the proper officers
were Instructed that every proceeding
which could not be Justified should be
remedied and stopped.
Subject vf Investigation.
It Is proper for me to add that Mr.
Tulloch's allegations were the subject of
' an independent and searching tnvealig,
OouUbm4 4 JTUUt Paiaq
MISSISSIPPI IS OVERFLOWED
Doea Great Damage to Crepe aad
Balldlnars la Vtclelty ef '
Hannibal.
I
v., "'tL, Mo.. May II. The rise In
the"". river has brought heavy
damage' '" -lands and bottom land
In this section , ' snds of acres of corn
snd other croit srged and every
thing ruined, Incluuv, Srra property1,
as well as dwellings," hv ore than half
the live stock. The residents escaped tJ
the Missouri shore. In Hannibal the water
Is far up on the levee and residents of
the "squatters" section have been com
pelled to vacate their homes for higher
places. The gauge at the Hannibal bridge
registers fourteen feet and eight Inches
above low water mark, which places the
water one foot and eight Inches above the
danger line of thirteen feet.
Observer Cover of the weather station
predicts that the water will reach a stage
of eighteen feet, which will make the flood
one of the worst known In years. Predic
tions of Observer Cover are based upon tele
graphic reports received showing that the
Mississippi river is rising at all points north
of Hannibal, up to St. Paul, Minn.
Bl'RUNQTON, la., May II. The river
here Is ton feet five inches above low water
mark and is rapidly rising. The water Is
nearly on a level with the Diamond Joe
freight house. The lowlands of Illinois are
flooded for miles and many acres of crops
are ruined. A heavy, cold rain has been
falling all day.
LA CROSSE, Wis., May Sl.-Whlle mov
ing furniture In a boat from his home. Iso
lator hy floods, .pSuil Jlcker was drowned
today. Water has passed the government
danger line and Is rising rapidly. On the
norm side many small houses are afloat
and two feet of water stands In many
houses. La Crosse Is surrounded by water
and a rloo of another foot will Inundate
the wholesale quarter. Railroads at Grants
Crossing are under water. Many people
narrowly escaped drowning, today.
KEOKUK, la.. May 31. Both the Missis
slppl and the Des Moines rivers have
reached and passed the danger line here
and are flowing over the Missouri bottoms.
Several thousand acres of crops have been
destroyed. The Egyptian levee, guarding
additional thousands of acres may be over
topped tonight. Alexandria Is flooded. All
trains south and west of Keokuk have been
abandoned.
QUINCY. III.. May Sl.-The Mississippi
river at this point tonight reached a stage
of fifteen feet eight inches, a rise of seven
Inches since morning. The lowlands here.
abouts are under water and as a Btill
higher stage Is sure to follow, the damage
will be great
PACKING PLANTS IN DANGER
South St. Joseph Gets a Taste
of Hlsh Water la the
Missouri.
ST. JOSEPH. Mo., May U, President J.
C. Letts of the Commercial club has called
mass meeting for 8 o'clock tomorrow
morning to tender men, money and boats
to all points needing assistance.
The six big packing plants In South St
Joseph are In danger. The Missouri rlvjw
nss xi sen ir.ree ieet since noon, submerg
ing all bottom lands. ',
Mayor Borden left tonight on a special
Hock Island train for Topeka, with 900 men
and twenty boats. All possible assistance
will be afforded that stricken city.
About twenty-five acres of lowlands near
the packing houses In South 8t. Joseph
are flooded. Numerous small truck farms
are ruined. The loss In this vlolnlty will
amount to about 1600,000.
HUGE IRISH DEMONSTRATION
Thirty Thoasaad Participate la Cloa-
tnsr Rveat of Rational
Lessi Coaventloa.
4
LIVERPOOL May II. The convention ot
the Irish National league, which opened
yesterday, closed today with a demonstra
tion by 90,000 Irishmen. T. P. O'Connor,
M. P., who presided, referring to the fact
that Irish votes saved the government
from defeat over the London education
bill, said:
'The English people must reallin that
Balfour Is premier by virtue of the Irish
vote. If they are fit to rule Rngland, they
are also fit to rule Ireland."
RICS IS SENTENCED TO DEATH
Filipino Insnrgent Leader aad His
Followers Coavleted of
Harder.
MANILA. May II. Ruperto Rlos, the
fanatical "Filipino leader In, the province of
Tayabas, who waa captured about a month
ago, has been convicted of murder and
sentenced to death. Twenty-seven of his
followers also were convicted and sentenced
to various terms of Imprisonment.
A detachment of scouts has defeated and
scattered the Oanlguf Island Insurgents,
killing eighteen of them. This, It Is be
lieved, will end the opposition to the gov
ernment In that place.
ALMOST A THOUSAND KILLED
Coasal Reports oa Fatalities
Earthquake la A'alatle
Terkey.
la
IXNDON. May ll.-The British consul at
Eraoroum reports that an official estimate
places the number of persons killed In the
earthquake In the Van district of Astatic
Turkey at 860, while the loss of rattle waa
Incalculable, as owing to the lateness of
the spring s large majority of the animals
were indoors. Nearly a score of village
were destroyed and many more were par
tially demolished. The center of the seismic
disturbance was In the neighborhood of
Mt. Glpan.
WILL SIGN COALING TREATIES
Conea Representatives Will Cloeo I'p
tho Matter Daring; the
Preaent Week.
HAVANA. May II. President Palma has
informed the representative of the Asso
ciated Press that the coaling station leases
will be signed next week. He says the
matter will not be delayed because of the
absence from Cuba of the secretary ot
state, as Secretary of the Treasury Montee
wilt act In Benor Zoldo's place.
Object to Oplnm Franchise.
MANILA, May SI. Opposition Is develop
ing to the plan providing for the sale by
the government of an exclusive opium
corporation The Evangelical unton Is
urging that opium be entirely excluded
from the Islands, asserting that Its use
Is spreading and working great Injury to
SOME RAILROADS TIED DP
Rcok Island Abandoni Service in Iowa,
Sebraaka and Kansas.
BURLINGTON LOSES OTTUMWA. BRIDGE
Inlon Pnclfle Main Line iat Good
Shape sad President's Trala
Probably Will Cosae to
Omaha Safely.
With President Roosevelt and his party
speeding toward Omaha In their special
train anxiety over the continued rains and
floods which have subjected railroads to a
supreme test Increases. While the Union
Paoiflc. over which the president Is now
traveling, has thus far been Bpared ser
ious hardship, apprehension cannot alto
gether be allayed In view of the threaten
ing situation that continues and the grave
results that already have befallen some of
the roads. Only yesterday reports reached
Omaha that the big Burlington bridge over
the Des Moines river at Otturawa had gone
out and that the Missouri Paclflo bridge
spanning the Platte river at La Platte had
shared the same fate. None of the Omaha
roads has thus far had to report any loss
of life, but the property loss Is already
significant. The most vigilant efforts are
being exerted by all the local railroad men
to avert more serious disaster. It Is un
fortunately not a question, however, of
what the railroads can do, but of what the
raging waters may do.
The Burlington, Missouri Pacific and
Rock Island are the greatest sufferers up
to this time. The Rock Island for two
days has been so completely at the mercy
of the floods as to have practically aband
oned Its service. It Is still running trains
between Omaha and Des Moines, but Is not
attempting It east beyond Des Moines, nor
west beyond Omaha. Its Chicago-Denver
business Is being handled by the North
western and Union Paclflo and the B. A
M. Is still hauling its trains from this
city to Lincoln. The Rock Island tracks
at Falrbury and other places are under
water. In the state of Iowa It is submerged
also.
Bis; Bridge Goes Oot'.
The B. & M., while crippled somewhat by
high water at Plattsmouth and in that
vicinity. Is managing to run its trains' be
tween hare and Lincoln without serious
difficulty and Is maintaining Its service
west to Denver. In fact the B. & M. Is
not among the worst sufferers, but the
Chicago, Burlington Qulncy Is. It Is
practically at the mercy of the raging
Des Moines river In Iowa, and therefore
unable to pull Its trains through from Chi
cago, except by roundabout route. Yes
terday afternoon the turbulent Des Moines,
which has been on the rampage for several
days. Is reported to have swept
away . the big bridge which spans
It at Ottumwa. The train for Omaha
had evidently Just passed over the bridge
when It went out. : A passenger who ar
rived at the local JBurllngton station said
he saw the big structure gradually yielding
to the tremendous forces that were press
ing It on all sides. ' J
"I saw timbers and spikes fall from the
bridge and knew t It was deve4..l-lld
not see It go Out entirely, but saw enough
to convince me that It was going and to
make me feel glad that I waa over It. There
was some talk of running a heavy freight
train out on the bridge to hold It In place,
but this Idea was dropped when It waa
seen with what force the river was beating
against the, bridge.'
- This was a double track, steel bridge,
half a mile long and a very valuable struc
ture. .
Telegraph dispatches from Ottumwa, how
ever, make no mention of the loss of the
bridge.
Haa to Change Its Ronte.
The Burlington has had to change Us
route to St. Louis and Kansas City. Omaba
St. Louis trains now have to go by way
of Charlton and Creston and down through
Keokuk, while those running from here to
Kansas City must travel east over the "Q"
as far as Charlton and then drop down by
way of Leon, striking the regular route
again at St. Joseph. The chief obstacles on
this line are In the vicinity of Hamburg
and Blgelow and near Forest City high
waters obstruct the Kansas City trains.
The B. A M. reports freedom from serious'
condition at Plattsmouth, althourh the
water waa sold to have been gradually
rising there last night.
The Missouri Pacific had a train Into
umana yesterday, but waa compelled to
abandon Its night train out because of the
destruction of the bridge crossing the Platte
river at La Platte. The Platte Is reported
to be steadily rising and the situation is
oeing watcnea witn considerable appre
henslon.
The Wabash trains yesterday were nearly
on time, arriving and departing, but at
night a report stated that the same ni
which submerged the Burlington tracks at
Harlem. Mo., had put the Wabash under
water and It waa thought tlvat trains would
urn unoun in gel past mat point.
Fonr Fortnnate Roads.
The Milwaukee, Illlnola Central. Nik
weatern and Elkhom have thus far been
.o.iu.uiio. tne two former report na an
noyance except the necessity In some cases
w a.ow up sngnuy because of threaten
Ina eonnltlnna Kit. i . w
, u h re running on
good time. The Northwestern h..
countered some high waters near Sioux
City that made It necessary vaat.nt..
ru.. w.. 1Win ny, train on the west side
of the river Instead ot the east side as
uui. ine cianorn has had a Unri.iM.
somewhere on the Bonesteel route, hut M
serious results are reported at local quar-
ters.
As for the L'plon Paclflo, It la practically
i rum irouoie except on Its Kansas
i-acino Drancn, which Is of coura In
undated in many places by the floods that
are raging In Kansas. It Is abandoned and
the traffic Is being sent through Omaha
on the main line. As to Its ability to get
the president and party safely through
from the west to Omaha, officials ot tha
company express no doubt so far as they
can speak from conditions now. The presi
dential train, which does not stop at
Omaha any length of time. Is due here
Tuesday morning at I o'clock. Offlclala ot
the company last night said their reports
of It were all right and that it would get
Into Omaha surely unless some very un
expected misfortune arose in the mean
time. '
Yesterday waa a trying time for depot
offlclala. At the three stations these men
had their woes. People seemed to have
lost sight of the fact that the . distorted
rivers and raging floods had got clear
beyond the control of even depot officials.
Appeal to ClTle Federatlea.
BT. LOL'ia. May It.-At an executive
meeting of the Civic Federation, which was
held st the Mercantile club, at whtrh Ralph
M. Easley, secretary of the National Civic!
Federation, wrta present, a committee from
the KreiKM Handlers' union requiwted that
their differences be adjusted. The matter
was placed in the haade ef the conciliation
commutes. '
CONDITION OF THE WEATHER
Forecast for Nebraska Fair Monday and
T. . ) I) i i a . . , .
" " -1 ' i' in, Duuineesi or-
tlon; Warmer Tiiceday.
Trmperatere at Omaha Yesterday i
Hoar. Desr. , Hoar. Des.
0 a. m t , 1 (, n, 4
tfa. la 41 a p. m no
T a. ni 47 a p. m...... 4H
8 a. m. . . . . 4T 4 p. na ...... 47
a. m 4 s p. m 4
10 a. nt 41 p. m ...... 48
11 a. an IM 7 p. nt...... 44
1 m 411 H p. m 48
P. sa 47
TWENTY-SEVEN ARE DROWNED
Are on I'nloa Paelae Bridge
Kansas River When It
Collapses.
Over
KANSAS CITY, June 1. A message to
the Times from Kansas City, Kan., by way
of Leavenworth, at o'clock this morning,
says that twenty-aeven men were on the
Union Paclflo bridge which spanned the
Kansas river when It went down, and all
of the men were drowned. It Is said that
many persona saw the men drown.
CARS TUMBLE INTO OCEAN
Large Nans her of People Injnred In
Wreck on Bonthern
Partac.
SANTA BARBARA Cel.. May U. Nearly
forty persons were Injured, according to re
ports recolved today, by the falling of four
coaches of the Southern Pacific south
bound overland limited passenger train
down a forty-foot embankment Into the
Pacific ocean last night.
The derailment occurred near Rlncon,
where the tracks run along a high cliff
overhanging the ocean. Word was sent to
Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and spe
cial trains went to Rlncon. The more se
verely Injured were taken to Los Angeles.
Many persons were wedged under the cars,
but the coaches were partly floated by
the sea, so hat the prisoners were not
crushed fatally.
The severely injured: '
Mrs. Nelson Johnson, Fort Madlsoni Zi,
bruised and cut about had.
Mrs. J. C. Smith, Los Angeles; both arms
crushed, must be amputated at shoulder.
O. W. Grady, Law ton, Okl.; cut and
bruised.
J. E. Carr, Creston. la.; cut and
bruised. - -
Mrs. J. E: Carr, Creston, la.; bruised.
Mrs. Alice Stebbens, Ithaca, N. Y.; head,
face, arms and hands cut and brulsod. .
Mrs. J. M. Cnsey, Fort Madison, la.; cut
and bruised about head, internally injured,
Robert Casey, bruised and cut.
Five-year-old son of Mrs. Casey, slightly
cut. .-,- .
Nelson Johnson, Fort Madison, la.; badly
hurt about head and shoulders. '
Train Agent O. M. Wells, light shoulder
and bark injured.
It is not known uf what caused tha
wreck, ae no lhaoetlKin. eould Sa made In
the darkness. It la, biiuye d, however, that
ther-taTls spread as 1 u roevhtotive " waey
passing over them. .' 1
Several other cars left the. track, but did
not go down the batik. i
PRESIDENT HAS BUSY SUNDAY
Atteads Cnarefc In Mornlnaj
and
Visits Seaator Warren's
Ranch Later.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., May IL President
Roosevelt waa on the go moat of the day.
This morning he was driven to the First
Methodist church, where special services
for the president were held. At the close
of the service., carriages were taken to the
home of Former Senator Carey, where
luncheon waa served. In the afternoon a
long procession of carriages, headed by the
president and party, started for Senator
Warren'a ranches, fourteen miles south Of
Cheyenne. Here the routine work on one of
Wyoming's largest ranches was shown ty
party. At 6 o'clock supper was servel,
after which the start for Cheyenne waa
made. When the president reached his
hotel at 1 o'clock tonight he was In Jubi
lant spirits and remarked that he waa look
ing forward with great pleasure to the
frontier exhibition to be held tomorrow
morning.
Previously to starting for the Warren
ranches, the Eagle's Lodge of Cheyenne
presented to President Roosevelt a mem
bership In the order.
Secretary Moody, who has been with the
presidential party since it entered the state,
left today for Washington.
SEVERAL FEET BELOW DANGER
Mlasoart River Does Hot Promise to
Make Any Troable at
Omaha.
The Missouri river at Omaha la the
twenty-four hours ending Suniay morning
at I o'clock had risen 1.1 of a foot, but the
water Is still nearly Ave feet below the
danger point.
The Sunday reports received at Omaha
do not Include river readings from polpts
south, and the only report received from a
Missouri river point was from Sioux City,
where the. water was twelve feet above low
water and five feet below the danger point
Reports from points north show little
rainfall, and therefore tbe local weather
bureau predicts that the river will .not go
much higher at Omaha.
MASONS TO MEET WEDNESDAY
Hebraska Grand Lodge to
nnal Session In Oa
Thla Week.
II
avo Aa.
laba
The annual meeting of the Maaonlc grand
lodge of Nebraska will be held at Masonlo
hall, this city, Wednesday, June I. Grand
Master Nathaniel M. Ayrea of Beaver City
Is expected to arrive thla morning. The
grand lodge will assemble at 4 o'clock
Wednesday afternoon and continue for
three or four days. A number of prominent
Masons are already In the city to attend
the meeting.
Movements of Oeeaa Veeaels May SI
At New York Arrived: Astoria, from
Glasgow and Movllle; Bolivia, from Pal
ermo and Naples; Cyrmlc from Liverpool
and Queenstown; Oportia, from Lisbon and
Aaorea; Manltou, from London and South
ampton; L'mbrta, from Liverpool and
ueenstown.
At The Llsard Passed: La Champagne,
for Havre.
At IJverpool Arrived: Cevlc, from New
lra; aiaynower, irora o onion via Queens-
iu n.
At ilovllle Sailed: Tunisian, from Mon
treal, for IJverpool.
At gueennlown-Sailed: Lucanla, from
Liverpool for New York.
At Southampton Sailed: vtnlgin Iilllss.
Crosa feramas. for York,
FLOODS CONTINUE WOltii Of
Death List at Topeka Now ConserTatiTel
Put at lully Two Hundred.
SMALL BOATS FOUND USELESS FOR RESCUE
Large Number Arrive, but Little Oould Be
Done with Them.
STEAM LAUNCHES FINALLY REACH SCENE
i
These Ire Able to Face the Current and
Work Proceeds Rapidly.
GREAT DANGER AT KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
Stock. Yards and Parkin- Plants
lader Water aad Mea Work All
Meat Hesealnsj the Llvo
Stock.
(
TOPEKA, Kan., May ai.-There Is ground
for hope that tha worst Is passed. So
treacherous has the Kansas river proved
itself tonight in the rise of the water, so
slowly as to be Imperceptible the flve-mllo
stream Is settling Into Its rightful chan
nel. Up and down the official gauge has
fluttered all day, tonight, however. City
Engineer McCable issued a bulletin giving
out the cheering Intelligence that the wat
ers had subsided to the extent of exactly
TVs Inches. It may be a few hours before
another drop may be noticed. With 170
to 200 lives lost, millions of dollars of prop
erty destroyed, hundreds of pistol shots as
algnals of distress, blended with the
agonising cries of unwilling Inhabitants of
tree tops and roofs of houses and the wat
ers creeping upward and then slowly sub
siding and alternately changing hope to
despair, the capital city haa passed the
most memorable sabbath day of its exist
ence. To all thla discomforting condition
of affairs was added the presence of a cold,
dismal rain. The ardor of the rescue
work of the herolo .rescuers was not
abated In the least by the conditions which
confronted them for long dreary hours,
knee deep In water and sometimes In water
up to their necks, they worked with might
and main. TOnight they can proudly point
to 100 or more rescued ones who otherwise
might have been swept away In the cur
rent. Briefly stated, the present condition
of the flood is this:
summary ot Conditions,
. One hundred and seventy to two hundred
people drowned.
Eight thousand people without homes.
Four-mllllon-dollar loss of property de
stroyed. Identified dead, five; floating bodies seen,
twenty; people missing, 200.
Houses burned, result of fire in lumber,
from slacking lime,. probably( 100.
Banks collapsed, two.
Wholesale grocery stores flooded,, two.,
Big business blocks almost ready to
crumble! fifty.,
- - Wholesale 'con
commission ""housea ' deserted,
allf,
Hock- Island trains containing
150 pea-
aengera held here by high water.
City water works plant useless.
Known drowned:
KARL RUPP.
ORRVILLE RUPP.
TWO RUPP GIRLS.
O. H. GARRETT'S l-TEAR-OLD SON.
TWTENTT UNIDENTIFIED BODIES.
Estimate Loss of Life.
La ling men have made a careful ex
amination of the flood and all its condi
tions and as a result of their Investigation
they give 2E0 as the probable number of
lives lost. . A more conservative estimate
places the number of dead at 175. The
higher number is as likely to be correct
aa the lower. The number of dead Is
merely a matter of estimate. Members of
rescuing parties tell how they saw people
drop from houses only to be swept away
by the flood and others tell of men who,
terrified at the approach of the Are, dropped
Into the water, where they sank and did
not reappear. This estimated number of
dead does not Include the large number
classed aa missing who cannot otherwise
be accounted for, neither doea It Include
the number who are supposed to have iost
their lives In the Are. In the latter class
there is absolutely no means of arriving at
even an approximate number of victims.
The water Is so high and the current so
strong that all that can be done now Is
to rescue those In the buildings surrounded
by water. It will be at least three days
before the correct number of qeaa wui do
decided upon.
Steam Laaachn Effective.
Work of rescuing the victims of the
flood Is being pushed forward with vigor.
Better results have characterized the ef
forts ot the organised forces since 4 o'clock
this afternoon than during all the preced
ing twenty-four hours. Two little steam
launches are now puffing up and down the
river picking up survivors. A larger steam
boat is expected here by a speoiai train on
the Rock Island within twenty-four hours.
If possible to run the train the boat will
be brought to a point two miles above
the city and there launched.
A tralnload of email boats were In use
today, but they were useless tonight, bat
tling against the mighty current.
A wire cable Mas been stretched across
the Kansas avenue bridge. To this will be
attached a sand dip, and refugees wilt be
brought across In this manner. If the
flood doea not rise further and those not
yet reached can keep their places a few
hours longer, there need not necessarily be
a much larger loss of life
Large contributions have already been
received for the benefit of the sufferers.
The amount given by Topeka cltlsens alone
will aaeresate 1100,000. To this Is to be
added an Immense quantity of clothing,
provisions and general supplies. Outside
towns havs generously offered aid, notable
among which la Galveston. Tex.
Tonight the portion of Topeka not at
fected by the flood Is crowded with refugees j
. , . .,,.,,,,,, ,.,,
and people from the surrounding counrry
i- wJl . , -itn. th. flood condi-
wuu imw v "
tlona.
There la great anxiety tonight aa to wMt
tomorrow will bring forth. If the river
does not receive any more flood water west
of here the Improvement In the situation
here will be marked. If the water rises at
Manhattan and Wamego tomorrow will see
a repetition of the worst of the flood scenes
and the distress (aill be greatly intensified.
Either contingency Is entirely within the
range of possibility.
Bridges Are Gaae.
Yesterday afternoon at 1 o'clock
the number of drowned people was known
to be at least U0 and a large number
were yet missing. Several were reported
burned to death, but thla could not be
substantiated. From all over eastern Kan
sas boats are being rushed here for the
rescue ( the sufferers, The north aad el
Bt'MMARY SITIATIO.
Further lejiorts from Toprka
sorre to mid lo ratlier tlmn detract
from tlio nlniiiiliig utorics of tlio
first dnys of the jircat flood. It
is now conservatively estimated
thut at least people have lost
their lives ttt that point und tho
property damage has heeu'lni
iiieiioe. The river has commenced to fall
and there Is a sltrn of relief, hut
continued rains tio not lend too
much aKsuram-c.
The arrival of several steam and
Kasoline launches has facilitated
the rescue of people Imprisoned In
the bulldliiKR of the flooded dis
trict, rotvtioiits Imrintf been found
incapable of facing the current.
At Kansas City, Imth on the Mis
souri and Kansas side, the con
ditions have Kruwu worse. Fifteen
people are known to have been
drowned and several fires are now
burnlnK In the flooded district.
In Iowa the condition shows
signs of improvement at les
Moines, but on the lower river
they are worse. The death list at
lies Moines is now placed at seven.
the Melan bridge, the only way of reach
ing North Topeka. has gone out and an
effort will be made to stretch a wire cable
across the gnp.
All of the pontoon bridges on the north
side were washed out early this morning
and the only possible chance of reaching
the survivors then was by boats.
Shortly after daylight nine boats arrived
from Ottawa on a special train and they
were put Into active service at once. Soon
after reports -of drowning began to come
in. A boat containing eight men was swept
away In trie swift current about 7 o'clock
and as far as known all were drowned. A
boat containing two men was, capslsed.
The boats were too frail to live in the
swlrllng waters.
More boats arrived from Emporia at 10
o'clock' and hurry mesbages had been sent
to other towns for more. The river re
mained stationary after having fallen seven
Inches. Heavy rains were reported from
up the stream, however, and it was feared
that another rise would st In. Eighty-
seven people are high and dry In the Fage
eUvator. If the building holds together
ther wU1 06 rf"cued- I" B street col
ored uaptist cnurcn nearly iuu people nave
been standing since yesterday. Many of
them have doubtless fallen from exhaustion
btforo this and drowned. The building
stands Intact, however, and those who are
left alive may be rescued.
Small Boats laeless.
As aeon from a high place on North Tyler
street, near the Rock Island bridge, the
stream appeared to be widening. The
bridge had not gone out, aa waa reported
last night, but It waa getting very shaky.
The current was running with an Incred
ible swiftness." Small boats have no chance
at5 ail,j -a'0TmvriTr'thenT'"-have lrondy
swamped. Even If. they could successfully
traverse the whirling, eddying stream for
a rnile, they would be almost rfure to be
overturned by striking against houses and
other wreckage.
North Topeka la a scene of utmost deso
lation. Not a square foot of land can be
soon in any direction. There Is but a
small chance of any of, the residence be
ing left standing at the end of the flood
period. Sherry, Oakland and the region
about the Reform school north of North
Topeka. are all under water, but the sit
uation Is favorable In these places com
pared with North Topeka.
The plan of trying to crosa the river near
what remains ot the Kansas avenue bridge
has been abandoned. Boats will be taken
In wagons to a point near Auburndale, a
suburb two and a half miles southwest.
They will then be launched and allowed to
float with the current to polnu where peo
ple are to be rescued. This plan, of course,
will Involve much danger to the rescuers,
but this is lost sight of In the desire to
help the unfortunate ones. It Is Impossible
to force boats through the currents.
Rains Fnt
Oat Fires.
Nearly all the Area have been put out by
the heavy rain which has been falling
nearly all night The sky was overcast and
the rain bid fair to continue all day. It
was soon recognised that rowboata would
be of no use 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
Berguntnal and to the secretary of the
Commercial club aa follows:
Topeka wants three to six steam launch
or twelve or eighteen clinker-built row
boats, with men to handle, sent here 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 proceed
to Topeka. The train waa to feel Its way
as far as possible on the submerged tracks
and the boats would ba launched. Topeka
cltlsens guaranteed all the expenses under
taken. 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
the Missouri Pacific and the Santa Fa over
circuitous routes, but the current In the
river seemed to be growing more powerful
every minute and they were powerless to
cope with It. Meanwhile the beleaguered
ones were being encouraged as far as
possible to hold on a little longer in thj
hope that rescue would soon be effected.
.o Food Since Friday.
.The elghty-flve people In the Page ele
vator 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 bad not yet reached the elevator aftor
engaging In a hard battle with the waters
for over an hour.
Former Policeman E. N. Capron Just re
turned from a fruitless attempt to rescue
I some personal frlenda. He could make no
, ..... . .
hadway against the current, though he
and his companions put forth the most
strenuous efforts with their three-oared
boat Mr. Capron said the desolate condi
tion of the country on the north side Is
worse than anything he ever heard of. The
loss of life from drowning alone, he said,
will hardly be covered by 150, without con
sidering the missing.
Chief of Police Goff and his family are
among those not yet accounted for. They
may be among those on the tops of build
Ings, but this Is hardly the case, aa the
housi waa directly In the line ot laat night's
fire. Isaac Standon succeeded In reaching
the B Street Baptist church with 500 pounds
of provisions. He was two hours In mak
ing the trip uf not much more than a
mile
Half a dosen persons are In an abandoned
(Continued on Second Pag 4
DESTRUCTION
rood Shortag-a Adds to tha Flood Troublei
of Dei Mointi People.
SUPPLY OK MEAT IS ABOUT EXHAUSTED
Baker Are Unable to Forniih Enough
Bread for the Refugee.
COAL FAMINE IS ALSO THREATENED
Water Worki Company Likely to Be Forced
to Close at Any Time.
LEVEE BREAKS AND FLOODS COMMONS
About Evening the River Commences
to Reeede and Gives tho Stricken
Ones a nay ot Hope ot
Relief.
I ternoon the relief authorltltca announced
that they were confronted with a food
and fuel famine. Meat marketa all over
the city declare they have but two or
three days stock on hand. There is no train
entering the city and no prospect of get
ting a shipment of freight Into Des Moines
in less than three or four days. Bakeries
are over-taxed as a result of the demand
of the 1,000 flood refugeca through the re
lief asaoclatlorf.
The temperature of the past three days
has been such as to cause great suffering
and to threaten great loss ot life through
exposure. Now it transpires that there
Is but a meager coal supply and that tho
light and power plant and the waterworka
have an Insufficient supply. Roads are Im
passable for team hauling and no coal can
be shlppud in. At the .water company's
office this afternoon It was stated that the
situation waa alarming. Notice waa sent
to every resident In the city to draw an
extra supply of water to provide against
the closing of the plant.
Owing to the breaking of another levee,
the commons on which sixty tents were
placed tor flood refugees was flooded, com
pletely submerging the tents. The oc
cupants escaped.
Seven Fatalities.
Once more hope hss been Inspired In
the breasts of the l.vuO flood refugees by
the report that the river had begun slowly
to decline. After rising all night, a fall of
two Inches was noted between I o'clock
and noon. The condition of tha sufferers
boa been slightly alleviated by the bettor
organisation ot the relief forces. But
Isolated instances of extreme need of food
have been discovered and those who were
.living In tents have nearly all been re
moved to places of comfort In publlo build- '
Ings. The need of bod covering is still
imperative. Not a wheel is turning in the
factory district and no effort to made to
open any business houses. Uoats afford tha '
only means of,, nommuntcatlon between1
North, South and East Pea Molnea, and,,
tba jri.tln part f 'fia erty? Tfltis a txtremely "
perilous. So far as , la known but seven
authenticated fatalities have occurred. Re
ports ot a score more have been received
from that section of the city that is cut
off from communication, but cannot ba
verified. . .
The Northweatern operated one train out
of the city limits today, mall being con
veyad to it In a boat Tha Rock Island is
trying to get tralna through to the west
Th) main line east Is tied up. The Mil
waukee Is also making spasmodic sttempts
to operate trains. The Great Western,
Wabash and Burlington roads have com
pletely abandoned their lines In this city.
The water and electrio light and power
plants are still running, but It is only by
the employment of several hundred men to
man pumps and work on the leveea
For oyer two days H has rained con
stantly and the mercury has stood close to
the freeslng 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 arrlv.il
of jlhe rescuers. The last of these wss
removed at 10 o'clock. More fatalities will
result from exposure than from drowning.
The property loss will mount up Into the
millions. The situation at Ottumwa and
other points on tha Des Moines river be
low here Is little better.
Thieves Are Rosy.
At t o'clock tonight the water In the
Dos Moines river bad declined , fourteen
Inches from Its maximum height of twenty
four feet, attained early this morning.
Notwithstanding the steady rain that has
fallen for three dnys, It Is believed danger
of further rise Is past, as reports from
points above Des Moines are to the effect
that the river has been falling for twenty
four hours
The extent of suffering among the sev.
era! thousand flood tefugees hsa been re
duced to a n.lnlmum by the better organisa
tion of relief work. The few remaining
levees will hold. The water plant reports
that it will be able to continue la operation
and the Edison light and power plant gives
a similar report.
The river continues to be from a half
mile to two miles wide, however, effectually
cutting off communication between the
main part of Dos Moines from East, North
and South Des Moines, and covers thou
sands of homes and business houses. The
water Is tilled with debris and boating Is
perilous. Railway traffic continues to be
tied up and It will be several daya before
the steam railways will resums schedules
or the street railway can be operated.
The police report that thieves Jn boats
are plundering stocks of merchandise in the
business district to an alarming extent and
several arrests have been made. One officer
had a battle with a robber who escaped.
Beats Record at Ottamwa.
OTTt'MWA, la., May tl.-AU records for
high water were broken today with water
In the Des Moines river standing II feet 1
inches. Hundreds of homes in the west
and south part of Ottumwa are flooded.
The work of rescuing victims occupied the
entire day. It is reported that all sufferers
have been saved. Nearly 130,000 for relief
haa been subscribed by the Inhabitants of
Ottumwa. Churches, publlo buildings and
many private houses were opened to suf
ferers. No deaths are reported. Railroad
traffic Is rut off on all roads except On the
Chicago, Burlington Qulncy.
BALL TEAMS NOT DROWNED
Mllwaakeo aad Peoria Fleodboaad la
Vicinity of Manhattan,
Kansas.
KANSAS CITY, May ll.-The Peoria and
Milwaukee teams of the Western Base Ball
league are flood-bound somewhere between
Wamego and Manhattan. Kan., and It la
Impossible to communicate with them by
wire, but the report that the players aad
been drowned, la utterly discredited.
I