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Sunday morning, May 31, recorded the beginning of
the most disastrous flood in the history of Kansas
City. Great torrents of water swept down the Kaw and Missouri Rivers until the valleys were one
raging mass of water from bluff to bluff.
All the
bridges spanning the two rivers at this point were
swept away, completely isolating the city from all
outside communication.
The
East and West Bottoms manufacturing, wholesale and
road districts were covered with water to the depth
of from six to twelve feet.
To add
to the horror of the situation, box cars filled with
slack lime caught fire and quickly spread to
adjacent buildings. Firemen were powerless.
Conditions were grave indeed, as the city was in
danger of famine and disease through bad sanitation.
Every
one was at the mercy of thieves and fire.
Authorities immediately called out the full Third
Regiment, giving orders to shoot every thief and
firebug in sight.
Hundreds of lives and millions
of dollars' worth of property will be lost in this
flood. No exact estimate can be made until the
water subsides.
It
beats the former flood of 1844 and stands as one of
the most appalling disasters in the history of our
country. |
