1903 — May 26-Jun 18, Flooding, upper MS, lower MO valleys, IA, KS, MO –100-149

— 200 Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). 1982, p. 180.
— 149 Frankenfield/Weather Bureau. The Floods of the Spring of 1903. 1904.
— 100 Ludlum. The American Weather Book. 1982, 80.
— 100 National Climatic Center. “Losses in Individual Severe Floods in the [US]… 1976, 122.
— 100 National Weather Service, Pleasant Hill, MO Weather Forecast Office.

Iowa ( 4)
— 4 Des Moines, IA Area. Frankenfield 1904, 49-52.

Kansas (100)
— 100 Kansas City, KS Westward (including Topeka). Frankenfield 1904, 29-30.
— >38 Frankenfield/Weather Bureau. The Floods of the Spring of 1903. 1904, 62.
— 38 Topeka, KS Area. NWS, Topeka, KS WFO. “The 20th Century in Review.”
— 24 Topeka, KS Area. Combs & Perry. The 1903 and 1993 Floods in Kansas. USGS, 2003.

Missouri ( 45)
— 6 Hannibal, MO Area. Frankenfield/WB 1904, 53.
— 19 Kansas City, MO Area. Frankenfield 1904, p. 53.
— 20 St. Louis, MO Area. Frankenfield/WB. The Floods of the Spring of 1903. 1904, 38.

Narrative Information

Frankenfield: “The floods of May and June, 1903, in the middle Mississippi and lower Missouri valleys have created for themselves a history unparalleled in the high- water annals of our country. At some places the stages of the water exceeded any previous known records; at others, while the maximum stages had been exceeded once or at the most twice before in our history, whether recorded or traditional, they have been instrumental in placing upon a solid foundation of truth a record that has never until now been able to stand upon a higher plane than that of an indifferently authen¬ticated tradition….” (Frankenfield 1904, 29-30.)

Kansas City and Westward:

“In a more material sense, too, the floods of 1903 marked a new epoch in our economic history….The floods of 1933 descended upon broad, fertile, and highly cultivated fields, and upon rich valleys filled to over¬flowing with vast industries devoted with never ceasing energy to the fulfillment of the insatiable demands of commerce. The resulting ruin and desolation were beyond description, and would tax even the most vivid imagination to contemplate. The number of human lives lost will never be accurately known, but the total number reliably reported was exactly 100, of which more than one-half were reported from Kansas City westward.

“The losses to property were practically beyond computation. Estimates, which are far from complete, place the total losses at $40,000,000, over two-thirds of which can be attributed to the work of the Kansas and lower Missouri rivers.”

“Causes of the floods.—A merely casual inspection of the rain chart for the month of May, 1903…will suffice, in a general way at least, to show the reasons for the floods, which in most instances, were very destructive. These rains were excessive and almost continuous during the latter half of the month, especially during the last ten days, over the middle Mississippi Valley, the western portion of Oklahoma, and the eastern portions of Kansas and Nebraska…” (Frankenfield 1904, 29-30.)

“Districts affected.—The States principally affected by the floods were Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas, and in a minor way, small portions of southeastern Nebraska, southeastern Minnesota, and southwestern Wisconsin. These comprise portions of the watersheds of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers with their principal tributaries, chiefly the Des Moines and Kansas rivers.

“Duration of the floods. The floods may be considered to have begun on May 26, when the Kansas River and its tributaries were bank full, with many already overflow¬ing; and to have continued until June 18, on which date the Mississippi River at St. Louis first fell below the danger line. This would make the total length of the flood period twenty-four days…” (Frankenfield 1904, 30.)

“Extent of overflow. No previous flood in this country, nor perhaps in any other, extent of damage alone considered, wrought so great havoc among the cities as did that of 1903. In the city of Des Moines between 8 and 9 square miles of municipal territory were submerged, while at Hannibal about all of the southern, as well as those portions of the northern and western districts immediately adjacent to the Mississippi River and Bear Creek, met a similar fate. In Kansas City and vicinity approximately 5 square miles of territory were overflowed, as was also practically the whole of the northern portion of the city of Topeka. Very little of the cities of St. Louis and East St. Louis were covered, but large portions of the manufacturing towns of Venice and Madison, through the breaking of their levees, were flooded to a considerable depth. In all there were between 3,000 and 3,500 square miles of territory overflowed and of this, at least one-half, was under cultivation. Over the cultivated area, the crops, of course, were ruined, but a large proportion was at once replanted and soon gave promise of a bountiful yield.” (Frankenfield 1904, 31.)

St. Louis Area:

“Area inundated. There are only minor levee systems on the Missouri River, and in time of severe flood, such as that of 1903, they serve no purpose in protecting lands from overflow. During this flood the Missouri River, from Kansas City eastward, overflowed its banks and extended from bluff to bluff, where such existed, and in places where the bluffs were distant from the river bed the width of the river was 10 to 12 miles. The total area overflowed by the flood wave in passing from Kansas City to the Mississippi River was approximately 590,000 acres, much of which is farm land under a high state of cultivation. In addition to this area the Grand River, one of the northern tributaries of the Missouri, overflowed much valuable bottom land in the northwestern portion of the State.” (Frankenfield 1904, 37.)

“Extent of damage. Most unsatisfactory results have attended the efforts of the writer to secure comprehensive data on which to base an estimate of the damage from the passage of the flood in the St. Louis district, and the figures that are given here¬after can be taken only as a general approximation of the extent of the damage…. Loss of life.—Press reports have been carefully examined in order to ascertain the number of deaths directly due to the flood, and it is thought that it does not exceed 20. In East St. Louis the number of deaths reported was 17, but with the exception of 3, all were due to accidents not directly the results of the flood waters….” (Frankenfield 1904, 38.)

“Des Moines River at Des Moines, Iowa, and vicinity….

“During the month of May showers were general from the 2d to the 5th, inclusive; from the 9th to the 13th, inclusive, and from the 17th to the close of the month. There are 17 meteorological stations in the Des Moines and Coon valleys, north of Des Moines, and including the record of the central station, there was an average of 2.36 inches of rainfall in the upper river basin between May 2 and 15, and 7.51 inches between May 17 and 31, making an average for the 18 stations of 9.87 inches during the month, nearly all of which found its way into the rivers and passed through this city. The showers on May 25, 26, and 27 were heavy at all stations and excessive at several; the largest 3-day rainfalls were 4.89, 4.69 and 4.63, respectively, and a number of other stations reported amounts exceeding 3 inches for the same period….

“On May 28 the gage read 18.7 feet at 8 a. m., 19.8 feet at 12:45 p. in., 20.2 feet at 2:30 p. m., and 21.0 feet at 7 p. m., which equaled the high-water mark of the 1902 flood. Strenuous efforts were made to protect and reinforce the dikes along the river fronts, but in spite of all that could be done the water would seep through, softening and washing the banks.

“The bottom lands north of the river, from the Flint Brick Company’s yards east¬ward to Union Park, were flooded early in the day. The water was from 2 to 3 feet deep over the pavement on north Sixth avenue. Crocker Park was also flooded. The whole of Central place, situated east of the Highland Park car line, and the tract between the Natatorium and North street, were inundated during the afternoon. All of that portion of southeast Des Moines, east of Fourteenth street and south of the Burlington tracks, was flooded.

“The bottom lands along the Coon River were under water as far east as Eleventh street; from the Rock Island tracks on the north to the bluffs on the south side of the river, and from Fifth street eastward to the Des Moines River and south of Elm street.

“Briefly stated, the casualties for the day were as follows: Two spans of the Melan Arch Bridge on north Sixth avenue were carried away, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Water seeped through the banks at the street car power plant and entered the engine room, necessitating a suspension of all street car service for several hours in the afternoon. Twenty families were driven from their homes in Central place, as were also 200 families in southeast Des Moines, in the packing house district east of Fourteenth street, and 50 families from southeast west Des Moines, between First and Fifth streets and Elm street and the Coon River. The ice houses belonging to the Des Moines Ice Company on the north side of the Des Moines River, near the Sixth Avenue Bridge, and one house belonging to the Diamond Ice Company, were carried away with their contents. The Edison Electric Light plant on the west bank of the Des Moines, above Grand avenue, the Capital City Gas plant on the east bank, below Vine street, and the Des Moines Waterworks Pumping plant on the north side of the Coon, near the Eighteenth Street Bridge, were all in danger of being flooded, and energetic efforts were made to strengthen the banks near-by by the use of gravel, baled hay, and bags of sand. The gas company used bags of Portland cement.

“On May 29 the gage read 21.0 feet at 8 a. m. The banks and bridge piers indicated that the water had been up to about 21.3 feet during the night. There was but little change in the stage of water until evening, when it began rising again.

“The dikes which protected the manufacturing districts, located between Fifth and Eleventh streets and south of the Rock Island tracks, gave way at 11 p.m., and the whole section was flooded, necessitating a cessation of all business.

“At the close of the day the flooded district included all of the bottom lands on the north side of the Des Moines River from the Flint Brick yards to Union Park, and on the south side from Douglas Park to Crocker Park; all of Central place from the river westward to the foot of the hill; a square west of the Highland Park car line, and from the Natatorium southward to below North street; and all of southeast Des Moines south of the Burlington tracks. The Coon River was out of its banks from Valley Junction eastward to the Des Moines River, and the water extended from the foot of the hills on the south side to the Rock Island tracks west of Eleventh street; from Eleventh street eastward, and also south of Elm street. A large portion of south Des Moines was under water, the dikes constructed by the Clifton Heights Land Company being the last to give away. The water began to wash over the east end of the Center street dam and across the approaches on the east end of the Grand avenue and Locust street bridges. All railroads discontinued the use of their bridges as a precaution against possible accident….

“All laboring men who could be employed were given work on the embankments protecting the electric light and gas plants. Seven ice houses and their contents were carried away.

“May 30 the gage read 22.5 feet at 8 a.m. The heavy rain which began at 10:30 a.m. on May 29 continued until evening, but from the best information obtainable it is not believed that heavy rains extended north of the main line of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway.

“In spite of the strenuous efforts made to reinforce the dikes protecting the main portion of southeast Des Moines the water broke through at 3 a. m….resulted in the loss of 4 lives…” (Frankenfield 1904, 49-52.)

“Mississippi River at Hannibal, Mo., and vicinity…

“Heavy and practically continuous rains over the watersheds of the Snake, Skunk, Des Moines, and Mississippi rivers during the last ten days of May and early in June, resulted in a flood which surpassed all previous records for high water in this vicinity. At Hannibal the danger line of 13 feet was reached on May 29, and a maximum stage of 22.54 feet on June 8, about three-quarters of a foot higher than the previous high-water mark of June 7, 1851. On June 7, 1903, the stage was 22 feet, but 0.2 of a foot higher than it had been on exactly the same day fifty-two years previous. After June 8 the river began to slowly subside, and on June 21 it again fell below the danger line….

“Five lives were lost as a result of the high water-4 when the steamer Flying Eagle was wrecked at the bridge on June 3, and 1 when a man was drowned on June I while removing stock from Bay Island. This island, which is just north of Hannibal, contains 11,300 acres that are subject to complete overflow at a 17-foot stage on the Hannibal gage, and of these, 8,000 acres are under cultivation. On the Missouri side of the river, from opposite Quincy southward to Hannibal, there are about 18,000 acres subject to overflow, 10,000 of which are under cultivation, while on the Illinois side there are 8,620 acres between Quincy and the Sny levee that are subject to overflow, and practically all of it is under cultivation….” (Frankenfield 1904, 53.)

“Missouri River from mouth of Platte River to Kansas City—Kansas River…, Kansas City, Mo….

“The flood of 1903 marks an epoch in the history of Kansas City…. Such a flood had never before been experienced in this section, except by the very few pioneers who witnessed the historic flood of 1844… Bound by the ties of affection for the old home, thousands waited until the last perilous moment, and 19 are known to have been borne to destruction by the seething waters. It seems miraculous that the number was not twenty times as great.

“While the devastation was appalling at many places along the Kansas River, it was at this place that it reached the climax of its destruction, and made history which may not be repeated within the life of the present generation. (Frankenfield 1904, 53.)

“Republican River — Not including Junction City, where it empties into the Kaw) — Damage began a little west of Superior, and from there to its mouth the general loss is placed at $600,000, which includes $12,00o damage to bridges. Lives lost, 3….” (Frankenfield 1904, 55.)

“Smoky Hill River.—(Including the Saline tributary).—Damage began in Ellsworth County and was particularly heavy from Salina to Junction City, where the Smoky Hill River unites with the Republican River to form the Kaw. Many of the towns and villages were inundated, and about 30 bridges were damaged. In some cases the damage was partial, in others complete. The general damage to farms, fences, barns, etc., amounted to $1,400,000; to bridges, $20,000; to stock, $23,000; lives lost, 3. In addition to this, heavy losses to commercial and business interests were sustained.

“Kansas (or Kaw) River.—The overflowed area was from 2 to 5 miles in width along its entire length, not including the cities at its mouth. Damage to farms, fences, crops, barns, etc., $3,000,000; 11,000 acres of rich potato land overflowed between Kansas City and Lawrence, washing out the entire crop and leaving the land practically valueless for farming purposes because of a deposit of sand and silt from I to 3 feet deep in places. Damage estimated at $500,000. Damages to bridges at Junction City, $250,000; Manhattan, $100,000; Wamego, $16,000; Lawrence, $50,000; Desoto, $17,500; St. Marys, $10,000. Others, $75,000. Local damage at Lawrence, $300,000; St. Marys, $50,000; Manhattan, $25,000; Junction City, $30,000. Approximate loss of live stock, $100,000. Loss of life, 11 persons….” (Frankenfield 1904, 55-56.)

“Below Kansas City the waters extended from bluff to bluff, being in some places 2 and at others 6 miles wide. The destruction was quite complete and extensive at many places….” (Frankenfield 1904, 56.)

“There remain to be mentioned Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kans., which are situated at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers. Each river has its bluffs, widening out here and there into low flat bottom lands…. Along each river are low bottoms which, in places, cover considerable areas. In these bottoms are located the great industrial institutions that make Kansas City, Mo., the commercial center she is to-day…. Directly north of Kansas City, Mo., on the opposite side of the river, is the village of Harlem, on low bottoms that extend back about 2 miles to the north bluffs.

“Armourdale is the southern addition of Kansas City, Kans., and lies within the horseshoe bend of the Kaw on very low ground. Directly opposite, on a strip of bottom land half a mile wide by i N. miles long, and on the south bank of the Kaw, is Argentine.

“It will be seen from this description that vast interests and properties of every character are at the mercy of each great flood. There are no dikes or levees to afford protection…. The river at this place began a steady rise on May 2I. It reached the danger line of 21 feet in the early morning of May 28, and on the next day it was 2.3 feet above. Water was flowing through the streets of Argentine and Armourdale, and many families were driven from their homes…. On the morning of May 3o the river was at 25 feet and rising rapidly. Business generally demoralized; in fact it came to a standstill; everything closed in the bottoms; no train service west; telegraph and telephone service crippled except eastward.

“On May 31 the stage of water was 27.5 feet and still increasing rapidly. Toward night the flood extended from bluff to bluff. Armourdale, Argentine, and Harlem had been abandoned, except by those who were unable to make their escape before being surrounded by water. Twenty thousand people had been made homeless, and all the horrors and dangers of a terrible flood confronted the community. All public utilities except the gas company had been put out of service; 16 out of the 17 bridges over the Kaw River went down, the one remaining, that of the Missouri Pacific Railway, having been saved by the weight of 15 large engines with which it was loaded. Every effort was bent to rescue those in danger and to care for the sufferers.

“On June 1 the stage was 35 feet, a rise of 7.5 feet in twenty-four hours, and within 2 feet of the 1844 stage. The Missouri and Kansas were no longer rivers; they had merged into an inland sea, confined only by the distant bluffs of the Missouri and the lesser hills lining the Kaw. The ruin wrought furnishes the saddest chapter in the history of the two cities, Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kans. Scenes of distress and disaster beggar description. The flood swept down with merciless impartiality, destroying alike the belongings of the humble squatter and those of the wealthy corporation.

“Houses in Argentine, Armourdale, Harlem, and the East Bottoms were 8 to 12 feet under water. The streets in the West Bottoms had 8 to 12 feet of water in them. Around the union depot the water was 8 feet deep. The north approach to the Hannibal Bridge was carried away, also 200 or 300 yards of the south approach to the Milwaukee Bridge, about 3 miles down the river. There was only one railroad track out of the city. The gas plant was compelled to shut down and the city was without light, water, or street cars, and only the poorest possible facilities for telegraphing or tele¬phoning. At night the city appeared like one deserted, with only the faint glimmer of a candle or kerosene lamp here and there to be seen. Stores of food and clothing had been lapped up and carried away by the seething currents, while hungry and shivering thousands sought relief at the hands of a generous community. Many people, impris-oned in the flooded area, were compelled to witness unending scenes of terror and destruction.

“On June 8 the land again appeared in the West Bottoms and the work of restora¬tion began. A trip through these bottoms after the waters had subsided to a normal stage revealed a condition of general ruin and desolation that filled the beholder with utter amazement. Holes in some places 3o feet deep had been gouged in the streets; railroad tracks torn to pieces; great oil tanks, 35 to 5o feet in diameter, and 25 to 3o feet in height, made of boiler iron, had been torn from their moorings and tossed about like frail shanties, some of them being carried miles from their original locations, while others were crushed against bridge piers and destroyed almost beyond recognition; ordinary houses were mere playthings; freight cars were smashed into small pieces and many were carried down the river; heavy engines had been rolled over and over and were found in mud banks, and mud from 2 to 4 feet in depth covered everything. The ruin was terrible and complete and beyond adequate description.

“Armourdale suffered the most; one could not tell where the streets had been located, as what was left of the town was but a mass of indescribable ruins. Argentine village was practically in the same condition. Only about 5 per cent of the residences that remain in the Kaw Bottoms will be habitable. Houses in Harlem and the East Bottoms were not in the way of the strong currents and consequently escaped with less damage. The work of rehabilitation began as soon as land appeared, but the restoration to normal conditions will be a herculean task, tedious and irksome.

“The Missouri Pacific yards seemed the playground of the flood; about 3,000 head of cattle and hogs were found there when the ground appeared, and there were piles of debris 4o feet high. Lives lost, 19….” (Frankenfield 1904, 56-58.)

Kansas River at Topeka, Kans., and vicinity…

“The principal river in the northern half of the State finds its source in the extreme eastern part of Colorado and western portion of Kansas, and flows eastward across the State into the Missouri River at Kansas City. This river is called the “Smoky Hill” from its source to its junction with the Republican at Junction City in Geary County; but from Junction City to its mouth at Kansas City its geographical name is the Kansas River, though it is popularly dominated the Kaw. The waters in the far northwest counties flow northeastward and discharge into the Republican River in Nebraska; the latter river flowing eastward enters Kansas at the northwest corner of Republic County, then flowing southeastward it joins the Smoky Hill in Geary County to form the Kansas….

“The bed of the river varies between 8o and 16o rods in width, but at Topeka, where the bridges cross, it is nar¬rower than usual, and was still further narrowed when building the Rock Island and Melan (Kansas avenue) bridges by making “fills” for approaches instead of spans or arches….

“The flood of May 28 to June 3, 1903, was the most disastrous since the settlement of the valley, and was the direct result of the excessive rainfall in the central and northern counties of this State and the southern counties of Nebraska….

“By May 26 every stream was bank full and many were overflowing. Then came the great rains of May 28 in the central group of counties, culmin¬ating in 5.25 inches at Salina, and an estimated fall of 15 inches at Abilene (where the rain gage was washed away). This volume of water was thrown into the Kansas River and from Manhattan but one bridge (at Wamego) was left across the Kaw until the Rock Island bridge at Topeka was reached. By noon of May 28 the river at Topeka had reached 16 feet; Friday morning, May 29, it was 19 feet; during Friday night it rose rapidly, and continued rising all of Saturday, May 3o, reaching its maximum, or crest stage of 27 feet, about 9 o’clock that evening. It receded very slowly, however, being still some 23 feet deep Tuesday evening, June 2.

“On Saturday, May 3o, the water tore out the street car bridge which was built on piles just west of the Kansas Avenue (Melan) Bridge, and by 4 a. m. of the next day had washed out the north and the east side of the approaches to the latter bridge, both the work of return currents. The weight of opinion indicates that the narrowing of the river bed in building the Rock Island and Melan bridges threw the water into north Topeka earlier than it would otherwise have come, but made little if any differ¬ence in the final outcome. The debris brought down by the river lodged in the trestle¬work of the Rock Island bridge after the water had risen to the bridge floor, and acted as a dam, raising the water 2 feet higher on the west side of the bridge than on the east. The water tore up the asphalt pavement on Kansas avenue just north of the bridge and left it in Mr. Skinner’s yard on the east side of the avenue.

“When the water reached the lime houses the slacking lime started a fire that con¬sumed a large quantity of lumber, terrified the citizens who had taken refuge in trees and on the tops of houses, and greatly increased the danger to the rescue boats….

“As the waters subsided, silt and sand were deposited indoors and out alike, being 18 inches to 2 feet in depth indoors, and 18 inches to 3 feet deep in the yards and streets, completely changing their contour. As one writer tersely said, ” Nothing is as it was.”….

“The city pumping works were flooded and the large water main leading from them was washed out, and the city for four weeks had to depend on the pumping engine of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway shops for its water supply.

“The records show a death list of 38, but it is not believed that this covers the total loss of life….” (Frankenfield 1904, 61-62.)

“Mississippi River from below St. Louis, Mo., to Cairo, Ill….

“The maximum stage reached at Chester was 33.3 feet on June 13, 3.3 feet above the danger line, and exceeding the flood of May, 1892, by 2.1 feet.

“At Cape Girardeau the maximum stage reached was 36.6 feet, exceeding the flood of May, 1892, by o.9 of a foot.

“The flood wrought great destruction in this vicinity, that is, at points on the Mississippi above Cairo. A relief committee sent out by the citizens of Cairo reported as follows:

“The conditions are indescribable. No one can imagine the extent of the destruc¬tion and desolation caused by the flood, especially in the vicinity of East Cape Girardeau and McClure. There are fully 30,000 acres of fertile land in this county upon which the crops are a total loss. Water is 2 feet deep in the streets of McClure and is sweeping down from the Union County line to the bluffs at Gale. Almost an entire township in the northwestern portion of the county is inundated. The water is 2 feet higher than the oldest citizen has ever before known it to be, but is 3 feet lower than it was in 1844, as shown by marks on the Sturdevant Bank of Cape Girardeau.”

“All bottom lands were inundated and all crops thereon reported lost….” (Frankenfield 1904, 63-64.)

Newspapers

May 30: “Topeka, Kas., May 30. – The whole of North Topeka, which has for hours been separated from the main part of this city by the flood, is burning at 6 o’clock tonight. Thirty are known to be dead. Hundreds are said to be missing.

“Topeka, Kas., May 30.—It is thought that the fire will finish what the flood may leave in North Topeka. Burning houses are floating through the streets and setting fire to the others. There is no possible way of quenching the flames. The property loss will reach into the millions.

“Scores of men in tree tops are yelling for help, and women and children, though standing in the highest places, are up to their necks in water. The current is so strong it is impossible to reach the place. A gang has been organized to row as near as possible, and swim the remainder of the distance. The current is sweeping across the city from the north. The people are dropping from the tops of houses and trees, having become exhausted by their eighteen hour’ imprisonment and are being swept away.

“Topeka, Kas., May 30, 9:30 p.m. – Four hundred houses have been burned already The whole of North Topeka will go. As near as can be learned 150 persons are now dead. Most of them were burned to death.

“Topeka, Kan., May 30. – From the state house dome eighty fires can be counted in different parts of North Topeka. The whole central portion burned out at 10 o’clock to-night and before morning not a house will be left standing. When it is stated that North Topeka has 10,000 inhabitants, the extent of the disaster can be realized. People are clinging to the roofs of houses and limbs of trees and many are giving up in despair and dropping into the water below to be carried away by the swift current. Death by fire or death by drowning to at least four hundred is certain in a short time, unless means can be found for rescue.

“A.P. Baldwin, who at the risk of his life, crossed in a boat, returned late ton-night and reports that nothing possibly can be done to save the city from burning….. Chief of police Doff… [is] among the victims….

“A company of militia has taken charge of the work of rescue, and has rescued several hundred people. The situation of the beleaguered people to-night is desperate in the extreme. Not only threatened by fire and water, but through long exposure and without sufficient clothing, they would have died in any event. Delicate women and children have been without food or shelter since early last evening….All classes are joining in the rescue work and in the construction of scows with which to reach the imperiled people, and in the effort to prevent further destruction there is no distinction: rich and poor, white and black, professional men as well as others, have been working side by side all day in the capacity of laborers. Scows are being built in lumber yards and although clumsy affairs play an important part in the work of rescue.

“The police in boats are giving the houses in the flooded district as much protection as possible. It is asserted that houses in one of the flooded suburbs are being looted.

“Oakwood, five miles north-east of Topeka, was deserted this afternoon. The place is now submerged.

“In the auditorium to-night 2,000 homeless people are quartered. Society women of the city are there attending the refugees’ needs. Great wagon loads of clothing and provisions have been sent them. Many of the refugees are afflicted with contagious diseases but it is impossible to enforce any quarantine. Physicians predict an epidemic of sickness. The court house and federal buildings are also crowded.

“Topeka, Kan., May 30. – At midnight the fire on the east side of Kansas avenue in North Topeka is rapidly taking the remaining buildings. So much burning wreckage is floating that the destruction of the remaining houses is regarded as certain. The earlier estimates of the number of dead is confirmed by refugees, but the exact figures cannot be obtained until the flood subsides.

“Trustees have been released from jail and none have given better service. One of them saved five lives.

“Pontoon bridges have been built to the McIan bridge and many rescued by that means tonight. A man named Betler, driver of an ice wagon, during the night rescued 500 people with his wagon and team….People are still heard calling from the roofs of their homes for help. It is stated that two boat loads of people were swamped and all drowned.

“Kansas City, Mo., May 30. – Unprecedented floods are raging in central and eastern Kansas; northwestern Missouri; eastern Nebraska and southwestern Iowa as the result of ten days’ almost continuous rainfall. The general situation is considered most grave with no immediate relief in sight. Many lives have been lost and it is estimated that 25,000 persons have been driven from their homes, many of which were washed away and that the property loss will run well up into the millions.

“The greatest damage has been occasioned between Kansas City and Ellsworth, Kas., 500 miles west. At Kansas City, Kas., Armourdale, Argentine, Harlem and Sheffield, Mo., all the latter suburbs of Kansas City, an aggregate of 10,000 persons have been forced to leave their homes and 5,000 employees of the packing houses are railroad shops are out of employment.

“The situation summarized as follows. Homeless:

North Topeka, Kas… 7,000
Near Emporia… 500
Salina and vicinity… 300
Lawrence… 500
Kansas City, Armourdale and Argentine… 10,000
Harlem and Sheffield, MO… 700
Des Moines, Ia… 6,000
Ottumwa 200
Lincoln, Neb… 200
Beatrice… 200….

“The Kansas river from Kansas City to Manhattan, 110 miles; the Smoky Hill, south from Manhattan, one hundred miles; the Blue north from Manhattan; the Missouri north and east from Kansas City and the Des Moines have caused the main damage. Every western railroad entering Kansas City is affected. Traffic is practically suspended. All trains are held up at division points. One train which arrived here from Topeka was obliged to make a detour of 230 miles to cover the sixty miles between the two cities….

“Lincoln, Neb., May 30. – Practically every stream east of Nebraska has been converted into a raging torrent by the heavy rains which have been continuous for forty-eight hours. In Beatrice several hundred families have been driven out by high water. The Blue river is four miles wide…

“Kansas City, Mo., May 30. – It rained throughout Kansas last night and the downpour may continue all day. The Missouri river was four feet above the danger line here this morning. The Missouri and Kaw continue to rise. The valley of the Kaw river between Kansas City and Topeka is one vast lake with thousands of acres of the richest lands submerged….Across the Missouri from here the town of Harlem is being abandoned to-day….

“Chicago, Ill., May 30. – Vice President J. W. Kendrick of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe road said tonight: “I have received a telegram which states that the flood in North Topeka rose in a warehouse in which lime was stored, causing the lime to slack and set fire to the building. The flames spread rapidly.’….

“Topeka, Kas., June 1, 3 a.m. – The rain during the past two hours has tended to check the fires. The loss of life is at least 200 and may exceed this estimate. The people were cooped in their houses and could not escape the fire and flood….

“Hutchinson, Kas., May 30. – Hutchinson is under water tonight. Many people are obliged to abandon their homes….

“Chicago, Ill., May 30. – The Chicago fire department has been appealed to for aid in relieving the flood and fire sufferers in Iowa. A special train with an engine and firemen tonight went to Des Moines over the Northwestern.

“Des Moines, May 30. – Special. – Ten thousand families have been rendered homeless as the result of the worst flood Iowa has ever had. The Des Moines river registers 22 feet above the high water mark and is steadily rising. Rains are still falling heavily and both the Des Moines and Raccoon have overflowed their banks. Two hundred houses have been swept away by the flood. Three square miles of territory in and around Des Moines is covered with water from 10 to 26 feet deep. Four hundred families or more have been spending the last two days in tents in the highlands and have been nearly drowned out by the flood and local physicians predict many fatalities from the fearful epidemic of sickness prevailing….The river has been eating away its banks at the rate of twelve feet in twenty-four hours…” (Cedar Rapids Sunday Republican (IA). “By Flood and Fire,” May 31, 1903, p. 1)

May 31: Kansas City, Mo. May 31. – Kansas City is tonight at the mercy of the most disastrous flood ever known in the Missouri valley and the conditions are hourly becoming worse. Fires are burning in a dozen places and there are no means of fighting them. Already more than a score of persons are known to have been drowned and it is believed that the coming of morning will show a death list that is appalling. Many assert that fifty are already dead, but this statement is not verified. Twelve bodies were counted as they floated past during the day. In nearly every instance they were lying across pieces of wreckage. On the roof of a cabin that came whirling down could be see the body of a woman and her child.

“Not a street car is running in this city or in Kansas City, Kansas, the water supply of both cities has been shut off and not an electric light is burning and every bridge between the two cities has been swept away. Thousands who went across the river to view the flood are unable to return. The Union depot is flooded and the freight yards are a vast sea.. Not a train has left for the west or south since last night and none will go for many hours, possibly not for days.

“To add to the horror and distress of the scene the lawless element of the two cities early threw off all restrain and began to plunder the homes and stores of the terror-stricken people. To put a stop to this wholesale looting, shortly after noon the Third regiment of the Missouri national guard, 800 strong, was ordered out and will be kept on duty all night. The governor will be asked to send another regiment to its assistance.

“Fifteen persons have been drowned in the west bottom during the days and five others are known to have lost their lives. Because of the difficulty of recovering the bodies, identification of most of the dead is impossible.” (Daily Iowa State Press, Iowa City. “Flood at Kansas City,” June 1, 1903, 1.)

“Topeka, Kas., June 1. – Three steam launches did excellent work today. By 9 a.m. those who had been seen clinging to the tops of trees were rescued. An those who were seen just before dark last night in perilous places were taken to safety by the rescuers.

“During the night two thieves were shot in North Topeka. During the night vigilantes have tacked cards on the flooded buildings bearing the words ‘Death to Thieves’.” (Daily Iowa State Press, Iowa City. “Flood and Fire Bring Ruin and Death in Kansas,” June 1, 1903, 1.)

June 2: “Kansas City, MO., June 2. The Missouri registered 35 feet this morning. This is equal to the highest point reached this catastrophe and but two feet below the record established in the flood of 44….

“The first newspaper man to get into and out of Kansas City, Kansas, reported today. He says the situation there cannot be painted too black. There are 15,000 people absolutely destitute, who are being cared for in the churches, halls and municipal buildings. Between 500 and 600 refugees are sick. Grocery stores are cleaned out and hotels and restaurants are closed. Thousands of rations from Leavenworth disappeared in ten minutes. The medicine stock is exhausted. Thieves overrun the place, looting and destruction is proceeding night and day…. Reports from Argentine this morning say that all the refugees on the hillsides are being well cared for….The dead will never be counted, but they will not reach over two hundred….” (Daily Iowa State Press, Iowa City. “Direst Disease Now Threatens Ill-Fated Ones,” June 2, 1903, p. 1)

June 2: “Topeka, Kas. June 2. – The rivers in this vicinity are falling slowly. About 700 refugees are still imprisoned in the big buildings. They will be rescued before day ends. Many of those hemmed in are seriously ill. Two refugees died last night from exposure. The list of known dead and missing is now 38.” (Daily Iowa State Press, Iowa City. “Topeka Sees Relief Ahead,” June 2, 1903, p. 1)

June 3: “Topeka, Kan., June 3. – The flood situation in Topeka can be briefly summarized thus: Known dead, forth-eight; river is now receding at the rate of two inches an hour; distress will be great among the refugees….Fifty deputy sheriffs armed with Winchesters have gone to North Topeka to protect property, with orders to shoot looters whenever they are caught stealing.” (Waterloo Daily Reporter (IA). “Flood Situation at Topeka,” June 3, 1903, p. 7.)

June 5: “Topeka, Kan., June 5. – To the list of 23 known dead must be added ten names of bodies reported this morning. A reporter in from the reform school at noon brought the information and the names. They were swept away in a body and unrecovered from the vicinity of 1900 North Harrison street….Since dinner another body has been found…The body was floating in the drift wood above the bridge.” (Hutchinson News (KS). “Death Roll at Topeka Is Added to Day by Day,” June 5, 1903, p. 1)

June 8: “Topeka, June 8. – The body of J. Ward, an old soldier, missing from the first day of the flood, was found at the river’s edge in Oakland today. Mr. Ward has been counted in the list of known dead, which still numbers thirty-three.” (Hutchinson News (KS). “Another Body Found,” June 6, 1903, p. 1.)

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Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1982.

Daily Iowa State Press, Iowa City. “Direst Disease Now Threatens Ill-Fated Ones,” June 2, 1903, p. 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=10642097

Daily Iowa State Press, Iowa City. “Flood and Fire Bring Ruin and Death in Kansas,” June 1, 1903, 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=10641983

Daily Iowa State Press, Iowa City. “Flood at Kansas City,” June 1, 1903, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=10641983

Daily Iowa State Press, Iowa City. “Topeka Sees Relief Ahead,” June 2, 1903, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=10641983

Frankenfield, H.C. The Floods of the Spring of 1903, in the Mississippi Watershed (Bulletin M; W,B, No. 303). Washington: Weather Bureau, 1904, 149 pages. Digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=blYRAAAAIAAJ&dq=1903+missouri+flood&as_brr=3&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Hutchinson News, KS. “Another Body Found,” 6-6-1903, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=138082457

Hutchinson News, KS. “Death Roll at Topeka Is Added to Day by Day,” 6-5-1903, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=138082438

Ludlum, David M. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1982.

National Climatic Center. “Late Reports. Losses in Individual Severe Floods in the United States Since July 1902,” page 122 in Climatological Data National Summary, Vol. 27, No. 1, Jan 1976. Asheville, NC: NCC, Environmental Data Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Google digitized. Accessed 12-3-2014 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=UyMIAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Center, Pleasant Hill, MO. Historic Flood Events in the Missouri River Basin. NWS/NOAA, 7-29-2008. At: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mbrfc/?n=flood

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Topeka, KS. The 20th Century in Review.
“The May 1903 Flood.” 11-2-2005 update. At: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/top/events/20threview.php

Waterloo Daily Reporter, IA. “Flood Situation at Topeka,” June 3, 1903, p. 7. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=92974766