Chase County Leader from Cottonwood Falls, Kansas • 1

also: Illstorien1 Society, Lap aor. on an PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS Chase County Leader voltre VOLUME 47. DIAMOND AND MIDDLE CREEK FARMERS HARD HIT BY FLOOD Foods Monday Night Resalt in Loss of Many Hundred Head of Cattle and Hogs. The greatest disaster which has ever come to the farmers of Diamond and Middle Creeks in this county was suffered by them last Monday night when both streams were flooded as a result of the heavy rains of that neighborhood and near cloudburst at Diamond Springs and in the watershed farther north and west. Altho even nowmore than forty-eight hours following the great rush of water which swept down the Diamond and Middle Creek valleys--it is impossible to estimate the loss of live stock and crops and feed that were lost in these raging streams.

According, to. the latest report which the Leader is able to secure this morning (Thursday) before going to prees, the number of head of cattle which have been lost by farmers on both Diamond and Middle Creeks will probably be between 200 and 300 head, while the number of hogs will be as great or greater. To this loss must be added thousands of dollars worth of feed which was swept down the streams and the hundreds of acres of growing crops which in some cases was washed completely away, while in other instances they were buried by the washing soil so that replanting must be done in either The first information the farmers the Middle and Diamond Creek valleys had of the approaching flood came to Elmdale and Hymer about midnight Monday night. A veritable downpour of rain started in the northern part of the county and in Morris county about seven o'clock that evening. While it was very heavy on both Middle and Diamond Creeks, yet the farmers thought little of a flood.

Shortly after midnight a phone message was received from Diamond Springs warning all farmers along Diamond Creek to move their live stock and property to higher ground as the valley would doubtless be flooded before morning by the great rush of water which was filling the stream at that place. This warning, the Elmdale central sent to all farmers on both Middle and Diamond Creeks and to everyone living on the Cottonwood river, There were a number of farmers along Middle. and Diamond Creeks who worked with their stock all the rest of the night, trying to drive them from the feed lots along the creek banks to places of safety. The task, however, was a difficult one as with the rain falling and everything in complete darkness except when the sky was lit up with the lightning only a few farmers succeeded in driving their herds to the higher grounds. The streams which were already rising rapidly when the telephone warning from Diamond Springs had been received went out of their banks shortly afterwards and by daylight Tuesday morning both creek valleys were veritable lakes, the waters in many places reaching from bluff to bluff, and covering every- foot of land.

Even under these difficulties many famers tinued to work trying to save their cattle and hogs, but the greatest damage had already been done and feed lots which the evening before had contained big herds of live stock were swept clean and were deep under the flood waters. Shortly after the waters from Diamond and Middle Creek reached the Cottonwood river, the flood waters from Marion county and the country west began to reach and fill the river. in the western part of the county so that below the junction of Diamond and Middle creeks with the river, the flood was greatly increased by the spread of the waters over a large part of. the Cottonwood valley. The rainfall to the west of Marion is reported at six or seven inches and the heavy water which came down the Friday, April 20th, 1917 Cottonwood river at Marion litterly flooded the city.

Water to a depth of five or six feet was reported standing over a part of the town. Among the Diamond and Middle Creek farmers who lost live stock and feed some of the heaviest losers were (Peter McCallum, Lew Umbarger, Mrs; James Drummond, John, and William Drummond, Arthur Drummond John Stewart, George Stubenhofer, J. M. Miller, George Guyton and many others. These people probably lost 200 cattle and even more hogs.

It was at first reported that Mrs. James Drummond and George Stubenhofer had each lost over 100 head of cattle. Mr. Stubenhofer is no doubt the heaviest loser but it is not believed that his loss of cattle will be 100 head, altho he had every steer and hog on his farm swept away. George Guyton also had, practically, all his cattle and hogs swept away and the water rose high enough on his farm to enter his house where it covered the floors to a depth of nearly a foot.

There were other farmers on Diamond Creek who reported four or five feet of water in their houses so the damage to household goods and furniture may be imagined. At Hymer the Umbargers are reported to have had an entire car load of fat hogs washed away which they would have shipped the following day. In many of the fields in the Diamond and Middle Creek valleys where feed stood, the shocks and stacks were entirely swept away by the heavy rush of the water, leaving the fields bare when the water receded. On Middle Creek no less than three different bridges were completely swept away and the loss of bridges and culverts on Diamond Creek will doubtless be very heavy. The drift which came down these streams carried practically every fence out along their course.

In some instances, these fences are reported to have been carried completely away. Barbed wire and drift in some places are to be found high in the tree tops along these streams. A wide stretch of track on the Superior branch near Neva was washed out and traffic on that line was only resumed Thursday. It is said that along the Santa Fe's right of way at Neva dozens of dead cattle and hogs can be counted where they have been washed up against the grade, while the fields are covered with drift and feed of all kinds which have been washed from the fields, and parts of culverts and bridges. In Marion county two lives were lost Tuesday morning.

A young man and his wife living at Hillsboro, who are relatives of Bess Shelton of the Stribby neighborhood, were drowned while riding in a buggy when them attempted to cross a swollen stream near Marion. A brakeman on the Superior Branch came near losing his life near Burdick early Tuesday morning when he went a head of the train to examine a bridge before trying to cross. While he was out on the bridge the structure was torn from its abutments and carried down the stream. The brakeman whose name was Lundy, was carried down with the bridge and was reported lost by the train crew. He managed to keep afloat and the next morning was rescued by farmers several miles farther down the stream.

He had been washed against a large tree and had climbed into the tree out of the water and thus saved his life. One Marion county farmer had his garage and a new motor car carried down the Cottonwood river by the flood waters, and according to last reports nothing has yet been seen of of either. Yesterday and today the farmers on both Diamond and Middle Creeks have been gathering up their scattered herds of cattle. There are some of them who feared they had lost practically all of their herds who are find- A Good Place To Trade Garden Seeds Flower Seeds Onion Sets Seed Potatoes NOW IN AND ON SALE SMITH BROTHERS GOOD THINGS TO EAT Telephone 5 COTTONWOOD FALLS, CHASE COUNTY, KANSAS KANSAS Friday, April 20th, 1917 NUMBER 16 Har: Schaffer Marx Hart Schaffner Marx Clothes are a good buy in a normal time. Right now with conditions as they are, these clothes 130 2010 are that much better.

Allwool or all-wool and silk fabrics, fast colors, excellent tailoring, Gregory Brothers ORDERS FILLED PROMPTLY ling cattle here and there, scattered' over miles of the valley below, and running over pasture lands. It will be a difficult task to gather up and identify all of these but in time there will doubtless be many more recovered. Up on Diamond Creek, it is reported that the death of many cattle have occured not from drowning but because the -cattle which were washed from their feed lots, were later found on green alfalfa fields where they had overeaten of the green alfalfa and had died as a result of bloating. For this reason farmers are hurrying to, gather up their cattle and put them where they will not likely get at green crops. Altho the rainfall was so great in Marion county and to the west of that county and in the north part of Chase county and to the north of that, yet in this city and over the south half of Chase county there was scarcely rain enough to lay the dust.

While the loss to many of the farmers of Diamond and Middle Creeks has been the greatest they have ever sustained, yet the most of them who suffred the severest losses will be able to stand it financially. The fields from which their crops have been swept or buried can be replanted, but the live stock which is now 80 valuable will be a loss that cannot be recovered. Ray Eastman Is Dead. Ray Eastman, who was taken to the Axtell hospital at Newton a little ove er a week ago where he underwent a successful operation for appendicitis, died last Tuesday morning. His death comes as a great shock to his mother and brothers and sisters and many friends in this county as he was apparently recovering from the operation and was believed by his physician to be well along the road to recovery.

On Monday, Ray had been in unusually good spirits. He had talked to his wife about his recovery which all pected shortly, and gave every indication of improvement. About midnight Monday his nurse went into his. room to see that he was alright and he was then sleeping soundly. She did not visit his room again until in the morning when she found him dead.

It was apparent that death had come only an hour or two before she- had gone to his room and had been caused by sudden attack of heart failure. Ray nad gone to: the Axtell hospital on April 7th. lowing day he had undergone the tion for appendicitis His wife and his mother, Mrs. D. W.

Eastman, and his physician had gone to Newton and remained until after the operation. His mother then remained for several days until it seemed certain that his recovery was assured after which she returned to her home at Emporia where she and several of her daughters are living while the latter are attending school. Ray's wife had remained with him at were held at the St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Strong City at 2:30 Thursday afternoon, the services being conducted by Father Disselcamp, after which interment was made in the Prairie Grove cemetery, west of this city. Her death has brought great sorrow to the parents and brothers and sisters and her may friends who willing miss her so keenly for she was a girl who was liked by all.

Altho she had been in failing health for many months yet she had borne the pain and suffering with the greatest courage and without complaint. She was a former student of the Chase County High School of this city and had graduated a number of years ago. For many years following her graduation she had taught school in different parts of the county where she never failed to make many friends. She was girl of the greatest, patience and pains-taking in her work, and as a teacher her success was very noticeable. Her last illness covered a period of several weeks.

Shortly after she became confined to her bed her strength failed rapidly. Altho she loved this life, yet she was not afraid of death for she knew that it was the door thru which she must enter to that greater life which is everlasting. The Leader will later publish a complete obituary covering her life. Honest Bill's Trucks Proved Too Much. While going through Lyon county last Friday one of the big trucks of Honest Bill's show which showed in this city Saturday scared a horse, belonging to.

William Moon, so badly that it died. His attorney was here to make a settlement with the showmen or serve garnishment papers on the show. He said that he expected the amount of damages asked for to be paid without further legal proceedings, It is said that the big motor trucks and the elephants as they go overland from town to town caused a number of runaways. Crockers Bring in First Cattle. The first big string of western cattle to be brought to this county for the coming grazing season arrived this week and consisted of 1100 head belonging to Crocker Brothers of Bazaar.

They will be pastured in the vicinity of Hymer and were turned on grass upon their arrival. This is the first of a string of about 7,000 head of cattle which will be handled by Crocker Brothers who will commence shipping the balance of their stock, the most of which is in Texas, at once. Other extensive cattlemen of the county will begin bringing in stock within the next few days and by the first of May, the shipping season will probably be at its heighth. There will be about 25,000 head of stock grazed in the big cattle country a- round Bazaar and Matfield Green alone, while, the number of cattle for the county will run between 75,000 and 100,000 head this season, it is said. Cottonwood Girls Have Good Positions The Experiment Station at Hay has drawn another capable young woman to her city.

Miss Edna Kane of Cottonwood Falls was called Monday and offered a desirable stenographic position in the Experiment Station. Miss Kane, in response to the call, left early Tuesday for Hays for a personal interview. Miss Rachel White of Clements. Kansas, is secretary to President Lewis of (the Hays Sate Normal. She is known and admired by the hundreds of students with whom she has come in contact.

Earl Bates and sister, Miss Vida, motored to Council Grove last Saturda afternoon where they visited their uncle, F. E. Bates, and family. They returned home the sany evening. PLANS TO PAVE THE NEW SANTA FE TRAIL.

Invitations Have Been Issued Asking Chase County to Send Delegates to Emporia. Invitations have been received askthis county to send representatives to Emporia, April 25th, to meet with representatives from the six counties along the New. Santa Fe Trail from Edgerton to Kinsley, to work out, a plan for hard surfacing the New. Trail between these two points. This section of the trail will join the portion of the trail which is being paved This will make a hard surface rond through to Kansas City.

The dominent factor in the minds of the men pushing this good road work is the value of the road during the winter and spring months to the farmer in marketing his produce and getting to and from the towns. Tests have been made. which show that it takes less than one forth as much power to hall a load over a hard surfaced road as it does over a muddy road. For this reason farmers on all parts of the trail are behind the proposition and will be represented in Emporia to do their part in boosting the proposition. Mr.

J. Frank Smith, President of the Kansas Good Roads Association will attend the conference and assist in drawing up the plans and use his influence to make the work a success. Mr. J. D.

Nicholson who is the author of the present State Law, will be in attendance to explain the legal features of invitations the propoganda, The which have been issued by the Emporia Commercial club ask all good roads boosters and those interested to be in attendance because the club is anxious to have every individual and community on the Trail a Booster for this much needed improvement. Under the present laws, Kansas is in position to obtain government aid in the construction of hard surfaced roads providing the road joins several counties, and since the New Santa Fe Trail does this the feeling among those interested is that the Trail should be one of the first in the State to get in position to secure this aid. The proposition is too large for any county to handle individually and for that reason the six counties will form into an association with a secretary to look after their combined interests in constructing this road and in securing the necessary funds for the work, and in this way the work will be carried on in a business like way to a successful conclusion. Newton and the shock she must have sustained Tuesday morning when the announcement of his death came may be imagined. The body was brot to this city on Santa Fe train No.

18, and Wednesday afternoon the funeral was held from the Methodist Church in Strong City at 2:30, Rev. J. E. Bryan, preaching the sermon. The remains were taken to Emporia on Santa Fe train No.

6 where a short service was conducted by Rev. Smith, District Superintendent of the Emporia District. Burial was then made in the Maple Grove cemetery beside the grave of Ray's father, the late D. W. Eastman, whose death occured in 1912.

Besides the young wife which Ray leaves who before her marriage last October, was Miss Francis Johnson, is also survived by his mother and eleven brothers and sisters, and a host of friends and neighbors of the Thurman neighborhood. His death will bring sorrow to many for he was a young man who had the respect and highest regards of all. Another Test For Oil in Chase County Chase county is to have ano'thr well for oil and gas which will be drilled on the Emerson Clark land in section 23-22-7, three miles west and two south of. Matfield Green in the south part of the county. The well will be put down by the Wyoming Montana Developing Company who hauled their drilling material out from Burns last week and to start work just as soon as the rig can be erected.

This will be the fifth test well to be drilled in this county within the past twelve months. The three first wells which were drilled in the north central part of the county and near Elmdale were all dry holes, while the fourth well which is being put down by the Matfield Oil Company in the southeast part of the county near Matfield Green is still in course of drilling and has reached a depth of about 2500 feet with what is reparted favorable prospects. With these two tests and the test of the Blackie Daw. people which is in the extreme north part of Bulter county. and within less than a mile of Chase county's south line and is now drillfeet, the south section of ty which because of its ty to the Eldorado oil ted by many oil men as being the most favorable part of this county for oil development, this territory will receive a very fair test.

Death of Miss Susie Brown. Miss Susie Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Brown, of this city, died at the family home at 10:30 Monday night, April 16th, following an illness which had extended over several weeks, The funeral services Lungmotor Saves Baby's Life. The first life to be saved by the use of the lungmotor kept by the E.

Brown Undertaking Company, of this, city, was the little son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Costello of Strong City.

The child had suffered a severe attack of measles and because of lack of strength was dying when the lungmotor was sent for. Respiration which had apparently ceased was successfully restored after half an hour's effort on the part of the physicians and the child is now believed to be past all danger, and its recovery is expected in due time. Presbyterian Announcements. Regular services next Sabbath. Preaching at 10:00 followed by Sabbath School.

Junior and Intermediate Endeavor at 3:00, Senior Endeavor at 7:00. Evening worship at 8:00. Come and worship with us if you do not go elsewhere. John Drummond and son of the Elmdale neighbrhood, were among the Cotteawood Falls business visitors Monday afternoon. They motored down in their Chalmers car.

EASTMAN KODAKS! This is the time of the year you want a Kodak the most. We have a full line of Eastman Kodaks and Supplies. Bring your films here to be Devoleped. Replogle-Kuhl Drug Company THE REXALL STORE.