100 years ago: Stories of a rainy day in Kansas

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for June 22, 1914:

“All Kansas rain records were broken last night when ten inches of rain were recorded in Valley Falls and eight inches at Rock Creek. Near Valley Falls the Union Pacific lost a quarter of mile of track and in order to make connections with the Santa Fe last ight fifty men and women with shoes and stockings in their hands waded through eighteen inches of water for a distance of nearly a half mile.”

“The rain yesterday afternoon and last night amounted to 1.82 inches according to the gauge at the University station. While this was not as big a rainfall as the big downpour of last week enough water fell to flood the streets and raise the creeks and river. The river is up today above any previous mark of the year. It is muddy and turbulent and is carrying a great deal of drift wood. Whole trees are frequently seen gliding down stream…. Shocks of wheat were among the debris being carried down this morning by the river. Evidently there has been an overflow on some of the creeks to the west and the wheat has been carried from the lowlands.”

“County Attorney J. S. Amick and wife initiated their new Studebaker six yesterday by a pleasure drive to Kansas City, Mo. The trip down was as pleasant as any one could wish as was the short stay in the city, but as they were starting home the precipitation of moisture began, and not wishing to get the new machine muddy they decided to turn back, and wait until the rain was over…. No one can make sure of the weather when it starts to rain and so it proved last night. The rainfall was much heavier last night than in the afternoon so the return drive was postponed until dry weather. Mr. Amick returned on the train this morning and left the new machine in the care of strangers.”

“The police raided Mathew Silvers’ place at 908 New Jersey Street Saturday night. They caught him with the goods. That is they got the goods, consisting of a half a keg of beer and some bottles. But Silvers has been in trouble so often that he was on the lookout and made his getaway. The officers saw him, and Officer Vaughn started in pursuit. Gradually, the officer closed up on him and as they went across the bridge to North Lawrence Silvers was breathing hard and fast. But Silvers always did play in luck, so the officers say, and as the officers were about to nab him he reached the railroad just as the Union Pacific train was pulling out. Without the formality of buying a ticket, Silvers swung aboard. The officer was only a short distance behind, but the train was gone before he could catch it. And thus Mr. Silvers slipped through the hands of the law.”

“For the second time in four months George Fry’s barber shop was robbed Saturday night. About $35 worth of barbers’ tools were taken, most of which belonged to N. N. Murphy who works in Fry’s shop. Entrance to the shop was gained through a back window which was pried up with a bar.”