24 Apr 1944
Page 1
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Newspaper
Lawrence Journal World
Location
Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
Date
Apr 24, 1944
Page
1
Lawrence area endures weekend flood threat as Kaw River reaches a crest of 23.3 feet just after midnight and steadies at 23.0 feet before finally sliding to 23 feet. Citizens, service members, Red Cross, and Salvation Army mobilize sandbagging, canteens, and evacuations while rail and bus service suffer washouts and high water disrupts daily routines.
Kansas Army and Naval units respond to flood crisis with volunteers from the University of Kansas. Lt Col McMorris and Lt A H Buhl command air and naval crews aiding levee work. Naval cadets, electrician mates, V-12 volunteers, and ASTP reserves join civil defense and Red Cross support. Lawrence guards under Capt Gilbert Francis police dikes while Civil Air Patrol surveys North Lawrence. KU women students help tie sand sacks at North Lawrence levee.
Widespread floods driven by torrential rains across Kansas and Missouri left at least three dead and thousands homeless. Deaths included Joseph Fisher in Wichita and Ralph Spaunthouse in Winfield, with more weather-related fatalities in Missouri. The disaster spawned mass evacuations, damaged infrastructure, and interrupted travel as rivers rose and city streets flooded.
An explosion at the Cooperative refinery in Coffeyville killed nine men and injured eight others, burning bodies beyond recognition of eight missing workers. Lawrence Pollett died hours later, with listed Coffeyville survivors and several slightly burned. Ambulances from a nearby airbase aided local responders as the plant, recently enlarged and acquired from National Refining by Consumers Cooperative Association, faced the blaze.
Mrs. Taa Shreve formerly Miss Ina Mitchell returns from second Chinese mission engagement aboard the Gripsholm and will speak at Wesleyan Methodist Church tonight at 8 o’clock. She will share experiences from the Japanese bombing period and her five year term in China.
Flooding along the Wakarusa after a weekend crest of 29.80 feet on the Dutton bridge gauge left roads blocked and homes inundated. About thirty cattle belonging to Haskell Institute were rescued by Supt Ayers and staff using a motor boat. A near drowning occurred near the Dutton bridge when a boat capsized. Clifford Thiry and neighbors survived with help from Will Hayden and Clifford Weible. Evacuations included Mr and Mrs Ed Paash as floodwaters reached their farm near Mayor Gate ranch.
Heavy rainfall drenched western and central Kansas with Lawrence receiving 1.52 inches from Saturday 7 am to Sunday 7 am, triggering flood worries on the Kaw and Wakarusa rivers. Residents watched from bridges or stayed home with radio updates while Journal-World staff fielded flood inquiries.
The War Department disclosed that an airborne invasion plan of Japanese held Burma by British forces and American airmen was settled at the Quebec conference of Roosevelt Churchill and allied leaders last August. The plan envisions an air commando force dropping Maj. Gen. Wingate’s jungle fighters behind enemy lines with air support and supply. Gen. H. H. Arnold approved the operation.
Eastern Kansas faced 65 flooded roadblocks as high water overwhelmed highways. D J Fair mobilized 124 department workers for emergency flood duty across the west while assessing bridge losses and future rehabilitation needs.
More than 300 KU graduates and former students plan to attend the alumni banquet in Kansas City tomorrow evening at 6 15 p m in the Hotel President with Landon Laird as master of ceremonies Chancellor Malou will speak and students from KU will perform A list of attendees includes Deane W Malott M Paul Lawson F J Moreau and Henry Shenk among others Tickets available at the university alumni office until tomorrow noon Clean-Up Week in Eudora asks residents to place trash in containers at the alley for collection by trucks no entry into yards or sheds.
Allied air forces struck Friedrichshafen Munich Bucharest and Ploesti in ten straight days of pre invasion bombing along with Belgrade and other targets. German rail hubs and aircraft factories faced heavy blows as Russians mass for new offensive. Luftwaffe losses mounted and invasion plans heightened. Surers Accident at Plant Miss Evelyn Davis injured at Sunflower Ordnance Works in Kansas City. treated then moved to Bell Memorial Hospital.
Floodwaters froze routine mail delivery with only star routes operating to Oskaloosa Baldwin and Ottawa. The Oskaloosa carrier left at seven this morning and returned around noon, while the Baldwin and Ottawa run had not returned by 1 pm. Superintendent William B. Kirby noted Union Pacific trains 37 and 24 brought in and carried out the last mails from the east and west respectively.
Flooding from gopher hole seepage forced evacuations across 400 acres of Brune lands, 160 acres of Gardner estate, and 20 acres of Patty farm. Ten men patrolled since Sunday. water stood but was not dropping. Nearby, Weaver Bottoms dikes failed, isolating several families north of Eudora as Kaw and Wakarusa rivers rose three inches above last June.
Topeka April 24 Kansans warned to boil or chlorinate water from flooded wells to prevent typhoid fever The state health board advised vaccination for those in flood areas and thorough washing of submerged vegetables Disinfection of wells cisterns and tanks after waters recede was urged by Dr F C Beelman secretary of the board of health.
Topeka flood waters postponed a federal circuit court session that would have been the first held in the city. Presiding Judge Orie L. Phillips of Denver was stranded by high water at Junction City and Judge Alfred P. Murrah of Oklahoma City was en route. Only Judge Sam G. Bratton of Albuquerque had arrived by afternoon, alongside Circuit Judge Walter A. Haxman.
Concordia April 24 A Second Lieutenant Byrum G Byrd 45 veteran of 29 years in the army was killed when his car rolled over after hitting a culvert on US 81 four miles north of the prison camp Saturday night. Post mortem found no other injuries and Byrd a Winchester Ky native is survived by his wife.
Allied forces led by MacArthur land near Aitape and strike deeply into Hollandia, seizing Tadji airfield and surrounding Japanese shore defenses. The operation, the Southwest Pacific’s largest amphibious assault, cuts off about 60,000 Japanese and yields substantial supply stores amid swift inland advance.
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