Historic Events - 1900 to 1920
May 26, 1903 – An F4 tornado moved NE passing four miles NW of Valley Center and 12 miles SE of Newton. Numerous farms and 12 homes were destroyed, and six injuries were caused by the tornado.
July 8, 1904 – The second largest flood on the Arkansas river occurred July 8, 1904, and its level was about one-half foot lower than the 1877 flood. The river at Wichita (station 07144300) reached a stage of 20.3 feet (river gage site and datum from reports of the U.S. Weather Bureau). Despite a slightly lower gage height than the 1877 flood, flooding was more widespread in Wichita because of backwater and overflow of the Little Arkansas River and Chisholm Creek as they entered the narrow channel of the Arkansas River in Wichita. Also, the six pile bridges crossing the Arkansas River at the time-collected drift that retarded the flood-causing overflow. Approximately 30 percent of Wichita was submerged on July 8 resulting in $30,000 in damages (almost $600,000 in 2005 dollars) The 1904 flood caused more damage than the 1877 flood because Wichita was more populated in 1904. According to the Wichita Eagle, the Douglas Avenue Bridge was destroyed in the early afternoon of July 7, 1904.
September 4, 1905 –
At 3:00 a.m., smoke was noticed rising
from the center of Mulvane with two engines that were in the railroad yard at
the time sounding the alarm. Firefighters rushed to the scene where a fire was
at the front of the Parrett & Wright Meat Market and Kuhl Harness Shop.
An east wind drove the fire westward. The
Minnich Grocery, Kuhl Harness Shop, the New Meat Market, I. E. Thompson's Barber
Shop, Mrs. Wilder's Millinery store and the post office were consumed with
nearly all their contents. Butterfield & Reddick, R. P. Seyfer, Chas. Hodgson
and Rucker & Field also suffered losses.
A total of 6 buildings were destroyed & 4
damaged in this fire, and the cause believed to be arson.
Because of this and previous fires, effective fire protection for
the town was to be the next topic for consideration by local organizations.
January 7, 1906 – Three earthquake shock waves were felt in Wichita around 6:20PM, lasting three to four seconds, and measuring between two and three on the Modified Mercalli Scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was reported near Manhattan, Kansas affecting an estimated 36,000 square mile area and three states.
January 8, 1906 – An additional earthquake shock was reported in Wichita around 12:15AM and measured on the magnitude of three on the Modified Mercalli Scale.
June 1, 1908 – Four persons were drowned in a cloudburst near Wichita.
October 1908 – Historic information indicates that the October 1908 flood was the largest along the main stem of the upper Arkansas River in Kansas since the turn of the century. The flood resulted from excessive rains between Holly and Las Animas, Colorado, and northward over the Big Sandy Creek drainage basin in southwestern Colorado. Maximum flows were estimated at 97,000 cubic feet per second near Coolidge and 87,000 cubic feet per second at Syracuse.
September 27, 1909 – Two earthquake shocks were reported between 9:45AM and 9:50AM with each measuring three on the Modified Mercalli Scale.
December 24, 1910 – The greatest depth of snow on the ground at observation is recorded to be 12.8 inches.
September 6, 1911 – During the late evening of September 6th and into the early morning hours of September 7th, Wichita received 7.99 inches of rain, which is the city's greatest 24-hour rain fall ever observed. Other records were set including, 4.94 inches in 3 hours and 3.54 inches in 2 hours.
September 27, 1911 – Wichita Firefighter W.C. McFall was killed when he was crushed by a collapsing wall while fighting a fire on East Douglas Avenue.
February 23, 1915 – Wichita Police Officer William L Humphries, the first Wichita officer to lose his life in the line of duty, was attempting to question a suspect that he had cornered in a pool hall at 803 E Douglas. The trapped suspect pulled a handgun and fired from close range at the officer. Officer Humphries attempted to seize his assailant but collapsed and died.
May 23, 1915 – Wichita Police Captain Frank W Griswold was killed and Detective Al Harrel was shot through the right arm in a gun fight with burglars, whom they surprised robbing the A.E. Bump shoe store at 228 N Main in Wichita, shortly after one o'clock in the morning. The robbers were believed to have been Mexicans.
November 10, 1915 – An F4 tornado cut a 16 mile path from five miles SW of Zyba, passing within four miles south of Peck and dissipating near the edge of Derby. Eight homes were destroyed and three people were killed at Zyba. At least two homes were destroyed and one person was killed at Derby. In addition to four deaths, there were 28 injuries caused by the tornado.
April 22, 1917 – Wichita Firefighter Joe Stewart was killed when Engine Number 2 collided with an automobile.
May 25, 1917 – This one mile wide F5 tornado touched down 4 miles NNW of Cheney and moved NE through the SE part of Andale, continuing across the south edge of the City of Sedgwick, and terminating three miles NE of Florence. A total of 118 farms, homes and businesses were destroyed and caused over $600,000 in damages. About half the city of Andale was damaged or destroyed, and had 12 deaths reported. Eight people died near the east of the City of Sedgwick, two more deaths near McLain, and one death near Elbing. In addition to 23 deaths, a total of 70 people were injured.
December 23-24, 1918 – The greatest 24-hour snowfall in Wichita is recorded to be 12.3 inches.
May 26, 1919 – An earthquake was felt in Wichita’s Riverside District around 10PM with a shock lasting four to five seconds and measuring four on the Modified Mercalli Scale. Reports of dishes and windows rattling, furniture being moved, and a rumbling sound was heard. An estimated 9,500 square mile area was affected by this earthquake.
July 26, 1919 - An earthquake was felt in Wichita’s North Riverside area around 5AM with the first shock lasting two seconds, followed by a second shock at 8A and lasting longer and more violent. The shocks measured four on the Modified Mercalli Scale. Reports of houses trembling, difficulty in walking, and a loud rumbling sound preceding the shocks was noted. An estimated 4,000 square mile area was affected by this earthquake.
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