Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-05-13
Loss, S25,OOO!

Soon after daylight, this morning, this
locality was visited by the heaviest rain and
hail storm, with more disastrous consequences
to property, than any which ever preceded it.
The memorable food of August 10th, 1851,
resulting in the loss of three lives and
destruction of some Sl2 900 worth of prop
erty, was not near as great as this For the
full space of an hour, the rain poured down
in perfect avalanche. Pappoose creek,
running through the heart Of the city, which,
in ordinary times, is but small rivulet,
became like river. The water rose ten or
twelve feet, and foamed and dashed madly
towards the great Father of Waters, carrying
away fences, out-houses, and everything
movable within its range. Garden fences
were completely swept away, and the gardens
were mostly destroyed by deposits of sand
and sediment several inches deep over the
ground.
But the greatest destruction was caused by
the flood which came down Iowa Avenue, as
at other times of heavy rain, from the defect
i've condition of the city improvement on Third
street, at the crossing of the west branch Of
Pappoose. The vast tide of water from this
source entered Iowa Avenue above the Nevada
House, and swept down that spacious street,
covering it to the depth of eighteen inches.
4 portion Of this flood, as usual, turned down
Second street towards Pappoose bridge, mum
dating the pavcments and filling cellars along
the best business part Of the city. At j. B.
Dougherty's drug store, the water rushed
with such force into the cellar that the walls
became undermined, and two store-rooms OF
the block fell with a sudden and tremendous
crash into complete ruin. The building
was two stories high and 60 feet deep. The
family Of Mr.. II. Spencer, consisting of him
self, wife, Mrs Broadhead, and a small boy,
Eddy Broadhead, lived above the drug
and all, strange as it may appear, escaped
without serious injury Theodore Krehe
Mr.. Dougherty's clerk, was in the drug store
at the time, and also escaped with but slight
injury. AL these persons were out of bed,
having been awakened by the storm. When
the building fell, a section of the roof was
supported by timbers from crushing the
inmates. The entire floor fell distance Of
about II feet into the cellar. Mr.. Spencer
and his family were in the parlor. Mr.. S.
states that, as soon as the ruins settled, he
discovered ara opening above him (the space
in which they were enclosed was completely
dark) through which he escaped himself, and
also got out the boy and Mrs. Broadhead, who
were by his SIDE Mrs. Spencer had by some
means become separated from the rest of the
party, but she was heard crying for help, and
with the assistance Of several persons who
came to the spot, she was rescued by cutting
away portion of the roof. There was con-
siderable water on the floor where she was
found. The two ladies are somewhat bruis-
cd but not seriously. Mr.. Krehe, the clerk
in the drug store, was standing near the
counter when the crash came, and saved HIM
self by getting under the counter, from
whence he afterwards escaped. This is
certainly the most providential escape from
imminent death we have ever been called
upon to record. How FIVE persons could be
buried in the falling ruins of building such
As our citizens beheld this morning, and yet
escape with their lives, is indeed matter Of
establishment. Several persons standing at
some distance, who saw the building fall, say
the roof parted near the middle and an i'm
mense cloud of dust arose as the mass Of
brick, plaster and lumber fell in confused
heap. The conclusion shook all the adjoining
buildings to their very centres.
We have no means of ascertaining the tota
amount of damage done by this flood, but
estimate it at not less than $25, 900.
Mr.. Dougherty $ loss is about SIC, ooo His
large stock Of drugs is almost total loss
He'also ownedshe building occupied by him
which is damaged to the amount of So, 900
Only the back wall and one story addition
OF 40 feet remain standing. Our citizen.
sincerely sympathize with Mr.. Dougherty
He is the oldest business man in the city
having occupied the same stand since ls4l
His energy, integrity and public spirit ar
deserving OF better fortune. His propert,
was insured against fire, but not against sucl
calamity as has befallen it. The city Il