Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-07-06


storms must have been more severe
further south. .H.aa.a.a
Terrible Storm Damage by the Flood
"A very severe storm occurred last
Friday morning, just as we were go.
ing to press. The rain came down in
perfect sheet, and the thunder and
lightning were terrific. The exerci,
scs of the moraing closed with lib.
eral fall OF hail Several head OF cat
tie, out on the prairie, were killed by
lightning. being the extent of damage
done, SO far rs we are informed.
On Saturday evening a severe storm
passed east Of us. The depot at In.
dependence was struck by lightning,
aud narrowly escaped burning up. A
curtain at one Of the windows took
fire, but the flame was extinguished
before further damage was done.
Near Jessup portion Of the railroad
bed was swept away. The eastern
train was delayed FIVE hours on Mon
day in consequence. Hands were at
work all day Sunday repairing the
breach. - ~. -... ..a.
On Monday there were heavy falls
of rain, and the streams came up to
high water mark.
On Tuesday evening another terri
Die storm occurred. The rain came
down in torrents. and the thunder and
lightning were most terrific. A barn
pp Third street was struck, and two
horses, belonging to John Palmer,
were killed. The barn was not injur-
ed. A horse belonging to l.. Ii Barnes
was found dead the next morning. 1t
is supposed that the horse, being in
the street, was Knocked down, and,
falling with his back in ditch, was
unable to rise. and consequently died.
The new bridge at Dry Run was car
ried away. the creek rising in few
hours to a surging, boiling stream. A
and colt on the fiat near Dry Run wen,
down Wednesday morning and found
the ground covered with ten feet of
water The mare, however, had bro
ken away in the night, and was final
u found considerable distance be-
low. The railroad was badly used up.
At this writing, Thursday noon, Cav.
ley's train is at New Hartford, and
Kellogg's train is at the eastern end
Of the road somewhere. The Waver-
~ train is also laid up at its northern
terminus. There is no telegraphic
communication east of Waterloo. Two
breaks were made in the road between
this place and New Hartford, one of
City feet and the other Of one hundred
and fifty feet, as we learn from Con-
doctor Cawley. A man from James.
vile reports break in the Waverly
road of three hundred feet. Near Wa.
terloo is break of between fifty and
q hundred feet, and below that is
another which took away Elk Run
bridge and about fifty feet of track
From Elk Run to Dubuque we know
nothing, but suppose the road is in
jured in many places. Should the
weather prove favorable, it is not prob
/ able that trains will be running under
three or four days. Should the rains
. continue it is hard to tell when our
. Communications will be restored. The
y fat between here and Cedar City is
4 Oyerfowed, and rendered impossible
: for teams. MIR. ManderviIle, with the
Waverly stage. was obliged to swim
his horses on Wednesday evening He
had q number Of passengers and the
Wavcrly mail. The mail bag was
swept out of his wagon. and he jump
ed into the water and rescued it.
On Wednesday night it rained hard
about all night, aud the streams are
rapidly rising.
In 1887, twenty-onc years ago, old
Rob Stuart, a trader with the Indians
and frontiers-man, passed consd-
cradle portion Of the summer season
10 this neighborhood. there being then
no white settlers in this portion of the
State. He reported the season very
vet, and the streams all very high
higher. indeed, than they have been
known since. Seven years after Mr.
j. NJ Overman was here, and he in.
forms us that that season was also
very wet and the streams all on the
rampage. In this year and the year
after the first settlements of the coun
tywere made. In another seven years
Cedar Falls was quite an important
town. numbering population of about
fifteen hundred, and the high water oil
that season is we'll remembered. Boats
were used in Main street, and water
ran in the streets six and seven blocks
from the river. Crops were greatly
damaged. and many felds Of grain
were left unharvestcd. 1t was dis
astrous year. Since that time seven
more years have passed away, and we
are brought to the summer of 1865
The old settlers all along back. with
great nnanimity, have been confident
" predicting high water. Many new
corners have laughed at them, and du
ring May and the first part Of June,
which vas very dry, had the laugh all
their own way. They would tantaliz
inglY inquire what had become of the
wet season, and then extend the con
ISOLATION that there was no doubt bu,
what this was the seventh year, and sc
OeS' The old settlers said little. and re
NAMED 6rm in their faith. The fear
ful storm two weeks ago Strengthened
somewhat the faces Of the scornful
and every day since their countenan
ces hare assumed more aud more Sc
rious expression. when wet season wat
the theme. To-day they stand on the
banks Of our booming river, gather il
knots upon the streets, and guess the
old aai flars s,enrn ahnnf rirht C II