Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-18
TERRIBLE CASUALTY IN IOwA.
Loss of Whole FamiIy-DrovniuG of
Seven Persons,


From the Lansing Qowa) Journal, April IOl
Inc foods IN this part OF Iowa. in strength volume
and destructiveness which lately visited us, have
never mad parallel in the memory of any one.
The northeastern portion of our county is very
rough and broken. Hills and ho lows are on every
hand' the former towering into respectable noun
ens the latter sinking into the bowels of the earth
Two or three hundred feet and this characteristic is
particularly marked along the Iowa and vicinity
LOT many miles from its mouth.
Ihe rapid descent of the river in places near the
Mlsslss ppi into which the Iowa river emptes affords
ma many valuable water power, as well do the
smaller tributaries to the latter stream. On one of
these, Bear Creek the Iowa, is mill or rather
was, anu near by, on ground trihe moro elevated
put above all previous high water marks stood n
dwelling. These were the property of John Nc
Laughlln, who occupied them. They stood in a large
raVine at the confluence of two smaller ones. On
sunday evening, the lst instant, the sky was over
cast with black and threatening clouds, and angry
hashes OF lightning darted in every direction around
neaRen were rent aSunder, apparently b. the fierce
artillery which roared necessarily on every hand and
the water descended in torrents. The entire family
persisted IN that food under circumstances of the
most heart rending nature As TO one of the seven
souls Iyed to tell the horrid tale of their DEATH al
most all we know Is from conjecture. The family had
retired The rushngs of the water and terrible noise
OF the thunder probably awakened them, in time to
ma the mill battered into fragments by the winds
the hoatlng ice aud the floods meeting above and
leaplng IN tremendous force. Mr.. Mclaughlin,
suPpoSlng the valley would soon be submerged,
including the house, in his shirt and pants and in
his naked feet the stable harnessed his horses
and hastily putting his family, all in their night
ground Between his dwelling and the bluff was a
depression of the ground. lie probably reached this
when the current swept the horses, wagon, and the
precious load of human lives into the surging flood
among floating trees and cakes of ice, leaping and
dashiqg t2wards the river. and there amidst the
merciess storm terrified, bruised, and bleeding the
thunder crashing IN deatening peaS overhead, the
sky now glare of dazzling brightness and again a
blank of ptchy gloom. these seven souls were for
ever freed from the agonies of death which embodies
the whole meaning of the word terrible
The following are the names of the unfortunates
Id i.1n npa1 WA lirc fpI
lin, 3S; John, Jr, 13 Sarah, H. Bridget, g. James L
Katie ).
The body of the father was found near the horses
about mile and Il half from the house; the horse
Lodged against trees close by. The bodies of Mrs
Mclaughlin and the two younger children had not
been found at last accounts. Each of those found
presented a most pitifui spectacle. Their bodies
were bruised and mangled, and limbs broken; their
suffering must have been great
Mr. Mclaughlin was a wealthy and respectable
farmer, and his family bright and interesting.
An examination of the house revealed the fact that
the water never reached over one foot high in the
first story. Had Mr.. Mclaughlin remained he and
family would yet be alive.