The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-05-14
For the Courier.
GREEN To wNsH1p, Iowa,
May 9th, 1868.

DCtV AJHs l. Wv NV
know that I could employ myself in
any better way this rainy day than
in giving you few items in regard
to the late enormous floods which
has occurred in the vicinity of Soap
Creek.
Last Friday it began to rain about
four o'clock in the evening, and COM
tinued to fall in a mighty torrent al
most constantly until . o'clock at
night. The little rivulets and creeks
were soon overlooking their banks,
rushing through fields, stables, corn
cribs, and meadows, with great vehe.
mcnce. The most serious losses was
in the valley of Soap Creek. The
Crock raised with unparalleled rapid.
ity, taking of the bridge at 4eek's
mill about six o'clock in the evening.
The losses which occurred on the
Creek (between Meek's mill and Mr.
Browns mill, which is about three
miles apart, was enormous. I will
give You The particulars as I have
learned them:
Mr. Meek's loss must reach near
$4,000. His mill and three dweel-
ing houses were washed away, be-
sides an enormous quantity Of hogs,
lumber, grain, stock, &c. The prin-
cipal occupants Of his houses were n.
Canedy, +. Pucket, and Mr. Coffman.
Mr. Pucket and family were not at
homo at the time. Mr. Canedy and
family narrowly escaped, the water
being all around the house. Mr..
Coffman had to battle the waves
alone, as his family was not at home
He walked up about midnight and
discovered the water in the house
He got up and started to reach dry
land, but found water go deep he
had to swim. L swan Q SHORT dis
lance, when he took q cramp. Just
then friendly saw-log floated to his
relief. He laid hold Of the log and
held on until he fioated near a quar-
ter of . mile below, in the bottom,
and drifted against ap oats-stack,
where he concluded he would put up
for the rest Of the night. He was
not rescued until the next day.
Mr. Burky next; arose lost his
smoke-house and about three thou
sand rails. Mr. Owshie also lost near
three Thousand rails. Mr. Batter
next lost aboat the saMs number Of
rails.
Fred, Grant and William Reimers,
next above lost perhaps two or three
thousand rails each. Mr.. ]. Reimes
lost nearly $500 rails. Mr.. O'Mallie
next, lost large quantity ofrails.
Mr.. Author Raines, lost two or three
thousand rails.
| Mr.. Madison, next above him, lost
a large quantity of rails.
The Overturfs and Shadlies next,
must have had very heavy losses, as
their farms lay in the bottom.
Mr.. J. Criswell narrowly escaped
from his house, when the water was
waist deep.
There was also q large aumbsr of
cattle, hogs, sheep, &C.. drowned
Sunday and Monday the bottom was
full of fishers. The principal part Of
the fish that was caught consisted OF
bed quilts, feather beds, straw ticks,
trunks, gold and silver watches, sill
yer spoons, 10.
| The greatest trouble nov 10 in di-
viding the rails, which lodged in the
drifts. There has been law suits
threatened. The losses star up and
down the creek as / can hear from
have been about of the same magni
tude. It seems as though there ia
hardly a bridge left standing. IA
the rain still seems to be unceasing,
the people seem tobe murmuring and
complaining as were the children OF
Israel, while living on mama in the
Wilderness. But we must learn that
God rules all things now, that ruled
wen the Isr@lites were rescued from
the tyranny Of King Pharo.
i 4. w. SMITH.