Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-09-08
From the State Register.
THE FLOOD.

THE FLOOD.
Friday evening Coon river began
to give sy symptoms of flood, coming
up rapidly. By Saturday morning
the Fair Grounds were covered, and
the stream was spreading in every d.
rection. Saturday night the railroad
disaster, traccable directly to- the angry
Coon and first bringing realization
that the great flood of nearly - years
ago was upon US. AL the way be-
tween Des Moines and the wreck were
submerged cornticlds and wheat
stacks, houses and barns surrounded
by water, and not a few of the former
were deserted and floating off from
their foundations, The railroad track
appeared to be built directly through
lake. the water rising on either side
towards the ties.
coon RIVER.
Sunday morning dawned on scores
of deserted houses in Des Moincs.--
Coon river was first to come up
Sunday Des Moines responded and the
united streams passed aver tho East
Side bottoms south of the railroad in
an angry torrent, driving people from
their homes. All told, there were
forty-seycn houses in the city from
which the inhabitants was either driv.
en- altogether or were forced to seek
refuge in the upper stories. Seventh
street from Market to the Fair
Grounds is composed Ola levea from
ten to fifteen feet high. The water
flied in behind il and poured over the
levee about twelve hours, flooding the
streets as far back rs Market, where it
was damned by the railroad. Huge
logs and trees drifted rs far as that
street. From Third to Fourth streets
Market was impossible, and from Fifth
to Sixth.
From the foot OF Third street to the
south bank, Coon river was nearly one
mile wide. Meantime Des Moines
was doing full share toward the
flood. The water rapidly mounted
tho sides Of the mill until it poured in
the first story windows. The water
stood in tho lower story of the Wal
nut street toll house hslf-ceiling deep
and flooded First street "a far as the
plow shops. At l o'clock Sunday
there was three feet of water on the
first floor of Jacks mill.
The Water Works were seriously
threatened Saturday, and steps were
taken to secure them. The west door
was closed and the cracks caulked. The
water rose against it several inches,
but the caulking held and no damage
WAS done. On tho north side 1t had
reached within six inches of the door
when the decline commenced, and the
danger was past.
THE RAILROAD.
suffered severely. Walnut Greek
bridge, on the Rock line, was moved
out Of place, but was not carried
away. 1t has been made perfectly Sc
cure and trains we're crossing it yes.
terday.
TRAINS WILL RUN AS USUAL
on the Rock Island Road this after
noon, the last transferring being done
for the three O'Clock train this morn.
ing.
On the Winterset Branch bridge
was wrecked near Newcomers Point
No trains are yet In on the D. NJ. 4
TT. D., although they are running be.
tween Grand Junction and Waukee
The bridge over Walnut Creek is bad
ly damaged, and the track seriously
washed.
Great fear was entertained for sew.
eral hours Sunday that lower Coon
bridge would be carried of, but by
constant work it was saved. Tit
water carried away the south approach
and a portion of tho second abutment
At dark last evening Coon had fall
en- twonty-cight inches, and De-
Moines three feet.