Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-06-30


through murky darkness, binding
rain snd terrible west winds. Passen.
gers were badly scared, and had just
cause. The heavy care swayed from
side to side and the demon like noise
of the bowling wind and pelting rain,
was enough to make the bravest quail
and drive the timid distracted.
We left Rockwell for Mason City
about SH o'clock P. NJ, and then the
storm grew awful, and the iron nerve
Of our brave engineer was put to q
terrible test. To stop and back up, he
dare not, to stop was equally hazard
Gus, for NO signal could be kept alive
to stop any train following, for an en-
gineer could not see five feet ahead.
On We plunged, every wheel, bolt and
arm of our noble engine was strained
In facing the storm, that no human OF
beast could stand against.
Nothing could DO seen only when
the lurid lightning revealed . vast
waste of water, in places running over
the track foot in depth. In crossing
over the Sheffield bridge, Walt, our
engineer, said the water was even
with the stringers. The bridge went
out that night, and was found four
miles down the stream iron and ell
just o. the torrent had lifted it up and
0asrasa ~ ON an Ns rs.A.tass. course.
A man living near Rockwell bridge
said be heard the noise Of the bridge
giving way in less than fifteen minutes
after we had passed over. we reaoh-
cd Mason City, and about 2 o'clock
the storm was over. In the morning
We started south. At Mason City
Nessrs Barnard Il Allyns Lime Kiln
was damaged about $500. One OF
their cart horses few weeks ago fell
from the top of the quarry, 26 feet,
and struck on his back with q cart to
which he was hArnessed, the horse fal-
ling directly ON the rocks. He was
on duty few days after. The night
of the storm, the stable in which be
was hitched was carried away and the
next morning the faithful old horse
was found down the stream two miles,
his halter still on and the piece OF
manger to which he had been tied
Old Bob WAS quietly grazing, and
probably thinking he was too useful
to his owner to pass in his checks yet
awhile. When we arrived 1t the
bridge near Rockwell, scene met our
eyes that beggars description. The
bridge was gone with four lengths Of
rails, no one knew where. The track
and ties, for three hundred yards, waa
badly lifted up and carried thirty feel
from its bed.
Pieces Of wagons, plows, fences
straw-stacks, dead horses, hogs and
cattle were lying along the shore OF
drifting with the stream. Beautiful
fields Of waving grain that looked
charming the day before were swept
away and destroyed.
One man near Nora Springs was
drowned in trying to save his stock
another man near Rockwell had four
hne horses drowned in their stalls
Also sixteen head Of hogs. Before he
thought Of the creek rising TO his sta
BILE, the food was between his house
and the stable, rendering his efforts
fruitless to ave his stock.
Most Ill the wagon bridges we're
swept away. Immense damage WA
done to farmeu among the growing
grain, stock, fences, and farming i'm
plements. The railroads in the North
part Of the State have lost heavily.
The Iowa Central had three bridges
carried away, and If the rain keeps on,
will lose more. Mr.. Pickering, Supt.,
and his officers have large force OF
men at work, and with determined
energy, are rapidly rebuilding II, and
with good weather, freight win be
moving as usual in few days. Tenn
porary foot-bridges and RATS were
butlt, and passengers were transferred
with but . few hours delay. Ev-
cry effort 10 being made to keep the
large amount of freight on the road
moving. Nc.