Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-06-07
TURBULENT WATERS.
showing Accidents by Flood and Field

''Moving Accidents by Flood and Field.
Buchanan county and Northern low;
has been visited during the past week
by the most destructive food that has
been known for many years, though
fortunately, not accompanied, as far al
We have learned, by any hard wind o.
tornado, During the latter part of las
week, violent rains fell in this vicinity
at short intervals for several days, ant
finally eliminated on Saturday night
in terrific thunder shower. On thai
night the rain fell in great sheets, stead
lily, for several hours, making great
ponds of our streets, and swelling small
streams and creeks throughout the
county, to steamboat height, which
emptied themselves into the river Or
Sunday morning the river commenced
to rise rapidly, and continued to do SC
during the entire day and the following
night, until it had attained height not
equaled before for ID years. The small
insignificant looking Wapsie lost its
identity in the boiling, seething, waste
of waters which greeted the eye from
the Main street bridge. The water ran
nearly smooth over the dam at one time
and the low land above the mill was
completely inundated The shops and
barns along the edge of the pond, were
filled, some of them to the depth of five
or six feet with the muddy water. The
principal damage in this county seems
to have occurred in the northern part
of it.
At Otterville, the dwelling house and
wagon shop of G. r. Adde'S, were lifted
from their foundations and the former
carried down stream, and torn to peices
by the angry waves. The wagon shop
fortunately lodged on his premises,
where it can be utilized for another
building. His lot was nearly all washed
away. His loss will be about $500.
Otterville mill sustained considerable
damage also A channel three or four
feet deep and two rods wide was washed
out around the north side of it and con-
siderable grain was destroyed, making
the loss about $50. The approach to
the iron bridge at Otterville from this
side was entirely washed away.
At Varguson's, on Cooper Creek, and
below, at S. A. Brush's, the bridges
are washed out. Also the bridge at
Sages mill, on Otter Creek was lifted
up and foated off. Two bridges on the
Buffalo, one at Midwife, and one above
that point, were also washed out and
destroyed. Nearly all the smaller
bridges on the Otter and Cooper creeks
are gone, and the county will sustain
considerable loss in this direction.
The loss in this city will be no incon-
siderable sum. Frank Megow's foundry
probably sustained the greatest damage,
the water covering the floor to the depth
of about four feet. His workmen were
engaged all day Sunday in removing his
stock, but great deal of material and
was destroyed. His loss is
5000.
Evers manufacturing establishment
also suffered considerable loss. Water
stood in the basement of their shop to
the depth of about 6 feet, and destroyed
stock to the amount of 800. These
are the greater losses that we have
learned. There is great deal of dam
age done to dwelling houses, gardens,
etc. along the river, but it is impossible
to estimate the loss. We have learned
also of a great deal of live stock
throughout the county that was killed
by lightning during the storm of Satur-
day night.
Along the line Of the B. c. r. & \. r.
r. north Of this city great damage was
done by the storm All the smaller
bridges between Oelwcin and Maynard
were washed out, and also two miles Of
track between Maynard and Randalia.
At Clcrmont, 20 foot bridge was car
ried. Trains will not be running north
of this city before next Monday, and
perhaps not then. 1t is impossible to
state the amount of loss to the Co.
THE WATERLOO ToURNAMENT.-The
Firemen's Tournament at Waterloo
last Tuesday, proved grand success.
Nearly $50 fireman from the surround
ing towns were present, and six or sew
en- bands of music, besides squad of
the Cedar Rapids Fire Police, and the
Dubuque Turner Life Saving Service,
the whole forming procession of near
ly mile in length. The prizes offered
were not very large, but there was a
spirited endeavor to win them by all
the companies competing. The Fire
department of this city were in attend
ance and the Cataract was only third
best in the trial of hand engines,-the
engine of La Porte taking the first
money, and that Of Vinton the second
There was no trial of Steamers, owing
to the fact that but one machine was
entered-that from this city. Both
our companies, we understand were
we'll pleased with their treatment, and
enjoyed their visit immensely. Part of
them arrived home at 5:26 P. M. and a
part remained to the ball that evening
By reference to our Educational De-
partment. it will be seen that one OF
the teachers in our city schools has Civ.
en- up her position as teacher here, ano
engaged school with one pupil else
where. We refer to the marriage Of
Miss Ella Aborn and Mr.. Frank Com
fort, at Cedar Rapids this week While
we are glad to note this happy event
there is one feature about it, that il
most emphatically wrong. 1t seems tt
us that the young ladies of this city arr
worth cominp after IF thav arc wort