Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-05-02
THE WESTERN FLOOD.
Six or Seven Thousand People Driven
From Their Homes.

KANSAS CRY, April So The rise in the
river the past twenty-four hours Is twenty
inches, but the waters made no further en-
croachnent upon the city. Fowler Brothers
and Wood Brothers ice houses are giving
away and will be total loss.
A man was killed by government steamer
crashing into the balcony of his house on
which he stood. Six or seven thousand peo-
pie are driven from their homes by tine fooo.
but active measures of relief have been IN
stituted The tracks of all railroads. with
the exception of the Chicago Alton. are
more or les covered with water. 1t is eN-
pected that the river will be at "a stand by
Nav and a rapid decline will soon COM
mere.
ST. Paul. April 80 The latest advices
from various points on the Minnesota river,
show the water to be falling rapidly. AT
Cotton Wood recession of twelve feet, ana
all danger past. The trestle work was re-
paired and trains are running TO Sleepy Eye
Beyond that place trains are still suspended
No g eat change in the situation at 81. Paul.
The water is nearly stationary. Relief work
for sufferers is going rapidly forward. Bar
rscks have been built for those who have no:
found shelter. and the city will appropriate
money, which, with personal subscriptions,
will provide for all the needy.
YANKToN April 50. All Geographic COM
munication is being destroyed This tele-
gram goes to Sioux City by mail.
The Missouri food has subsidized. and the
river is falling almost as rapidly as it rose.
For a week past the river has been out Its
banks and been overlooking the bottom below
Yankton. again submereing a large portion
of the land overfiowed by the Missouri river
rise. The worst of this flood is now over. The
jam has been full from bluff to bluff and from
mile to a mile and half wide. Its low
water width is about 10 rods All its bottom
lands for a. miles up are overf1owsd. and
most of the houses upon the bottom have been
swept away. There is great destitutlon by
the flood. Sufferers are still being cared for
in Yankton. Twenty thousand govern
ment rations have been issued and probably
as much more have been furnished by ank-
ton people. Six boxes of clothing have been
received from Omaha and been distributed in
Union, Clay Bonhomme, Cedar and Knox
counties. The demand is greater than the
supply, and all applicants are in positive need
of aid. Governor Hand is taking steps to
secure the burial of dead cattle, horses and
dogs in the bottoms, as the carcasses are be-
| ginning to decompose. Steamers Helena,
| Big Horn and Rosebud, which were cast up
on the prairie by flood have been launched
and are ready for work. Steamers Butte,
Black Hills and Nellie Peek cannot be
| launched until there is another rise in the
river, as wide sand bar is formed along the
river front where they are left by the flood
The weather is warm and pleasant. Grass i:
green on the hillsides and farmers are putting
in grain.
| ArcHIsoy, Kan, April 80. The river has
fallen tire inches. The village of Oak Mills
has been almost destroyed by the flood. II
the bottom lands in Danapan county are
flooded and the inhabitants will need assis
! lance.
| At Troy there are stacks of mail matter
and the Express Company has $1,000 in
gold bars from the Pacific coast, which it i,
unable to send east. Troy is practically the
eastern end of the st. Joseph railway.
ST. PAUL, April 80. The Mississippi ha,
reached it highest this evening, 10 feet {
inches, and after, remaining stationary all
day, is now recedihg. Information from the
upper river and from the Minnesota shows
| that the waters are falling rapidly. and af.
fairs are assuming the usual condition, all
danger being past.