The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-03
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, FLOODED.
FATAL AND DESTRUCTIVE RAIN.
ATORM.
Bridges, Dwellings. and Other buildings
Swept Away-Large Loss OF Life Feared.
fBy telegraph 10 the DispatcbJ

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa. June AT q
O'Clock last evening one OF the worst rain-
storms that ever visited this vicinity set in
and for four hours II rained IN torrents In.
dian creek. which runs through the heart
OF the city, overlooked, and the damage i
roughly estimated ut 100000.
Seven iron bridges and two stone cul
vertS belonging TO the city were swept
away, and also several dwellings and barns.
All business houses on Main street and
Broadway are Flooded. Several lives are
reported lost. Water in streets one block
from the creek was waist deep. with a
swift current. Cries for help could be
heard in every direction, but the swiftness
OF the current rendered assistance impos-
sible. Particulars are very difficult to OBJ
tain mt this hour. At II o'clock it was still
raining in torrents.
NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH.
The flood rose so quickly that many bust
ness-men found il impossible TO reach their
wives and children, and number narrow
ly escaped death from drowning while en-
deayorins to get in their homes. The
gloom and mourning in the city Is univcr-
sal. The NOapdrid says in is issue this
morning: 4" A most frightful calamity oc-
CURED last evening after e O'Clock. 1t had
been threatening rain during the entire
day, with occasional showers, and when
the evening came it seemed rs though the
very heavens fell"
An AWFUL SIGHT.
4 dark. portentous cloud swept around
TO eastward and discharged It's torrents into
the hcadwatcrs Of Indian creek, and the
flood, with mountaineering volume.
poured through Council Bluffs, sweeping
bridges and culverts from one end Of the
stream to the other. Many buildings were
swept away. All that part Of the city "
Ing between Bluff and Broadway, on the
north, was inundated by rushing and
boiling waters. The sight was awful to
behold.
The loss OF life, at this writing. IS feared
10 hc large, aS numerous instances OF
drowning have already been reported.
TIE CITY N GLOON.
At midnight a general gloom spread over
the city. which was increased by the con-
tinUance OF the rain. Although the creek
seems 10 have spent Is fury. the water i'm
the western and southern part OF the city
Is rapidly rising. and many people have
been compelled TO take to boats to escape.
II is impossible at this time TO give the facts
rs 10 the extent Of the devastation bv the
storm, but the loss TO the city alone viii be
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars, indie
pendent Of that to private individuals.
LATER-NO LIVES L0sT-THE DAMAGE ESTI-
MATED AT S30O.0OO.
4 number OF persons were reported
drowned last evening, but il turns ont to-
day that no lives were lost. although some
hairbrcadth escapes are reported.
The rear wall OF the new opera-house, in
course OF erection, has fallen. II was over
fifty feet high. The side walls are cracked,
and are liable TO fail a, they settle.
All the bridges a. far down rs Eighth
street are zone, including two stone bridges,
which alone cost nearly $4,000.
Hundreds OF families living adjacent to
the creek were driven from their homes,
which were more or less damaged. 4
number OF houses were dashed to pieces rs
they iloatod oil. one heavy iron bridge,
with a tifty-foOt span, was carried more
than two blocks. and It's heavy iron girders
and stringerS were bent and warped as II
they had been been wire ripes.
The damage is now estimated at $500, 600.
Citizens have done everything in their
power TO relieve those in need OF help. and
al are now comfortable. Mayor Bowman
has been receiving kilograms from various
surrounding cities asking il aid is needed,
and has replied that Council Bluffs will be
able TO take care OF the suffering without
assistance. Every citizen is doing his
whole duty, both financially and by per-
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