Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-03-22
!, TIE GORGE GIVES WAY.
Relief Of tho Thrsatsasd Die.
trtct by q Break
Below.
A Fall in the River of
Twelve Feet During
Last Night.
Reports Of 0orees Below and Worse
Reports From Up the
River.

Of the dissstrous experiences
Of 1881 was!hsppily relieved during last
night by q break Of the gorge which had
damned the Missouri and backed the
water over the lowlands opposite and
below Yankton. Shortly before six
o'clock heavy rain began falling and
with it came sudden movement Of the
gorged ice. The crowds on the levee
drew closer to the edge of the water and
watched the half concealed mass with
the most intense interest as it be.
gan to push itself along the
bed of the river. In few moments
after the first start it was under full mo
ton and then it was that the spectators
felt assured that the gorge had really
broken and that relief was at hand. The
cause Of the movement was the arrival
of
MORE WATER AND MORE ICE
from above. Tie weight of the increased
food had first sent the water and ice out
over the bottom between the
Missouri and the Jim and had
finally pushed out the entire
dam, leaving clear channel. Notwith-
standing this relief the river continued
to rise. until, at ten O'Clock at night, it
Was five feet higher than = few hours pre-.
vious. It ran over the railroad track Just
this side of the Rhine and almost COW
cred the railroad bridge over that stream.
It crossed the track below the shops and
again flooded the bottom beyond. It
submerged most of the point between
the Jim and the Missouri and threatened
destruction of life and property. In the
lower part Of Yankton the water rose I'M.
til it stood
SEVERAL INCHES DEEP
upon the floors of some of the houses.
The residents of that section we're in q
state OF great anxiety. The night was
dark and heavy rain was falling and it
was almost an impossibility to move un.
der such circumstances. Mayor Dewey
had detailed large force of watchmen,
who were stationed all along
The levee. and Marshal Wright was busy
oil night plodding through the rain and
mud and overflow, visiting exposed
points.
About eleven O'Clock decided indica-
tous Of q fall we're noticed by the watch.
men and from that time on until morn.
ing the waters rapidly receded. By
morning the river had gone down twelve
feet and was running between its banks.
The flooded region was safe
and the refugees therefrom
have been returning to-day to thel,
homes.
THE FERRY BOAT
was left by thelfall apparently about ten
feet high on the ice which gorged on the
Nebraska shore. She appears to be lying
in an easy position, with nothing but ice
under her. II this be the case she will
settle as the ice melts away and will get
back into the water without injury. A rise
is occurring this afternoon but it is slight
and is doubtless occasioned BY goreet
farther down.
ABOVE AND BELOW.
Reports from above are that there are
several heavy gorges which are holding
back the water. Some of them are sufi.
oiently extensive to create apprehension
Below the ice has moved out as far dowr
o Sioux City, and two gorges are re
ported between here and that place. II
is not probable that these gorges can
hold long, unless the weather becomes
much colder than it is. From above ",
shall yet receive heavy foods, but these
ore hardly ever dangerous unless stopped
BY gorged ice. The conditions are ia
vorable to-day for an escape from the
threatened dangers of yesterday.
THE jim
Is running zbank full to-day and its
waters are laden with heavy ic,
which evidently comes from consider
able distance above. Large:an solit
cakes are pounding against the lowe,
wagon bridge and the railroad bridge
but both those structures still stand
firmly against the pressure. Between th,
Jim and the Missouri there is yet mucl
wet land. The overflow was the wors
between the railroad track and the Mis-
souri. the railroad embankment keeping
back much Of the water which woul,
otherwise have wandered of towards til
bluffs. The occupants of this region or
manifesting restored confidence by re
turning to their abandoned possessions
There has been little or no loss OF proper
ty, so far as heard from.
On the Green Island side the waite
has left the bottom excepting in littl
patches. The outlook to-day all alon
the line is certainly encouraging.
i TELEaRAMs.
The following special kilograms hay
been received to-day from river points
Springfield, Dak., March 22-Reporl
from Fort Randall ore that the river
the same as last report--still fallin,
The stage driver from above reports tbs
the river. on Thursday morning, at Ma
shall's island, near Wheeler. was wors
than during the food Of 81. He Say
khok a rnvo nho.A A.. f..Al:-l