Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-04-04
The ELK PolNT Fkoop.

A Lively Rush of Water Over the Mis-
s0uri Rotg0Ha-The sise of 1854 Out
done.
Sioux City, Iowa, April 2--Sunday
Superintendent Beardsl sley, OF the Chica-
go, Milwaukee & st. Paul road, received
information that q gorge had formed in
the Missouri above Jefferson. and great
danger Of food existed. The superin-
tendent ct once boarded special
train and took run up the road. 1t
was found that che ice had formed solid
ly in the river, the lower end OF the
great mass really resting at point off
the mouth of the Big Sioux, While the
ice was rotten and weak, it had so
formed as to be solid mass for great
distance. The river was clear for short
distance below Elk Point all day Sun
day. The great column of water kept
| up steady attack upon the mass of Ice
and il seemed as though the ice must
give way. Higher and higher crept the
water on the river bank and it was soon
evident to the people of Elk Point and
| Jefferson that unless the ice broke soon
the food Of 1881 would be repeated. It
was not late in the day that the food
was "on." BY $3.50 last night the Ohi-
cago, Milwaukee Il st. Paul depot at
Elk Point was surrounded by
water and the track-hidden from
view. This lower portion of
the town wes flooded and the
residents were compelled to abandon
their homes and seek refuge on the high
land. The water was as high as ia 1881,
when the town was SO damaged and Yer
i million devastated. The great fear was
| that what is called the dump, above Elk
Point, would break and the great vol
ume OF water rush through and into the
low lands 80 thickly settled by farmers.
This fear was we'll based, for it was not
long before the dump was was washed
ont and the beautiful agricultural coun-
| try was soon sheet of water. The peo-
pie In the distance could not escape, and
they were forced to remain in their
| houses and care for themselves and stock
as best they could. The people of Elk
Point organized relief corps, and went
out in boats and rendered all necessary
assistance. The reports are that no lives
we're lost. Tue loss OF stock is quite great.
At Jefferson the water soon found
it's way around the town, and early
this morning telegram from the
railroad agent there stated that il the
water continued to rise he would be
forced to leave his post, as the water WAS
then around the depot. The overflow
! has covered the country from Jefferson
to Elk Point aud aboYe with water,
making solid sheet OF water about nine
miles IN length and varying in width.
This is ell an agricultural country, and
lit is impossible at this writing to ascer-
tain the extent OF the damage. Telegraph
L IL d.
off for time. As pear as can be learned
l 500 feet of the Chicago, Milwaukee g.
ST. Paul track above the town has been
washed ont. The track between Jefferson
and Elk Point ia covered with water
and all the telegraph poles are down
About nine miles OF Milwaukee TRACK
is under water. but il is not known how
7 much OF ii is washed away, probably
! not more than FIVE or six nsiies. The
|, great field of ice below Jefferson gave
way early this morning It was like the
lopeniBg Of o greet pens up lake. Ths
Q water rushed TO the opening and it wal
: remarkable how quickly the great shee
> OF water narrowed down. IL was abou,
nine O'Clock when the head water and
ice reached this point and the watel
climbed the banks at rapid rate
o Quickly the big sand bar j,
!. front of the city was covered
!. The bar divided the curren
and large amount OF ice WAS carried
9 into the elbow above Gnmbo point. Oh
s the Cov.ngton side the banks are beinl
i lsevereIy and the situation there wa
3 alarming for time. itlooked :aB thoug
the Ice would gorge in the big bend belo,
Sioux City or that the out pier Of Ia
l. bridge might gather ios and thus lay th
q GIfoundation OF great gorge. But th
!, fear lessensd as the Ice moved out @
: lright The ice is very rotten, and thi
. alone psevsnted Gorges. The river
n rapidly HisiNg. TIE damage TO the Oh