Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-04-12
OVER IT'S BANKa
The Missouri River Above 6toa
City Breaks Through Us
Banks.
Tmmense Areas of Land FIOoded-FeeY@'
Miles of Railroad Track Washed
Out.
Floods in Dakota and Wisconsin-ThNs
Persons Killed by Lightning
Tornado.

,ba W,esouri Immediately above Sioux City
has been the highest and most oisas RUS
since the memorable inundatlon OF the
spring of 1851. The region Inundated IS the
low ground on the Dakota side ABOVE Cno
Sioux river. During the breakup OF the
ice two weeks ago an immense gorge
formed in the curved channel or the Mle
souri, below Elk Point. A dam was formed
and the whole expanse OF low country
overf1owed. In every direction Tor miles
the whole country was under water. Elk
Point was a diminutive island in a vast sea
of angry waters. The country there -
thickly settled and many farmers had al
ready moved their live stock 10 the blHns-
Most of the houses are built on emlnencess
but in most cases the flood overi1oweo
these also. Some live stock was lost, but
how much is not known, as it has been i'm
possible TO reach the country.
Just below Elk Point the county authorl-
ties have dug an immense ditch along the
line of the lowest depression, northeasterly
toward the Sioux river. to carry on HOOD
waters. This ditch carries flood OF waters
with great violence into the Sioux river
above the ST. Paul railroad bridge. There
was thus vast river several miles wide
sweeping across the low lands. 1t plowed
out the ditch and threatened TO change
the channel of the Missouri in conformity
with it; tore away fences, hay stacks,
small outbuildings and every thing in its
way.
1t is now learned from Superintendent
Beardsley, Of the Milwaukee Company,
that about four miles Of the railroad track
was washed out this side of Elk Point. The
violence of the current may be inferred
from the fact that about n mile and a quar-
ter of the track, including railroad ties
and iron, has been carried two miles away
from the roadbed and left in the fields
The Sioux river, swollen by the flood wa
tiers OF the Missouri, rapidly accumulated
a great mass of driftwood and ice against
the railroad brloge. The pressure was
sufficient to move the bridge three feet
and would have swept the structure en-
tirely away but for the precautions taken
by the railroad company. However, it
will take two weeks to repair the damage.
Tuesday night the gorge, which caused
all the trou bic, suddenly broke. The con-
fined flood rushed down the stream like
race horse and with an omlnous roaring
sound. The rise here was ten feet in less
than ten hours and the lower part or the
city was threatened. Yesterday the river
fell some, but it is still very high. Above,
in the region of Elk Point, the water still
stands deep on the low grounds and it will
be many days before it can be drained on.
1t is thought no lives have been lost
RAGING RIVERS IN DAKOTA.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, April 6.-Telegrams
from a dozen points in Dakota report heavy
full atW ashburn and still rising and the bot
tom lands below are flooded for miles. At
Gladstone ID. r., the Hart river rapidly
rising. At South Hart the railway bridge
has given away and all trains are tempo
rarily abandoned. At Mankato, Mimi, the
Minnesota is leaving its banks The ice 10
moving in immense cakes and a gorge is
feared below the city. Twenty head of
stock belonging TO Adam Jefferson were
drowned on the lowlands. The river rose
fifteen feet Wednesday night and yesterday
was still rising.
ALSO IN WISCONSIN.
CHEYBoGAN, Wis, April 6.-The heavy
rain on Wednesday night and yesterday
caused the Chey began river 10 rise
rapidly to point not reached for a number
OF years. The Milwaukee, Lake Shore &
Western railway bridge is threatened and
has already been lifted from its position SO
as to spread the rails and render it impas-
sable for trains. Should the river continue
to rise the bridge will probably be carried
away and take with 1t the Pennsylvania
avenue bridge, thus cutting off connections
between different parts of the city.
CYCLONE AT SIOUX CITY.
Sioux CITY, Iowa, April 6.-Dnring .
violent electric storm yesterday a cyclone
passed over the city from southwest to
northwest. The residence OF Mark Morlin
was picked up and hurled to the ground in
the rear of the lot. Mrs. Morlin was Sc
verely injured. The house OF Mr. Richmond
was wrecked and barn near by was split
to kindling wood
TERRIFIC STORM.
DELPHI, Ind, April Ga terrific wind
and rain storm passed over this place last
night At Sleeth's, five miles north, it par
took Of the nature OF a cyclone. Several
houses were blown down and freight
train on the Monon line was lifted from the
tracks. No one was injured
LIGHTNING FATALITIES.
CENTERvILLE Mich, April 6.-James Par
sons barn in Sherman township was struck
by lightning and totally destroyed, Mr.
Parsons and his little child and a Mrs
Yankee being instantly killed at the same
time.
Ohio Centennial.