New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-07
DESTROYED BY FLOODS.
HOUSES AND BRIDGES CARRIED AWAY.
WESTERN VILLAGE ALMOST EFFACED - DAMAGE
DONE BY LIGHTNING AND RAIN.

Mason City, Iowa, April 6.-At the town OF Rock
Falls, on tho banks of the Shell Rock River, the
Iron bridge, 155 feet long, and the dam washed
away and the damage to property there viii not fall
short OF a25,00O About two weeks ago the ice In
the Shell Rock River formed gorge miles In extent
and In some places piled up twenty feet high. The
heavy rain OF Thursday raised the water in the
sloughs and creeks which poured into tho river,
forcing It beyond its banks and loosenIng the ice
gorge, which came down the river, sweeping every
thing before IL. The village OF Rock Falls was In
undated Houses and barns were crushed and swept
away. The house OF Mr.. Cruikshank whore he lived
with his wife and three children, crushed like an
egg-shelL The husband, hearing the roar Of the
torrent of ice and water got out Of bed and before
he could get lamp, the water in his room was
up to his waist. He pushed tyo Of his children
through trap-door and followed them, his wife
with her babe refusing to leave. The woman rushed
with her child to the upper story of the house Just
as 1t was yielding to the food and escaped through
the roof by jumping the floating ice, where they
remained for two hours until daylight when neigh
bors rescued them.
house In which Mrs. Anderson lived with hcr
five children was swept from its foundation and
alghted against some trees where 1t lodged, the
woman and children escaping on the floating Ice,
where they remained berefooted and in their night
clothes until daylight, when the water rcceded and
they rescued.
The large bridge went out when the ice gorge gave
way, and portions Of the russes and stringcrs arc
noweQ be seen on the farm of Joseph Herret, whore
they carried by the food, two miles below the
dam. Miles OF fences were torn from the land where
the water known to reach before When
the water reccdcd It left immense piles OF Ice In the
streets. Cakes three feet thick are piled upon one
another ten to fifteen feet high.
Thomas Eperrctt, of the founders OF the town,
was taken suddenly Ill In the night and teegraphed
for physician, who arrived at the swollen river but
could not Then from both sides of the river
they attempted to get line across to haul over the
medicine but were unsuccessful Kites were tried, but
the wind blew gale and this scheme was abandoned
Wooden ramrods with strings tied to them were fired
from guns, but all to no avail.
EAsToN, Penn, April (SpecIaD.-A thunder storm
passed this region last night. Lightning struck
a barn in Mt. Bethel destroying 1t and also largo
barn near Point Pleasant, Bucks County, causing a
loss OF $4,000. In this city a house occupied by
Frank Derr badly damaged and the electric
light plant sustained shocks, the second so severe
that the engines stopped and the city left In
darkness from IL O'Clock till dawn To-day the rivers
steadily The Lehgh over the canal towpath In
places, stopping navigation. The cotton mills have
been closed The Delaware backed water into the
Bushkil, flooding the lower stories Of some houses
and mills
Sioux City, Iowa, April Ga whlrlwnd passed
over this city yesterday. 1t struck in only one place.
I'm the extreme northwest part of the city, and then
rebounded the air. passing rapidly over the western
suburbs At the place where the cloud struck 1t picked
up the residence OF Mark M0dlln and hurled m TO tne
ground in the rear OF the lot. Mrs Modlln was
Severely hult. The house of Mr.. Richmond was
wrecked and barn near by was split into NnuIing
wood At sibey tornado swept over the neyy GTum,y
on Tho public school building crashed through me the
roof into the at Of sr@ses nG no one WAS hurt
Rochester n. V, April 6.-At Lvonia, on the
Eric Railroad, culvert was washed out and trains aims
Western New.York and Pennsylvania Railroad was
reported to b9 in bad SHAPE WsshSu's "ero saia 10
Buffalo, n. Y, April 6.-The heavy rains OF last
night caused a washOut on the Erie Hallway at GrIS-
wolds, about twenty miles from Bnltalo The te,gh. th
train that left at midnight went Into the dtch WIN
thirecn cars.
Era, ~ y April eIThs engine Of 1 PASSENGER wssaer@
RAILWAY ran of the track nfty-fve miles east Of
Bufalo about midnight last night; fireman IiTye IoGn
1ISmpsoD' OF EImira, was badly hurt The accident
was caused by the washout of a culvert
CentrevIllc, Mich. April 6.-James Parsons's barn
m day and DESTROYED Mr. Parsons and his little child
and Mrs Yakoo were instantly killed.
ST. Paul, MIMI April 6wRspatehhes Sh s.r0g from 1Vsrs PV'
The river was bank fun at washburn and stu rising
and the bottom lands below were Hooded iUT S aHd
all trains were temporarily abandoned
Delphi Ind April o-At slcethc five miles north
of this place, the storm was like a tornado seVeral
houses were blown down and freight train on the the
Moron Line was lifted from the track No one was
injured.
Reading. Penn, April G.-Reports received here TO-
dav from the country districts show that inc damage
by last nights storm was widespread Inc Da,h ~. VI
J9o TIenbach near GllbertsVllle was destroyed 10
cethcr with the livestock Adam Ernst's barn, near
donaldson was destroyed with ITS contents includns
fires was 81 500 The large farmhouse OF Adam sea,
man i'm Bern Township this county, was struck anu h
bonses OF the neighbors In Il cir night dresses Inc
farmhouse of Samuel Dunkeberger, near Dy' wac aSo
h,run