The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-04-11
AN IOWA TOWN ALMOST SUBMERGED
HOUSES Swept Away by She Torrents Let
Innse in the Surfing ThnM.

HOUSES Swept Away by Sne Torrents Let
Loose in the Spring Thaw.
MASON CITY, Ia, April 6.-Ihe greatest
freshet ever known in this county was ex-
perienced last night, the town of Rock Falls
on the banks of the Shell Rock river, expert
encing it most disastrously. The iron bridge,
155 feet long and the dam arc both gone, and
the damage to property there will not fall short
of $4,000. About two weeks ago the ice In the
Shell Rock river became loose, and formed an
immense gorge, miles in extent, and in some
places piled up twenty feet high. The heavy
rain of Thursday loosened the water in the
sloughs and creeks, which poured in resist
less torrent into the river, forcing it beyond its
banks and loosening the ice gorge, which came
down the river with such force that everything
in its course was swept before the flood.
The village of Rock Falls, south of the river,
was completely inundated; houses and barns
were crushed and swept away, and in some in
! stances no vestjge reniains of what was once a
substantial structure. The house OF Mr.. Crlik-
] shank where he lived with his wife and three
| children, was crushed like an egg shell. The
| husband, hearing the roar OF the torrent of ice
/ aud water, got out of bed, and before he could
| light lamp the water in his chamber was up
! to his waist He pushed two of his children
! through a trap-door, following them, his wife
with her babe refusing TO leave. The woman
rushed with her child to the upper story OF her
house just as it was yielding 10 the force OF the
! food, and escaped through the roof by jump
/ ing on the floating ice, where they remained
| for two hours, until daylight, when neighbOrS
rescued them. house III which Mrs. Ander-
| son lived with her i've children was
swept from its foundation and hOated against
some trees, where it lodged. the woman and
children escaping on the floating ice, where
they remained barefooted and in their night
clothes until daylight, when the water reeeded
| and their rescue was made. II 1t had not been
| that this ice gorge broke, causing the flood "a
subside, they would doubtless have persisted
! A vacant house was crushed and demolished
| and Out-buildings, stable and sheds swept away.
The large barn of L. NJ Todd was carried Oft
the veranda of his elegant residence was
crushed and broken, and large cakes of ice
now cover the porches. The large bridge went
out when the ice gorge gave way, and portion:
of the trestle AMI strinceTs are now TO be seer
on the farm of Joseph Horrett where the!
were borne by the flood, two miles below th'
dam, and the tubing considered the best III tht
state, is gone. Miles OF fences were torn iron
the land where the water was never known e
reach before. When the water receded 1t lei
immense piles OF ice in the street. Huge cakes
three feel thick are piled upon one another
ten to fifteen feet high, and will be there fo
weeks before they melt and make the streets
passable. II looks like an immense arctic
scene with the roofs o. the houses protrudinl
through.
Thomas Eperrett, one of the founders of thu
town was taken suddenly Ill during the nigh
aud tslegraphed for a physician, who arrived a
the swollen river, but could not cross. IheI
from both sides of the river they attempted t
get line across 70 haul over the medicine, bu
were unsuccessful. Kites were made and al
tempted to be flown over, but the wind blew
gale and this scheme was abandoned. Woodel
Tamrods with strings tied to them were fire.
from guns, and the most muscular of men al
tempted to throw stones with lines attache'
across but all to no avail All day yesterda
the ice was running, and the river was clogge'
with timbers and drftwood from the damag
done above stream, which must have bee
great. Capt. Smith, who has returned iron
the sceRe, says he has lived in Cerro Cord
county for nearly City years, but never saw tn
water so high or so much devastation done b
a food here before. A large relief party lei
here for Rock Falls to-day, prepared to atten
10 the wants of the sufferers.