Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-09
OMAHA'S LITTLE CONEMAUCH
1t Floods a District and Sets Houses
on End.
SIDEWALKS WASHED AWAY.
And Hundreds OF Citizens Are Com
PEELED to Take Their Breakfast in
the Homes of More Fortunate
Neigbbors.
An Early Morning Flood.

The heaviest rain-storm, which has visited
Omaha in four years. burst upon the city
yesterday morning. THE BEE of yesterday
referred to some of tho damage effected by
the down-pour, which is supplemented by
the following facts:
The surroundings at Nineteenth and Cas-
telar streets, where the greatest damage
was done, are especially adapted for flood
of this kind. Between Nineteenth and
Twentieth q gulch, the sides of which are
steep and extend back several blocks runs
in southerly direction for a distance of a
half mile, draining large area. The grading
of CASTELAR, forms "a dam over twenty feet
high across this ravine the banks of which
are lined with cottages. The Martha street
sewer enus u few feet south of CASTELAR,
street and had been covered up by the grad
ing of the street. 1t was but few minutes
after the storm burst yesterday morning
until the ravine was filed with water and
the houses along Its banks flooded James
scott lives between CASTELAR, and South
street, in a neat cottage on the bank Of the
raviue He heard the water rushing under
his house and decended to the dining room
in the basement to find the place flooded and
water. He took breakfast with
q neighbor yesterday morning as all Of his
provisions were badly water soaked He
places his damage at $50.
Just below Scott's place and nearer Castel-
lar, Joseph Elsasser woke up at 2 o'clock To
find torrent raging under his house. All
Of the weather boarding was torn off around
the basement leaving the house standing
upon the piling.
The basement of the Minneapolis bakery,
adjoining Elsassers place, was flooded and
quantity of -four destroyed.
John Oleson, at 1902 CASTELAR,, had a lot OF
property damaged IN his cellar which was
filled by the overflow.
The house of John Osmeror, at 1907 Castel-
lar, is but a few feet from the mouth of the
Martha street sewer and is built under the
CASTELAR, street grade. The property was
badly damaged. The water covered tho first
floor Of the building to depth of three feet,
running the carpets and furniture. The eel.
lar was flooded and well and cistern filled
with mud. Osmeror places his loss at $500
and will try to collect that amount from the
city.
Across the street from Osmeror Mrs.
Devitoy occupied small two room cottage
that was completely flooded, the water
reaching the window castings. Mrs. Deyitoy
was cared for by neighbors.
Further down the ravine, near Martha
street. Joseph Cottrell lost a lot Of clothing,
and kitchen furniture that was stored in the
basement Of his cottage, which is built upon
at $50.
]. Dvorak's house. on Williams, near Thir-
teenth was flooded and lot of goods dam
aged
CnarleS Johnson IOSt an acre OF potatoes
near the government corral, the flood en-
tirely destroying his crop.
A vacant house owned by j. Dvorak was
undermined and left standing on one end.
The damage to this place will amount to 5000.
Henry Livesey's brickyard was flooded and
all the fires extinguished in the various
kilns.
Councilman Lowry reported the breaking
of water main on Seventh avenue, near
Pierce, caused by the water getting behind
| the curb.
On Pierce street, east of Ninth, It's yard:
| of curbing was washed out and the stone
pavement caved in doing, great damage.
Cellars were flooded on Farnam near
| Twenty-eight and at Thirtieth street.
The Waterworks company received report:
! that there are 100 places in the city in which
| the company's pipes have been broken OF
| laid bare by the Hood, placing the company
under great expense to repair them.