Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-18
HEAVY RAIN STORMS.
Much Damage to Rnilroads-Three
Men Drowned.


Men Drowned.
SALrSA Kas., May 17.-This section Of the
country has just been visited by perfect
deluge of rain. 1t has been highly beneficial
to the crops, but disastrous to the railroads.
The Rock Island and Santa Fe tracks at
Sand Springs have been washed out. The
Missouri Pacific had two washouts
few miles out and west of
here On the south branch east
of Marquette three trestles were displaced.
The Mcpherson branch Of the Union Pacific
also had fifty feet of track carried away. All
the creeks are full, and, in many cases, over
flowing. No damage is reported except on
railroads From Abilene and Mcpherson
also come reports of heavy storms and wash
outs on the railroads.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. May IA heavy rain
storm passed over this section, to-day, doing
q great deal of damage IN this city and in
Kansas City, Kan, where several streets
were badly washed out. The railroads are
considerably demoraized, and not q road
sent in train exactly on time, tonight.
Most of the roads are from one to three
hours late, but the western lines are
in worse shape, and the Denver express on
the Union Pacific, due at a. M, did not get
in until 4 o'clock this afternoon. A large
portion of the bluff facing the Missouri river
was washed down over the Chicago a. Alton
road, and that road was compelled to use the
Wabash tracks tonight.
Tonights reports regarding to-day's storm
indicate 1t was more severe than was at first
thought. The railroads are tho chief suf
ferers. Two spans of the Rush Creek bridge
on the Chicago, Milwaukee s. st. Paul road
near Liberty, Mo-, were washed away and
trains between Kansas City and Chill
liCothe have been abandoned. The Kansas
City, st. Joe and Council Bluffs tracks
are submerged twelve inches for distance
near Parkeville The Hannibal tracks are
also under water near Liberty. All east
bound Rock Island trains go from Kansas
City via ST. Joseph to Cameron. The Union
Pacific is badly damaged near Manhattan,
Kan, where the Kaw river is thirteen feet
above low water mark. The Missouri Pa
citic is badly demoralized in all directions,
and its trains are from two to four hours late.
Several bad washouts are reported between
here and Little Blue. In this city the
Eighteenth street cable line was stopped six
hours on account of the food, and the power
house of the Tenth street line was so badly
flooded that water had to be pumped out of the
boiler rooms for several hours to keep the
machinery in operation. The Twelfth street
line was stopped for over an hour,
on account of the water flooding the conduits
in the loop at the eastern city limits. Be
tween Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets, for
distance of two blocks in the eastern part of
city, the entire surface is under water. The
floors of nearly all the dwellings in that ter
ritory are submerged, causing great incon-
venience.
At Kansas City, Kas., s25.OOO worth of
damage has been done. In Armondaie
number of cottages were flooded while on
Split Log creek there is an area of ten acres
that is now a lake from five TO twenty feet
deep. The house of M. Hisler was flooded to
the ceiling and the family rescued with diff
Guilty.
nCoUNoIL GROVE, May 17.-Heavy rains
fell here all last night and to-day. The Neo-
sho river is higher than for years, and fam
lies living on low ground have been forced
to hasty flight. The stream is still rising.
MILWAUKEE, May 17.-During terrific
rain storm tonight temporary dam at the
end of the Island avenue tunnel was swept
away and five workmen engaged inside were
caught by the receding waters. Two of
them succeeded in getting out, but the other
three were drowned. The bodies have not
been recovered.