The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-06-17

Hair MILTON Dotiars Worth OF Damags
Caused by Flooas.

Hail. y Million Dollars worth OF DMnaE~
Caused by Fioeds.
iRocKFoRp, nl.. June Is.
AZ least $500, 900 worth of property was
destroyed In Rockford, Ill., and vicinity.
Never since 1867, when the waters rose and
overwhelmed nearly oil Rockford, has
such disastrous Hood visited that section.
For three hours the rain fell in torrents,
vivid lightning played, and following each
| flash came terrific peais Of thunder. The
storm commenced about $50 o'clock, and
in surprisingly short time every street
was turbulent river. The creeks sweiied,
and In moment disastrous floods were
sweeping through the Kent and Keith
creek valleys. Each creek drained On inn
mense area OF territory and from evesy side
came contributions to the waters until the
creeks had become destructive torrents.
Down the Keith creek district came flood
sweeping everything before II. The banks
of the creek were powerless TO conhne the
mad waters and they spread over the low
lands, filling cellars and creeping up to the
FIRST stories OF residences. driving occn-
pants Of houses from their beds. The
lumber piles in the rear Of the factories
were picked mp by the waters and borne
along the banks, and railroad ties proved
battering rams which took down the bridges
spanning the creek of Railroad avenue and
Sixth and fifth streets.
While the fire department. and posrcs
were working in Woodruft's addition, word
was received that people living around
kent's creek were In distress and asking
FOL. the patrol and assistance immediately.
Mayor Sherratt with force Of men hur-
riedly loaded boat into the wagon and
were soon at the waters edge. On Cedar
street the scene was awful. Men, women
aud children we're out in the rain, many
weeping aad wringing their hands, aud oil
excited. II was miniature Johnstown
food, aud somewhat similar in many
respects. Before the people we're hardly
aware OF IL the water came rushing down
the creek aud came creeping into their
homes, drivinR families out into the dark
ness and rain. The mayors party did
some valiant woak In taking the people
the city were flooded and hundreds OF peo-
pie rendered homeless.
Tne spectacle next morning presented
scene OF desolation and ruin. The wreck
of the Milwaukee road presents the worst
appearance. For nearly half mile the
track has been lifted bodily and carried
from thirty TO fifty feet to the east. The
rails under the cars are twisted and bent
into circle, the water coming with such
terrific force that IL bent and played with
the heavy rails like straw. All the railway
companies sutfer heavily. aud every bridge
over Kent and Keith creeks was swept
away.
Much sunsring at Rockford.
Thousands of people yesterday visited
the scene of Fridays washont along the
Keith and Kent creeks, where so much
damage was done 10 railroad and other
property. The ST. Paul and Illinois Cen
trail roads have large gangs of men at work
repairing bridges and road beds and relay
lng the track which was washed away. 1t il
expected that in a few days they will aaye
things In such shape that trains can run on
time from Rockford. All through the dis
trict where the washout occurred there Ia
much suffering. The disaster has left
many people in destitute circumstances.
The morning papers make an appeal Co the
citizens for aid In their behalf. As far as
learned nobody was killed, though there
were many narrow escapes. The loss to
the city amounts to about $4,000. The
estimated loss to railroads amounts to over
sac, 900.