Omaha daily bee., 1890-06-23
Floods and Mnshouts.

Along nearly every street in the city last
night great pillows of water rolled along
toward the river, carrying every article
that could be wrenchcd from its moorings.
For nearly an hour the streets were raging
torrents, the water extending from curb to
curb and occasionally stopping over into eel
lars and Easements.
At Thirteenth and Leavenworth streets
the sewers were unable to carry off the great
volume of water, and in IL short time that
portion of the city was a dark yellow sea.
The damage in this section was consider
able. Ryder g. Click, butter packers mt 1907
Leavenworth street, were the heaviest losers.
Last Saturday these gentlemen received a
consignment OF 10000 pounds of butter,
which was in the basement. The water
broke over the sidewalk and in five minutes
the basement was full. They estimate their
loss at $4,000.
The Creamery package company, which oo-
cupicd the same rooms, suffered loss which
is estimated at 81 900. Their property which
was damaged consisting of salt, coloring and
butter tubs.
McCord S Brady's basement at Thirteenth
and Leavcnworth was flooded, but owing to
the sewer trap being open, the water escaped
nearly as fast as it ran in.
In the rear of the McCord 81 Brady build
ing, on Twelfth street, there aie severa
small houses and into these the water ran
until it had reached depth of four feet.
Mrs. Shepard, living at ilS South Twelfth
street, was driven to the chamber, and with
her children had barely time to escape, the
water being up to her waist when she got
the little ones up stairs. All of
her household goods, including bedding
and clothing were hopelessly ruined.
George Dedres, living at 7l6 South Twelfth
street, suffered the same experience, losing
all of his bedding and clothing.
At Twentieth and Pierce Streets in the low
bottoms where number OF graders and
squatters reside the water played sad havoc.
Most of these people had retired for the night,
and the flood coming upon them so suddenly,
they were driven out of their shanties hay
ing time to only gatcer up few garments as
they went They rushed out into the rain,
but being unable to reach the surrounding
hills, they climbed onto the tops of their
buildings and perched there like drowned
rats, until the water had subsidized
Most of the cars on the electric lines were
delayed from an hour to an hour and n half
owing to the large quantities of mud that
washed over the tracks making it impossible
for the motors to force their way through.
The electric display was grand as well as
destructive, the heavens being one sheet of
flame and binding flashes.
AT the fire and police alarm station
lightning followed the wires in, burning out
circuit No. . of the fire and circuit No. of
the police alarm system,
On the Hanscom park motor line lightning
struck the trollies on two of the motor cars,
passed down into the cars and burned out
the dynamos, but fortunately not injuring
any one though the motor men and number
of the passengers We're severely shocked
1t has been supposed there is nothing that
can kill n street car mule but this idea Is
false At Thirteenth and Howard streets
the wind had blown an electric light wire
from the poles, and without noticing it the
driver on ono of the Thirteenth street horse
cars going south, drove his mules against it.
The wire was low and struck the poor ani-
mails across the breasts. They reared high
in the air, and fell over, one o
them being instantly Killed and the other
living but moment The force broke the
wire, and for time the two fiery ends
wrthcd and twisted about the streets, TO tho
great annoyance of the passers-by. At LAST
Superintendent Coulter Of the police aud fire
alarm arrived, and cutting the wires near tn
poles, prevented further damage.
At COS South Thirteenth street lightning
struck the electric light wire at Heler's
clothing store, The current broke the wire,
one end setting fire TO the awning aud the
other whipping about the street This wire
was treated in the same way and all trouble
was avertcd.
At Fourteenth and Douglas streets another
wire was blown down, but was discovered
before any accident occurred.