Evening journal., 1891-06-26
THESTORM IN THE WEST
Great Damage Done in Iowa
and Nebraska.
HOUSES AND BRIDGES SWEPT AWAY

Railroad Tracks Under Water ard TrafHc
Interrupted-Grain Fields Destroyed
and Cattle Drowned-rho Loss Of Life
Reported SO Far Not Serious.
SIOUX City, la, June %. Northwestern
Iowa has suffered heavily from the rain
fall Of the past two days. The Little Sioux
and Floyd rivers are raging and overflow
ing their banks. AT Cherokee fifty houses
and barns on the lowlands have been
swept away, and the bridges along the
Illinois Central railroad have been washed
out Only a few trains are arriving in
Sioux City, and the Milwaukee, Sioux
City and Northern and the Illinois Cen
tral roads arn taking out gangs OF men to
repair the damage
Great Damage Done.
The storm converted the Sioux valley
into great lake The valley is one OF the
most fertile portions Of this part Of the
country and is thickly settled, numerous
towns being scattered throughout its
length. The damage done will run into
hundreds of thousands Of dollars Aside
from the loss sustained from the sweeping
away OF houses, barns and cattle, there
will be heavy losses to farmers by the
total destruction Of great fields Of wheat
and corn. Although the flood came rather
suddenly the people in the valley were not
taken by surprise, as riders We're started
20 carry the warning. Had the flood oc-
curred in the night there would doubtless
have been great loss OF life The over
flowing Of the banks Of the Little Sioux
and Floyd rivers was the primary cause Of
the food. That was supplemented by a
cloudburst az Isemars, la The comhina-
tion was an irresistible one, and II was not
long before people in the valley were flee
ing to places OF safety, in many instances
driving their cattle before them.
The Tidal Wave.
The tidal wave did not reach Sioux City
until this morning. Il did not come with
a rush, but gradually overflowed the banks
OF Floyd river and extended over the
Leeds manufacturing suburbs Several
big factories were submerged, and the lit
tie town is now under two feet OF water
| On the Ononaw branch of the Illinois
/ Central railroad, which follows Little
Sioux valley, the track Is washed out in
many places, and several miles OF track
are under water Next to the Illinoi.
Il AEniThl ttlt 2nthHH rttili1 ~ nave bEIl tilt
| first TO suffer. Its tracks were WASHED
| out at Lemars and as far north as Shell
/ don. The Chicago and Northwestern re
ports heavy floods all along the Eagl,
/ Grove line, aud numerous washouts In thu
| vicinity OF Sutherland and Pauline sta
tions The Illinois Central will not be abl,
to get train out Of here until Saturday
Fourteen Counties Flooded.
Later reports Of the damage done by th
cloudburst in northwestern Iowa indicat
more widespread destruction than tn
first reports. The deluge covers parts o
the counties Of o 'Brien, Sioux, Clay, Plym
outh, Cherokee Buna Vista, Woodbury.
Ida, Sac, Monona, Crawford, Carroll, Har
rison and Shelby The telegraph wires arr
demoralized and 1t is difficult 10 get de
tails of the general casualties. The terri
tory invaded is dotted with villages ans
farms, and it is feared that the damagl
and loss of life has been great The re
ports Of the railroad officials give only tn,
details as TO the losses sustained by thl
roads. The main line Of the Chicago ant
Northwestern, according 70 these reports
is blocked by the carrying away Of bridges
ETC., 10 the length OF 1856 miles On tn,
main line from Lynn Grove TO Alton til,
bridge over Waterman creek with III
trestle, 2s0 feet long, has been carried
away. Ten other bridges, five each side o
Waterman creek, have also been carrie,
away. Near Paulina one bridge 100 fee
long has been swept away, together will
two smaller ones.
On the Neville branch, between Movin
and Schaller, and on the Ida Grove an,
Ononaw branches, the water is so high ans
the telegraph lines so badly damaged tina
it Is impossible to ascertain the damag'
done. In the section of the country wher,
the storm was most severe the Chicago ant
| Northwestern railroad has many branches
and the loss to railroad property will bl
enormous. The bridge OF the Illinois Cen
tral at Cherokee, over the Sioux river, ha.
been washed away.
Devastation at Cherokee.
The following additional particulars ol
the flood at Cherokee have been received
The wagon bridge over the Sioux south Of
the town went out about 10 o'clock. Thi.
was followed by all the houses on the fiai
part Of the town, numbering over hun
dred. The number Of people driven from
their homes is between 200 and 500
The river continued to rise until o'clock
at that time being ten feet higher thar
ever known. Every bridge across tbs
Sioux river, both wagon and railroad, il
gone between here and Ononaw, and prob
ably every bridge in Cherokee county OF
the Sioux river. Most of the distressed
people found shelter in the Grand Army
Of the Republic and Oddfellows' halls
and arrangements were made whereby
they will be cared for until some action il
taken. The town presents a sorrowful ap
pearance Those houses that remain OF
the fiat are almost buried in mud. Peo
pie have already begun to clear up ths
rubbish The destruction OF property ii
about $500, COO Besides, almost all Of tn,
stock pastures along the Sioux were car
ried away by the flood. Only few Of tbs
animals were saved as they came down
the river. All passenger trains were stop
ped at Storm Lake. The weather is clear
ing
Railroad Tracks Under Water.
OMAHA, June 26.-Tha storm through
out Nebraska and Nevada was quite gen