The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-26
IOWA'S BIG CLOUDBURST.
FIFTEEN COUNTIES IN TBE PATTI
OF THE FALLING WATER.

Great Damage Along the Branch Lines
of the Chicago and Northwestern
Railway-Seventy-hve Houses on the
Lowlands at Cherokee carried Down
the River.
ALTA, IA, June 25.-C. K. Deacon.
superintendent of the Illinois Central rail.
way, who possesses the best facilities for OBJ,
tanning exact facts regarding the reported
destruction of property andthe loss in North
western Iowa, said late last night: "a
serious transform set in at Cherokee and
points south aud west about z o'clock in the
evening of June 23, and continued all night.
the rain coming down in sheets. At2a.m
the fire alarm sounded, calling every one
out. and parties were formed to rescue those
living on the flats near the Little Sioux
river. At a. m. had not
heard of any loss of life. At $3.50 a. m.
crossed our bridge to the east side of the
river, and shortly after that the bridge went
out, carrying all the wires. ID again COM
menced raining very hard, and during the
day at least seventy>five houses In Chero>
kee went down the river. / am vet unable
to learn anything from the town, as all the
bridges are gone and it is impossible to cross
the river In boats. The road is
repaired to the east bank of the little Sioux.
opposite Cherokee. On account of the fail
ure of the wires I am unable to learn the
extent of the damage that the company has
suffered. There is some amount of damage
to bridges, but we hope to get repairs made
very soon.'
FIFTEEN COUNTIES DEVASTATED.
CHICAGO, June 25.-Advices received at
the headquarters of the Chicago and North
western railroad in this city this morning
indicate that the destruction by the cloud
burst in Northwestern Iowa, yesterday, is
more widespread than the news dispatches
thus far received suggested. From the dam
age to its lines actually reported TO the
road it appears that the deluge
covers large portions OF fifteen counties
next to the western line OF the state, being
strip of five counties north and south and
three east snd west, all thickly settled and
dotted with thriving towns, The reports OF
the railroad men to headquarters give only
the results of their observation in regard to
the damage to the property OF the company,
leaving that of adjacent communities to be
inferred.
THE ROAD DEMoRALIzED.
Their reports show that the main line of
the roads Northern Iowa division is de-
morallzed from Linn Grove to Alton, 40
miles; that the Moville branch from
MovilIe to Echaller, 45 miles, is in the
same condition, and that the Onawa branch.
from Onawa to Ida Grove, 80 miles, is
also badly off. These lines. with an aggre-
gate length of 135 miles, are entirely block
AIDED by the carrying away of bridges and
the washing out Of road beds. All traffic
his side and beyond the points named is
eing carried by roundabout lines.
THE DEVASTATED SECTION.
The section of the country where the flood
as most severe is traversed by numerous
anches, not only of the Chicago and
.rthwestern, but also of the Illinois Cen
u, Milwaukee and St. Paul, and the main
ls of the Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis
fin Cherokee, by courier to
Aelia, make the number of houses washed
ANY 100, the number of people homeless or
dren from homes which became unhabit-
abb 200, and the money loss to the town
$4,000. Buildings of every description
hoad past Cherokee in procession all day
yesrday. The great iron truss railroad
brice at Cherokee now lies in the river bed
halia mile from its original position.
A dispatch from Aurelia, which
is ME miles east of Cherokee, dated p. m.
to-dy, says that a heavy storm was again
hanlng over Cherokee and all COM
murcation with that town was cut
of by the expanse of water,
mile wide. The greater part of the dam
age t Cherokee was caused by wall of
watc six feet high, which struck the town
from an already flooded river. Reports
who continue to come in increase the
gravity of the situation.
FLOYD RIVERS RUSH.
SIoJx CITY, Ia. June 25.-The floods in
tIoyC river, which came past LeMars and
merrill yesterday and did great damage in
the colntry, reached here early this morn
Ing. The river rose about twelve feet. One
hundr,d and fifty houses in the
valley are partly submerged and the
Iamllits have moved out to higher
grounes. A large stove works, shoe factory.
hour mill and foundry In the suburbs of
The town are closed. There has been no loss
OF life lere. man in fromIMoville, eight
cen miles east of here. reports that the
whole town was swept away, only one
mouse being untouched.
A DowNPoUR IN KANSAS.
TOPEKA, KAN, June 25.-About4 O'Clock
this morning the heaviest rainstorm of the
season set in at this place and continued
almost until noon. Reports from along all
tne railroads indicate that the storm
Is general only in the eastern parts
OF the state. Parts of the Santa
re and Kansas Pacific roads are washed
out between here and Lawrence and all
~est-bound trains are laid up at Lawrence
waiting until the track can be fixed. Wash
outs have also occurred at Williamstown on
Union Pacific and on the Santa Fe. The
damage to crops will be great
as the harvest is in full blast in the eastern
and southern portions of Kansas. Wheat
already cut and lying in the field or care>
lessly shocked will be almost entirely
ruined. The fall of water is so heavy that
The ground is thoroughly saturated, and 1t
VIII be an entire day after the sun comes
A1f. At. Al l. Al 4