Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-07-04
DEVASTATED BY FLOODS.
Northwestern Iowa Suffers from
Terrible Cloudburst.
Many villages Wrecked and Grave Fears of
Heavy Loss of Life in tho Flooded
Territory-Bridges Swept Away
and Telegraphic Communi-
cation Destroyed.

CHICAGO, June SO.-At the headQuar-
ters of the Chicago & Northwestern
road reports were received yesterday
morning which show that the damage
to tracks and bridges in northwestern
Iowa is almost beyond estimate. At
Waterman creek the bridge, 1856 feet
long, has been swept away; another
bridge, 1917 feet long, on the Wenaua
section is gone, and at Waterman sta
ton side track a quarter of mile in
length was torn up bodily and carried
half mile. The Cushion and Kingley
bridges went down Wednesday night
and it is believed that all the smaller
bridges between Battle Creek and the
Missouri river have been torn from thor
fastenings and swept away.
Trains are not running either on the
Sioux Falls or Sioux City branches.
The water was still so high yesterday
that nothing could be DONE 1t will
take nearly week to repsir the dam
age.
The Illinois Central is equally as
severely damaged as the Northwestern,
but owing to broken telegraph lines no
messages had been received at the head
quarters of the company. twas known,
however, that the Howe bridge and
trestle just this side of Cherokee juno
ton, 400 feet long, has been swept
away. At Chicokee two branches leave
the main line, one going northwest to
Sioux Falls and the other southwest to
Omaha. Much of the track on both of
these, as well as the main line to Sioux
City, has been carried away.
SIOUX CITY, Ia, June 26.--The follow
ing additional particulars of the flood
at Cherokee have been received. The
wagon bridge over the Sioux south of
the town went out about 10 o'clock
Tuesday night. This was followed by
all the houses on the fat in that part of
town, numbering over 100. The num-
Der of people driven from their homes
was between 1,20O and l, 500. The river
continued to rise until o'clock, at that
time being ten feet higher than was ever
known. Most of the distressed people
found shelter in the G. A. r. and Odd
Fellows halls and arrangements We're
made whereby they may be cared for
until some action is taken. The town
presents a very sorrowful appearance.
The destruction of property alone in
| Cherokee is about $500, 900.
The storm converted the Sioux valley
into "a great lake. The Sioux valley is
one of the most fertile sections in this
part of the country and is thickly set.
tied, numerous towns being scattered
| throughout the length of the valley.
| The damage will run into hundreds ot
of thousands of dollars. AS ide from the
loss sustained through the sweeping
away of houses, barns and cattle there
will be heavy loss to farmers. Great
fields of wheat and corn are totally de.
stroyed. Although the flood came
rather suddenly the people in the valley
were not taken by surprise, as riders
the warning. Had the flood occurred
in the night there would dou btless have
been great loss of life.
The overfowing of the banks of the
Little Sioux and Floyd rivers was the
| primary cause of the flood. This was
supplemented by a cloud burst at LIE.
| Mars, Ia The combination was an ir.
resistible one and it was not long be-
fore people in the valley were fleeing tc
| places of safety, in many instances
| driving their cattle before them.
The tidal wave did not reach Sioux
City until yesterday morning. 1t die
not even then come with rush, but
gradually overflowed the banks o1
Floyd river and extended over to Leeds
manufacturing suburb Several big
| factories were submerged, and the little
town is now under about two feet OF
water On the Onona wa branch of the
Illinois Central, which follows Little
Sioux valley, the track is washed out
in many places and several miles o1
track are under water. Next to the
| Illinois Central the Omaha seems to
have been first to suffer. It's tracks are
washed out at LeMars and as far north
as Sheldon. The Chicago & Northwest
ern reports heavy floods all along its
| Eagle Grove line.
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JAY GOULD'S PERIL.