The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-06-26
AN IOWA DELUGE
Which Forced People to Flee to
the High Lands.
FRoM 1900 TO 1900 HOMELESS

Great Destruction of Cattle and
Growing Crops by the Raging
Torrcnts-Bridgcs Washed Away
and Railroad Tracks Submerged.
People Lodging in Public Halls.
SIOUX CITY, lathe great storm of
Tuesday night converted the Sioux val
ley into a great lake. The valley is
one of the most fertile sections of this
part of the country, and is thickly set
tied, numerous towns being scattered
through its length. The damage done
will run into hundreds of thousands of
tiollars.. Aside from the loss sustained
through the sweeping away of houses,
barns and cattle, there will be heavy
losses to farmers by the total destruc-
tion of great fields of wheat and corn.
Although the fool came rather sud
denly the people in the valley were not
taken by surprise, as riders were imine-
diately dispatched to carry the warning.
Had the flood occurred in the night
there would doubtless have been great
loss of life.
Fleeing from the Valleys. -..
The oyerhowing Of the banks of the
Little Sioux and Floyd rivers was the
primary cause OF the flood. This was
supplemented by cloudburst at Le-
mars. The combination was an ire
sistible one, and it was not long before
people in the valley were fleeing to
places OF safety, i'll many instances driv-
ing their cattle before them. The tidal
wave did not reach Sioux City until yes
terday. 1t did not como with rush
but gradually over1lowed tho banks of
the Floyd river and extended over to
Leeds, manufacturing suburb. Sew
eral big factories were su Emerged, and
the little town is now under about two
feet of water.
Railroad Tracks Submerged.
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 Illinois
Central, tko Omaha seems to have been
first TO sucGumb. Its tracks are washed
out at Lcmar5 ana as far north as
Sheldon. The Chicago and Northwest
orn reports heavy floods all along its
Eagle Grove line, and numerous wash
outs i'll the vicinity OF Sutherland and
Parlina station. The Illinois Central
will not be able to get train out of
here until Saturday night The other
roads may begin running trains tonight.
Over Thousand Homeless.
Tho journal is receiving reports from
all quarters of unprecedented high
water in the streams. injury to railroad
property, loss of bridges and destruction
OF crops along tho river. The Floyd
river is out OF its banks, and people have
been compelled to make hasty depart
ure to higher ground. The waters are
recedlng and the worst is now over,
The following additional particulars Of
the flood at CheTsee has been received:
The wagon bridge ever tho Sioux south
OF this town went out about 10 o'clock
Tuesday night This was followed by
all the houses ON the fiat in that part of
the town, numbering over ono hundred.
The number Of people driven from their
homes was between 200 and 1900.
The river continued to rise until 3o'clock
next morning. at that time being ten
feet higher than was ever known. Every
bridge across the Sioux river, both
wagon and railroad, is gone between
here and Ona~a, and probably every
bridge in Cherokee county on the Sioux
river.
Sheltered in Lodge Halls.
Last night most Of the distressed peo-
pie found SHELTER in the halls of the
Grand Army Of the Republic and Odd
Fellows, and arrangements were made
whereby they might be cared for until
some action is taken. Tho town pre-
sents a very sorrowful appearance.
Those houses that remain ON the fiat
are almost buried in mud. People have
already begun TO clean up tho rubbish.
The destruction of property alone in
Cherokee is about $500, 900. Besides, al
most all Of the stock pastured along the
Sioux were carried away by the flood,
only a few animals being saved as they
came down the river.