Morning journal and courier., 1891-06-26
THE IOWA FLOODS.
An Immense sweep of Territory Il
undated-Many Wires Stiu Down,

An Immense sweep OF Territory In
undated-Many Wires Stin Down.
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
previously received suggest From the
damage to its lines actually reported to the
road it appears that the deluge covers at
least portions of the counties of Sioux,
obrien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena
Vista, Woodbury., Ida, Sac, Monona,
Crawford, Carroll, Harrison and Shell
by, covering territory three counties
in width along the western border of the
state and five counties in length, begin
ming within one tier of counties from the
northern boundary of the state and ex-
tending southwark. The telegraph lines
in this territory are greatly demoralized
and it if next to impossible to get accurate
or detailed information touching the gem
eral losses and casualties. This territory
Is dotted with villages and covered with
cultivated farms, and the worst is feared
in the way of damage and possible loss of
life along the water courses which traverse
this great section of the state.
Several of the general officers of the
Northwestern railroad left for the scene
last night and are making strenuous ef-
forts to penetrate into the devastated re-
gion. Their reports to headquarters give
only results of their observations in re-
gard to the damage to the property of the
adjacent communities to be inferred.
Their reports show that the main line of
the road, Northern Iowa division, is de-
moralized from Linn Grove to Alton, q
branch from Neville to Schsller. . dis
lance of forty-fve miles is in the same
condition and that the Onawa branch,
from Onawa to Ida Grove, fifty miles in
length is also badly off.
These make an aggregate of length of
135 miles entirely blocked by the carrying
away of bridges and washing out of road
beds.
All traffic this side of the points named
is being carried by roundabout lines.
On the main line from Linn grove to AL
ton the bridge over Waterman creek with
its trestle thirty feet long has been carried
away, and ten other bridges, five on each
side of Waterman creek, have been render
ed uieless by undermining or partially car
ried away. One bridge 100 feet long near
Paulina is gone, together with two smaller
ones. The track is washed away in many
places.
At Waterman Greek the track and ties
have been carried quarter of mile from
the road bed. 1t has been impossible to
learn much in regard to the condition of
affairs on the Neville branch between Mo-
vile and Schaller. The wires are down
and the waters are still SO high that it is
impossible, as yet, to make personal in
spection of the lines. The officials here,
however, fear the worst The same condi-
tions obtain on the line between Ida Grove
and Onawa. No reports have come in
from that section, which indicates that
great damage has probably been done. 1t
is reported from Galava that the bridge
over Maple river has been badly washed
out.
At the present time it is impossible to
estimate the damage to railroad property
in that territory, but enough is known to
show that it will be very heavy. The Sec
ton of country where the flood was most
severe is traversed by numerous branches,
not only of the Chicago and Northwestern,
but also of the Illinois Central, the Mil
waukee and ST. Paul and the main line of
the Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Omaha roads.
OMAHA, June 25.-Specials from various
parts of Nebraska indicates that last
nights rain amounted to general deluge.
At Wahas it took the form of an electrical
disturbance and for nearly an hour the
heavens were ablaze with lightning.
A house in the northwestern part
of the town, occupied by John
Gunderston and family, was struck
by a bolt of lightning and literal
ly torn to pieces. The family were in bed
and the springs of the bed were melted.
No one was hurt aside from being badly
shaken. At Fremont the rain fell in tor
rents for hours, and the streets were
Elkhorn and Missouri Valley have been
running irregular ON account of washouts
About 700 feet of track was taken out near
West Point, and transfers had to be made
over the breaks.