Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-26
The IOWA DELUGE.
Widespread Destruction by
the Freshets.
Fifteen Counties Covered by the
ClOudbursts.
The Valleys Practically Swept Bare
of Crops and Buildings.
A Number OF Lives Lost in the Angry
Waters-The Railroads Washed Out
for Miies-Telegraph Lines
Demoralized.
Associated Press Dispatches.

CHICAGO, June 25.-Advices received
at headquarters OF the Chicago and
Northwestern railroad, this city, this
morning, indicate that the destruction
by the cloudburst in Northwestern Iowa
yesterday was more widespread than
the dispatches thus far received sug-
gest. From the damage to its lines act
ually reported, it appears that the del
uge covered territory three counties in
width along the western border of the
state, and five counties in length, begin
ming within one tier OF counties fro M
the northern boundary of the state and
extending southwest.
The telegraph lines in this territory
are greatly demoralized, and it is next
to impossible to get accurate or detailed
information touching the general losses
and casualties. This territory is dot
ted with villages and covered with cul-
tivated farms and the worst is feared in
the way of damage and possible loss of
life in this great section of the state.
Several general officers of the North
western road left for the scene last night
and are making strenuous efforts to PEN
citrate into the devastated region. Their
reports give only their observations in
regard to the damage done to property
OF the company, leaving that of the adj
jacent communities to be inferred.
Their reports show that the lines OF this
road, some 135 miles in length, are en-
tirely blockaded by the carrying away
OF bridges and washing out of roadbeds.
At the present time it is impossible to
estimate the damage to railroad prop
erty in the devastated territory, but
enough is known to show that the dam
age will be very heavy. The section of
country where the flood was most severe
is traversed by numerous branches not
only of the Northwestern, but also of
the Illinois Central, Milwaukee and St.
Paul and the main line of the Chicago
and st. Paul and the Minneapolis and
Omaha roads. No reports of damage
the Illinois Central. whose lines from
washed out track and bridges.
The st. Paul road suffered severe wash
outs on its Sioux City and Dakota
divisions. Traffic only was DELAYED.
however, on the first division. The tel
egraph wires are down and the amount
of damage done is not known.
Sioux CRY, Ia, June 25.-Additional
particulars OF the flood at Cherokee in
dicate that the worst is now over. 1t is
stated that a hundred houses were
washed away, rendering from 120 to
150 families homeless. Reports are
coming from all quarters OF unprece-
dentedly high water in the streams,
injury to railroad property, loss OF
bridges and destruction of crops along
the rivers. The waters are receding
this morning. The destruction to prop
erty at Cherokee alone is about 5000 900;
besides almost all the stock pastuled
along the Sioux was drowned. No
further loss of life is reported at Chero-
kee, besides the four whose drowning
has already been noted. 1t is now
known that possibly eight persons lost
their lives about Correctionville.
WATERLOO, June %. Cherokee is
shut in by vast expanse of water and
il is feared there will be added to the
already suffering of the citizens the
pangs of hunger, as all the surplus stock
of provisions was destroyed by the food.
There is no prospect of reaching the
people from any direction till the water
subsidies.
FoRr DODGE, Ia, June 25.-Reports
say in the sixty miles traversed by the
storm hundreds of acres of crops were
devastated and the destruction of other
property was enormous. Seventy-five
houses were destroyed at Cherokee and
forty at Sutherland, besides large
number unroofed.
Sioux CRY, Ia, June 25.-The flood in
the Floyd river. which came past Lemars
and Merrill yesterday, did great damage
in the country. 1t reached here early
this morning and the river rose about
twelve feet. One hundred and fifty
houses in the valley are partially sub
merged, and the inhabitants have moved
to the hills. The large stove works,
shoe factory, -four mill and foundry
in the suburbs of town are closed. There
were no losses of life here Men in from
Neville, eighteen miles east, report near
ly the whole town swept away, only one
house being left untouched.