The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-26

. WATERLOO, Iowa, Juno 25- [Spcciall-
The terrible wind and rain storm which
began Tuesday night appears to have
swept in a vast circle through North
western Iowa with Cherokee as tho
center. Seventy-fvo houses in that
place have been carried away by the
torrent, and how many lives have been
lost is yet matter Of uncertainty
Most of the destruction in Cherokee was
wrought by the extraordinary rise in
the Sioux river, resulting from tho
tremendous downpour Of water.
The big truss bridge on which the
Illinois Central crossed the river has
also been carried away. Last night tho
Little Sioux was at the highest stage
ever known. The best information is
that the Illinois Central is under water
continuously for many miles on the
Onawa branch and that the damage to
road and bridges is enormous. Traffic
will be delayed for many days.
Other railroads besides the Illinois
Central can scarcely have escaped great
damage, particularly tho Chicago and
Northwestern and the Chicago, Mil
waukee and St. Paul. AS near as can
be learned, the storm not only affects
huge stretch of country in Iowa, but
large portions also of Minnesota and
Nebraska. Reports from Sioux City say
the storm has almost devastated that
portion of Iowa. No trains arc running
East. The Floyd river valley is inun-
dated for thirtyiive miles north of the
city. The towns of Merrill, linton and
James arc completely submerged.
Acres OF crops arc under water.
special from Fairmount, Mimi,
says tho low lands are flooded and the
damage TO crops is probably heavier.
ALTA. Ia, June 25.-[ Special &c. X.
Dixon, superintendent of the Illinois
Central railroad. who possesses the best
facilities for obtaining the exact facts
regarding the reported destruction Of
property and loss of life in Northwest
ern Iowa, said late last night:
"a serious rain storm set in at Chero-
kee and points north, south and west
about o'clock tho evening of the 23rd
and continued all night, the rain COM
ing down in sheets At 3 this morning
the fire alarm sounded. calling every ono
out and parties formed to rescue those
living in the flats near the Sioux river. At
S a. m, l had not heard of any loss Of
life; at $3.50 l crossed our bridge to the
east side of the river and shortly after
wards the bridge went out carrying all
wires.
"ltagain commenced raining very hard
and during the day at lcastsevcn houses
in Cherokee went down the river | am
yet unable to learn anything from the
town, as all the bridges are gone and it
is impossible to cross in boats. The
road is repaired to the east bank Of the
little SuoiX river opposite Cherokee
On account Of the failure of the wires |
am unable to learn the extent of the
damaged that the company suffered
There is some amount of damage to
bridges, but VIC hope to get repairs
made very SOON" a4
OMAHA, Neb., June 25.-[ Special l.
The storm yesterday afternoon and last
night was general throughout Nebraska
and Iowa. The Ellehorn road is covered
with water at several points, and no
trains have arrived since yesterday
noon. At West Point, Neb., the water
covers the tracks three feet; ut Lcmars,
Iowa, the joint track used by the Iii
nois Central and ST. Paul railroad is
covered and no trains can pass. Small
washouts are reported on the Burling-
ton and the Union Pacific, and all trains
are late. A special from York, Neb
says by the washout Of small culvert,
| two miles east of hero. freight train
| of twenty-threc cars was thrown down
the bank. AT this time brakeman has
been taken out with broken leg, and
the engineer and fireman are still under
| the wreck.
SIOUX CITY, June 25.-ISpccial The
storm of yesterday afternoon converted
no vol irt LII.
| valley is one of the most fertile sections
of this part Of the country and is thickly
settled, numerous towns being scattered
throughout its length. Tho damage
done will run into hundreds of thous-
! ands of dollars. Aside frem the loss
sustained through the sweeping away
! of houses, barns and cattle, there will
be heavy loss to farmers by the total
destruction of wheat and corn.
Although the flood came up suddenly
the people in tho valley were not taken
| by surprise, as riders were Immediately
dispa tched to carry the warning. Had
the flood occurred in tho night there
would have been great loss of life. The
Overlooking of the bank Of tho Little
Sioux and flood rivers was the primary
cause OF the flood. This was supple
mcnted by cloud burst at Lemars,
Iowa, and it was not long before people
in the valley were fleeing to places OF
safety, in many instances driving their
cattle before them.
The tidal wave did not reach Sioux
lTity until this morning and it did not
cEme with rush, but gradually over.
flowed the banks OF Floyd river and cx
tended out to Leeds, a manufacturing
suburb. Several big factories were sub
merged and tho little town is now under
about two feet of water. On the Ononaw