The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-19
VAST GLUTOF WATER.
Death and Destruction Along
Missouri and Mississippi.
MANY DROWNED At SIOUX CITY.
Eleven and Perhaps More Overtaken by
Sudden Rise-Indications OF
Cessation of tho Rain.

dents were noted. From above and below
come stories of additions TO the area over
flowed. Two unknown men were drowned
at Alton by the capsizing of a skin to-
day. The Alton waterxorks will soon
have to shut down as will practically all
the manufacturing establishments there.
The town is also cut OFF from railroad con-
meet ion with st. Louis and mails are sent
by boat. The damage in American bot
toms Is almost inconceivable. In Monroe
county alone not less than 81, 600 acres OF
cultivated lands were ruined tor the
season at least, entailing loss OF
not less than q million dollars. Many
residents of the section are still in their
water-surrounded homes, dependent upon
such help as is sent them. Nearly all the
homes are abandoned, however. and
thieves are taking advantage of their
opportunity. In East st. Louis the
water is higher and is still
rising. The break at NameokI is pouring
water into Madison, and washout on the
Glover Leaf track is giving Venice thor
ough washing. Apprehension IS felt tor
some OF the inh abitants more remote from
the villages.
OMAHA. May 1S.-The heavy northwest
gales of last night have apparently driven
the rainclouds away. Railroad traffic
has been resumed except on the Burling-
ton d Missouri line, running south.
Sioux City, Ia, May 1s.-[Omahee Bee
Special. l-Early this morning a great
wave came down Floyd river, which flows
through the center of the city.
The water spread over the banks
to depth of three feet, and
in few moments had risen above the
first doors, and several thousand people
fled in terror to higher grounds, Warm
ing was given but a short time
before tie flood came. and only
a few of those in the low
lands received the intimation. The water
rose four feet in an hour and half, and
continued to rise steadily, but not so
rapidly. Probably 1900 people live in the
lowlands, which were overlooked.
The rise was so rapid that a
number there were unable to escape
and the work of rescue is busily
carried on. A IL o'clock eleven persons
were reported drowned, and there must
be MANY others. The only names obtain
able so far are:
NELLIE WEST.
Mrs. LOUISE BoRNEH and two children.
All the boats from the boat houses on
Sioux river are being used to save life and
property. The stock-yards and packing
houses are situated at the confluence of the
Missouri and Floyd rivers and they were
inundated and about 1000 head of
live stock drowned. Many carcasses are
also floating down the Floyd. The rail-
road yards and switching track district are
under water, and the roundhouses and
railroad property enormously damaged.
The roundhouse of the Chicago, st. Paul
Minneapolis & Omaha is damaged to the
extent of S40,0 900. No trains left Sioux
City today. The Fowle and Boston In
vestment Company's building is sur
rounded by water. The Union depot was
cut off at 8 O'Clock. 1t is estimated
that 1000 people were driven from their
homes. All business is suspended. The
chamber Of commerce organized relief
work this morning, and by noon the la
dies had several soup and lunch
houses open for the sufferers. The
loss is large, but it IS as yet inn
possible to estimate it. The damage will
reach million and half dollars. The.
loss to the Sioux City & Northern is 5000
900. The scenes along the edge of the
water are pitifui The loss of life will be
very large, although it is difficult in the
confusion to learn the names.
At Springfield a woman stood in the sec.
ond story of a house 900 yards off, holding
a baby up over the waters. and
was still there at o'clock tonight.
Two men have already been drowned in
attempts to rescue her. A gale of wind
has added greatly to the misfortune of the
city. The houses are being broken up all
the time, and there is neither gasllght nor
electric light, both plants being under
water.
MoRRILLToN, Ark. May 1s.-The Arkan
sas river is hiuher than ever before known.
and is still rising. Fully 10000 acres of
cotton and corn have been overlooked.
Many houses have been destroyed, and
dozens OF farmers will be bankrepted.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Ia, May 1S.-A cold wave
struck here this afternoon, the thermom-
eter dropping 10 degrees. A gale is blow
ing cold enough to snow.
FoRr DoDGE. Ia, May 1s-Rain last
night caused heavy damage in this vicin-
ity. The damage done here will
reach into the thousands. The Hi
nois Central, Minneapolis g. ST.
Louis and Mason City & Fort
Dodge roads lost heavily by wash-outs
and slides. The water-works are threat
ened, and with the coal mines flooded
famine in the two commodities is feared.
The weather is clearing tonight, but the
river is still on the rise. If it continues
great distress and destruction will follow.
DEs MONIES, Iowa, May lS.-The sitise-
ton here is serious tonight. The Des
Moines and Raccoon rivers are both rising
rapidly and hundreds ofpeopie are moving
out OF the lover districts. Reports from
points above indicate an eight-foot
rise there. With this amount of water
above. the river Is apt to rise another foot
before morning. Ii it does that, or even
less. on-haif the city, including
some business portions on either side,
will be surrounded with watet.
Mud and water are now flowing through
hundreds OF houses, and residents Of the
bottoms are fleeing pauic-stricken. The
damage done to property in this city is
great and in the country districts
all hope Of cultivating bottom lands
this season has been abandoned.
The Des Moines has just broken through
North street. which protected the Cotton
Home addition. Fully 100 residences IN
the addition, which have been built within
the past two years, are now under water.
ALTos, ILL.,, May 1s.-The water has
risen nearly three inches in the past
twenty-four hours, and nearly every mill
and factory along the river has ceased
operations.
All the farmers in the lowlands were res
cued and brought TO the city. The river
is ten miles wide, and the Chicago & Alton
TRACKS near Mitchell will be DESTROYED.