Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-05-19
DEATH IN COMMAND
The Oeluge Does His Will at
Sioux City.
SCORES OF PERSONS SWEPT AWAY.
Loss of Life Will Reach One Hundred,
and $4,000, 900 in Property
Destroyed.

n Wave OF Destruction Rushes Down
Floyd River, Carrying Everything Be-
fore 1.-THE Whole Valley Under Water
with All the Mills and Factories-seven
Hundred Families Driven from Their
Homes and Made Destitute-Pitiable
Scenes Among the Refugees - The
Whole West, Northwest and South In
undated-Many Other Victims of the
Floods.
Sioux CITY, Ia, May ia great flood
disaster has overtaken Sioux City. Yes
terday morning great wave came down
the Floyd river, which flows through the
centre of the city and was already swol-
len bankfull The wave came few min
utes after o'clock. Warning had been
sent short time before to the inhabitants
of the low lands, but only few of them
had been notified. The first intimation
was volume of water spreading over the
banks to depth of three feet and throw
ing mist of foam before it. In few
minutes the water had risen above the
first floors and several thousand people
fled in terror to the higher ground. The
water rose four feet in an hour and a half,
and from 9 o'clock continued to rise
steadily, but not. so rapidly.
Eleven Persons Reported Drowned.
Probable one-third of the inhabitants of
the city live on the low ground which is
overfowed. So rapid was the rise of the
tide that great numbers were unable to
escape, and the work of rescue engaged
every energy of the people. At II o'clock
eleven persons were reported drowned, and
there must be many others. AT 10 o'clock
the fire alarm was sounded to call out
more workers. All the boats from the
boat houses on the Sioux river were
brought in and used to save life and prop
! erty. The Missouri river is very high, and
when the food in Floyd river struck it
| the water damned up and rushed over tn g
adjacent low grounds.
Two Thousand Cattle at a Swoop.
The stock yards and packing houses
were situated at the confluence of the two
rivers and they were instantly inundated.
| About 1900 head Of live stock were
! drowned there Great numbers Of dead
kstock have also been found floating down
| the Floyd river The whole railroad yards
and switching track district is under
water and there has been immense damage
to the round houses and other railroad
property. The round house of the Chi
cago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha is
damaged to the extent of $40 900. That
road, the Illinois Central and the Sioux
City and Northern enter the city by the
| Floyd valley and all are stopped. Not a
train left Sioux City yesterday.
Eight Thousand People Homeless.
1t is estimated that s, 600 people have been
driven from their homes. All business is
suspended. The chamber Of commerce
has organized for relief work. Before
noon the ladies had several soup and
lunch houses opened for the flood suffer.
ers. 1t is impossible yet to estimate the
loss of property, but it will be large. The
following are the names of the drowned
SO far as ascertained: Nellie West, child;
Mrs Louise Hornor, to children. So great
| is the confusion and excitement it is
almost impossible two ascertain anything
definite