New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-08
THE WESTERN FLOODS.
DAMS AND DIKEs WASHED AWAY.
REsCUING IMPERLIED PEOPLE AT MIDNIGHT
INCALCULABLE DAMAGE DONE-RAIL

INCALCULABLE DAMAGE DONE-RAILr
ROAD TRAFFIC SUSPENDED.
Peoria. ILL.,. May IA disastrous food was caused
here by the giving way last night OF the great mis"
dixie fifteen miles long. and protecting strip OF
bottom land about two miles wide. The first break
at point opposite Pekin. The crevasse was
about 600 feet wide and increased rapidly as inc
IllonOs River had reached stage not exceeded since
1914. Twenty families living In the bottom pos
sessed considerable amount OF live stock' WHO"
with houses and farm implements. have been Iost
In tho angry ,xoters There were fears that the
people had persisted also, and as soon as te news VI
the break In the dixie was received mere rescm's
parties organized. and, at the FISK OIL losing '"en
own lives several persons made tour OF the oisr''
In boats. At midnight the entire district III" peo"
gone over and six families had been rescued. lhey
were scsntily clad and were taken to PeKin ana
temporarily cared for. The other famihes "ero
rescued later on Household goods OF every KIM were
AoatIne about the river and the inundated district
There was a large amount OF live stock OF all de-
scnpuons in the district, and the loss from this source
will be very great 1T took two years to construct the
dixie which was fifteen miles long, and it is giving
away In other places II feared that IL VIII nearly
all CO. the current is swift. 1t Is Impossible YET
TO form any estimate Of the loss. but Is appalling
Rock Island, ILL., May Rock Island has not seen
passenger freight train from the East on the ROCK
Island road since Wednesday night and the mails
from the East have been few since that time This
Is all on account OF the washouis between here ana
Bureau. Trains are scattered all along the track
between here and the flooded portions. 1t Is the
longest period OF suspension OF traffic in the history
Of the road.
Morris, Ill., May THE rain has been falling with
such persteny here for the last four days that great
damage has been done to the crops The Illinois River
has risen to a height which his compelled the people
of the lower part of the town to move out
Warsaw. ILL.,, May 7.--AeXandr.a Mo-. located just
opposte here has been flooded by the breaking OF
the Egyptian levec which skirts the Des Moncs
River. The rain caused a heavy rise in that turbu-
lent stream. and despite all efforts to save it, the
waters broke over rushed the fields of wheat
and meadows, doing incalculable damage. Reaching
Alexandria, the place soon flooded and people
were driven from their homes
Goshen Ind May THE Ekhart River is higher
than before known and is SIN rising. 1t is now
bali way up tho temporary entertainments which had
been placed the approaches to the dam, and grave
fears entertained ms to the latters safety. The
Cincinnati, Wabash ami Michigan bridge was moved
by the water. and the Michigan branch OF the Lake
shore is in such condition that trains will be run
for three or four days. Many factories have their
lower floors flooded. All the factories shut down
account Of high water throwing large number Of
men out of employment At Hammond the late rains
have swollen the Grand Calumet River 10 such
extent that the flats completely inundated. The
flaming country In the neighborhOod Of the Little
Calumet River is also under water.
Flint Mich, Nav This part of the state has been
visited By heavy rains lately. Last nights fall was
so great tha Flint River is flooded and serious damage
is looked for. The Flint smith Lumber Company's
boom gave way and about 100000 feet Of pine logs
went rushing down stream. The loss vii, be heavy
Fairfield. Mlch, May 7.-TIe amount Of rain which
has fSllen since May has exceeded by far anything
in The way of deIuge down here for years. cat
fields on low lands under water and potato fields
are flooded. If wet weather continues much longer
all kinds OF seed VIII rot. Bridges and sluices are
being carried away all about here.
South Bend. Ind. May THE st. Joseph River has
reached dangerous height and is doing great dam
age. Factories dependent upon water power arc all
idle, OF them being three feet under water. The
west apron OF the dam here las been swep: away and
as il ioated down the river II nearly wrecked the
Watei-st. bridge.