Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-05-26
a TERRIBLE AFTERMATH.

What the Reccding DeIuge at SiGEN City
Observation-Disclosures of Homes Wrecked
and Ruined and State of Chaos tn
What Before Pretty City-TIe
Loss of Human Life Simply Appalling.
Sioux CITY, Ia, May 20.-At the or
binary stage of water the Floyd river
isl as insignificant Il stream as ever
meandered in pastoral insignifcanc..
But swollen by the continual rains ull-
til it's never well-defined banks were
obliterated. it was III poor condition TO
carry away the immense food of w.
:ar which fell in the cloudburst. \
wave moving as solid wall of water
swept down the narrow valley of the
stream. The Floyd flows through the
center of Sioux City, and along it's
banks are the homes of thousands.
To these the flood brought death and
demolition Of their homes.
One million dollars will not cover the
loss by flood to this city alone. The
water in Floyd river receded rapidly
last night, but this morning is still out
side of its banks and considerable
portion of the bottom is still covered,
but to no great depth for the most part.
The scene which is disclosed by the re-
cession of the flood is one which beg
gers description. Throughout the
flooded district it is one story of de-
struction and damage. The flood at
it's height extended from Court
street to the Floyd bluffs, and
from the suburb of Lynn to the Mis-
souri, river. This comprises q district
four miles long and mile and 2 half
wide. For distance of a mile and a
half above the mouth of the Floyd river
the bottom is densely populated. a
large portion of the inhabitants are
poor people who are employees of pack
lighthouses. railroads. etc. There are a
great many retail shops throughout
this region, and there is a confused
scene of desolation. At the height Of
the flood the current struck straight
through the residence streets. y mOng
those nearest to the river scores
of dwellings We're swept from their
fountla tons and carried long distances,
ard either smashed or turned bottom
bottom side up. 1t is no uncommon
sight to see a dwelling turned over on
its side or roof. Many two-story build
ings were swept away. The bcil.i!n:rs
which are twisted or carried shor: dis
tances are innumera BILE. 1t must be re-
IlSIl li!s!t O'tl an tlIIo "a ici S--N
or eight streets from the river the
water was far abnEe the second story
windows with swift current and the
wind blowing a hurricane. Every
where fences outhouses. sidewalks,
wooden pavements railroad ties and
timbers and lumber yards debris is scat
tered about amCng the contorted and
overturned dwellings. Many of the
streets are paved with cedar blocks. and
the water lifted hundreds of thousands
of them and carried them away. In
some places there are immense masses
of debris piled on top of houses. Sew
eral thousand people closely followed
the receding flood to search for their
homes and missing ones. They had to
fee rapidly.
The number drowned cannot be very
accurately estimated. 1t is now placed
at about fifty, and those who have
been working in the district say that
any variation will increase this num-
ber Not over dozen have been re-
covered, and it will be days before the
correct nurnber can be given.
At the m outh of the Floyd the stream
is very mar -ow and on this account the
debris on its way to the Missouri at the
mouth below the stock yards is a mass
of debris in which are the remains Of
the hog and cattle peEs from the stock
yards many of the outbuildings from
tt. packin : houses. piazzas of houses
that have gone to pieces a nd some
small houses not yet broken up piles of
timber and lumber. several hundred
heads of hogs and cattle were drowned
trees, pieces of cars. ties and finally a
noInber of human corpses that have not
get been found, but are known to be IN
the mass. there being about 100 not yet
accounted for.
The ladies' Of the city. by instine-
lively correct action. met before noon
in one of the principal halls of the city
and at once filed it with tables and be-
gan serving meals. Several thousand
were thus served. and after their meals
those sufficiently fed were taken to an
other hall. where clothing was forth |
coming. and fitted out. So it may be |
said, that in spite of the overwhelming |
floods which riddled the workingmen's |
quarters of Sioux City yesterday. all |
were fed and clothed and housed last |
night. It is not the intention to ask for |
any outside aid. Sleeping places wcre |
found for every refugee last night, no
door being closed TO them.