The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-05-20
DESTRUCTIVE FLOODS.
NEARLY ONE HUNDRED LIVES
LOST.
Over n Million Dollar. w orsh OF Prom
erty swept AWAY

Dotars " orth OF Prop
erty Sweps Away.
BY Telegraph TO the Stale Chronicle.
Sioux CRY, Ia, May l9.-The
flood along the Floyd river brought
death TO thousands. destroying homes
and property. One million dollars
will not cover the loss by the food 10
this city alone. The water in Floyd
river receded rapidly last night. but
today is still outside of its banks, and
considerable portion of the bottom j.
still covered. The scene whicl is dis
closed by the recession Of the flood is
one which beggars description.
Throughout the flooded dis
trict il is one story of
destruction and damage. The food nj
its height extended from Court street
to the Floyd bluffs, and from the
suburb Of Lynn to the Missouri river.
This comprises a district four miles
long and mile and half wide. For
distance Of mile and a half above
the mouth Of the Floyd the bottom is
densely populated. A large portion
OF the inhabitants are poor people who
are employees of packing houses. rail
roads, etc. There is a confused scene
OF desolation. At the height Of the
flood the current struck straight
through the residence streets. Among
those nearest 10 the river scores ofdwell-
ings We're swept from their founda-
tions and carried long distances, and
either SMASHED or turned bottom side
up. It's no uncommon sight to see a
dwelling turned over on its side or
roof. Many two-story buildings were
swept away. The buildings which are
twisted or carried short distances are
innumerable. 1t must be remembered
that over all this area for six or eight
streets from the river, the water was
far above second story windows with a
swift current and the wind blowing
hurricane. Everywhere fences, out
houses, sidewalks, wooden pavements,
railway ties and timbers, are scattered
about among the contorted and over
turned 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. Several thousand peo-
pie closely followed the recediDg flood
to search for their homes and missing
ones. Only few on the outer edge
OF the food will be able to occupy their
homes at present. The streets are an
impossible mire. What houses are
not wrecked and carried away will he
almost uninhabitable. Furniture is
destroyed and many things in the
houses lost. Rescuing parties are hard
at work to-day. One lady named Mrs.
Kelley, aged 67, was found up to her
chin in water at 7:30 this morning.
She had put trunk on a table and
sat on it for twenty-four hours. She
will recover. Boats are plying to day
over the flooded territory, searching
the houses remaining for sick ard dead
people.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa, May l9.-At
the manufacturing suburb of Leeds,
directly in the Floyd valley, nine per-
sons are known TO be drowned. Four
were drowned at Springdale, just be-
low Leeds. Observers on the high
bridge counted fifteen bodies that were
swept under it. One man attempted
to wade out, carrying two children,
but was struck by floating timber
and so hurt that he dropped one.
Matt Roe. an old sailor, saved the
lives of twenty-eight persons. Mrs.
r. + West was swept away and sepa-
rated from her little five-year-old girl,
who was drowned. A woman who
managed to wade to a box car was
there seized with labor pains and gave
birth to child, and two hours later
was rescued. A woman named Hin
ton and three children were drowned
in their own house. Two Swedish
families were swept away and drowned
) before rescuers could reach them. The
gas works and electric light plant are
under water and the city was in dark
ness last night.
According to the latest telegram the
, flood has been even more disastrous in
its results than was at first antici.
pated. The estimates as to the loss
of life vary from sixty to one hundred.
No list can he given of the dead. In
fact, the terrified prople have sought
refuge in 81 many quarters that it is
impossible to figure what their number
on tn. death roll will be.
Earthquake In Cornwall,