New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-19
SWEPT BY A FLOOD WAVE.
A DOZEN OR MORE PEOPLE DROWNED IN
SIOUX CITY, IOWA.
NGHT THOUSAND PEOPLE DRIVEN FROM THliR
HOMES BY THE SUDDEN RUSH OF THE
wATERs-THE SITUATION IN THE
FLOODED DISTRICTS GROW
ING WORSE

wATERs-THE SITUATION IN THE
FLOODED DISTRICTS GROW
ING WORSE.
Omaha, Neb., MAY ia dispatch to "Thc Bee'
from Sioux City, Iowa, a great flood disaster
has overtaken this city. This morning great wave
down the Floyd River, which flows through the
centre Of the city and which was already swollen
bankfull. The wave came few minutes after
O'Clock Warning had been sent out a short time
before 10 the inhabitants OF the owlands but only
few Of them had been informed The first lnmatlon
they got Of the danger volume of water spread
ing the banks to depth OF three feet ana
throwing a mist of foam from It, In few minutes the
water had risen above the first floors and several
thousand people fed in terror to higher ground AT
least eleven people are drowned The water rose four
feet in ono hour and a half, and from O'Clock con
tinued to rise steadily. but not so rapidly PROB.
ably 10000 inhabitants OF the city live on the low
ground which is overiowed. SO rapid was the rlsc
Of the water that great numbers we're unable 10
escape and the work Of rescue engaged the energy
Of the people At I2 O'Clock eleven persons were
reported drowned and there must be many others.
The only names obtained so far arc those OF Nellie
Wes and child, and Mrs. Louise IIorner and two
children.
AT O'Clock the fire alarm was sounded to call
out more workers All the boats from the lighthouses
on the sioux River had been brought in and were
being used to save life ard property. The Missouri
River is very high and when the Hood in the Floyd
River struck 1t the water damned up an brushed over
th, adjacent low grounds The stock yards and pack
ing houses are situated the confluence OF the two
rivers and they were instantly inundated. About
1000 head Of live stock were drowned. Numbers Of
dead animals have also been floating down the Floyd
pivcr The railroad yards and switching tracks are
All under water and there has been immense damage
to the roundhouses and RAILROAD property The round
I.tff al
omaha are damaged to the extent Of 10000. That
road the Illinois Central and Sioux city and Northern
enter the city by the Floyd Valley and all stopped
Not a train left sioux city to-day. At p. IN. tho
wafer had reached to Jcnnngsst. on Fourth-st The
Hotel rowlc and the Boston Investment Company's
buildlng were surrounded with water. The Union
Depot was cut on AT o o'clock.
1T Is estimated that 5000 people have been driven
from their homes All business is suspended The
Chamber Of Commerce organized TINS morning ior
relief work. Before noon the women had several
oup and lunch houses opened for the food sufferers
II Is impossible yet 10 estimate the loss OF property
hut n will be large There Is only one telegraph wire
working on, Of the city and that runs to OMAHA
This make, IL impossible adequately to tell TIE story
of the food
Fort Dodge. Iowa. MAY rs-The food gates OF
heaven opened wide again last night ard immense
damage ha, been done. The Dcs Moines River here
rose fully eight feet and Is now rising two Inches
AN hour The Little sioux Valley Is under water ana
II il feared the loss Of life will be heavy. Trains on
all railroad, ara hours late abandoned and the
Illinois Central and Minneapolis and 81 Louis lose
heavily by slides and the washing away of bridges
and cmbankmcntS
Ot,umwa Iowa. May l9.-The water In tho Des
Moncs River reached the highest point todny since
tho great floods Of ISL The electric light plant
here shut down this left che city In darkness to-
night Trains badly delayed by the heavy rains
a-t night.
spencer. Iowa MAY Is.--A fearful wind and rain
torn from the northwest Is raging here such fall
~ water In a similar length Of time has never been
known The sioux River has risen two feet and con
Hn,e, 70 r,c. From 300 - 400 feet II the Chicago
Milwaukee and -. Paul track washed ont.
Beatrice Ncb. May ia heavy rain has dclugei
M city and has driven fnlly forty families from their
l,mc- Blue River l. higher than It has been since
l--3 and much damage ha, resulted I, manufacturing
concerns. Relief parties working under the
direction ~ the Mayor aud Fire Department. 1t
rincd last night and again early INF, morning. and
more damage +, expected 10 result Fully 10000
worth of property ha, been swept away DESTROYED
Cone. Iowa. MAY IA cone shaped cloud passed
half q mile east of here last evening. When first
noticed II was abogt two miles south on the Cedar
River bottom sucking mp the water Of the creek with
q terrific roaring sound II passed mp the bottom over
the bun. tearing down outbudlngs and unroohng
lain, and houses among them being those Of Ri,don
Upton ana /. ". Cecil. Charles Gay WAS picked up
and carried twenty yards and seriously hurt
Harrington. Nob.. MAY ia cloudbur,t in this sec
ton last night did great damage. According 70 OBJ
server Waton's rain gauge, over three inches Of water
fell in l~ss than thirty minutes. Many bridges along
the country roads were swept away. Easements and
cellars were filed from three 10 five feet The lower
uort OF the town was flooded 10 such extent that
houses were floating. and the families were compelled
to come uptown.
Dcs Molnes. Iowa. May 1s.--Afcr If the heaviest
minfals Of the season. the wind is now blowing gale
from the northwest. II Is turning colder. and the
cloud, have all the appearance of coming snowstorm
The rivers here have all been rising today
Hundreds Of cattle have perl,hed the recent cold
rain, in Northern Nebraska or the Niobmra ranges
For several days the Indian, from the reservation have
been busy SHINING the dead animals in Holt and Knox
Counties Not less than 1000 persisted in these
counties,
st. Louis. May ls.-Instcad OF Improving the local
Hood situation grow- more serious with each hour.
The water Is SIN rising with immediate prospect
Of fall Rains the last fory-cght hours with more
threatened will keep the river from falling aud add
every hour It, height. Conservative estimates now
plaoe the area urdcr water In the section Immediately
surrounding 81. Louis both side, OF the river at
100 square miles Of fertile lands the depth being two
TO twenty Fully 1.3Oo famIlic, iu this
have left their home, with little prospect Of early
toiuri The main suffering Is in the American Bottom
nnd on Missouri Point. ~ an instance of the suffer
Ing the former locality. there are nearly 300 people
gathered ON the bluffs for whom -. Clair Comfy.
H.. has been asked to supply food and shelter Mis-
sonn Point. the land lying like a triangle between
the Missouri and Mi s-ipp triangle Of land twenty
-eyal miles the rivers sides 10y twelve at the
base. is covered with water and every living soul
driven To higher land. IioschcrtOwn. three miles
north Of ST. Charles Is nll under water. Ten miles
above strip OF land under condemnation proceedings
for the benefit Of the Missouri. Kansas and Texas
entrance ST. Louis has been washed away. Whaling
the proceedings In 1T. Louis County, west Of this
city, an immense amount Of damage has been done To
the farming land 10y hackwater from the rivers ana
crops are ruined hundreds of acres. Along the
river front Of thc city there Is little change ON the
east side aid will be rendered to 800 sufferers by the
state OF Missouri Governor Francis having ordered
tents sent to them from jefferson city Farther up
the river on that side the flood Is Increasing in East