Passaic City record., 1892-05-21
DISASTER AT SIOUX CITY.
A Wave From the River Rushes
Through the Town.
Many Drowned and 5000 People
Made Homeless.

AT least eleven people drowned, thousands
left homeless and hundreds of thousands OF
dollars damage to property were the results
of sudden and unexpected rise in the Floyd
River at Sioux City, Iowa.
A great wave came down the river which
flows through the centre of the city. 1t
already swollen bank full.
Warming had been given but a short time
before the wave came to the inhabitants OF
she low lands The first intimation most OF
shem had however, was volume OF water
spreading over the banks to depth OF three
feet and throwing a mist of foam from it.
In a few minutes the water had risen above
the first floor, and inside OF an hour and
half had risen four feet. 1t then continued
to rise steadily, but not SO rapidly.
Probably ten thousand inhabitants OIL the
.itv live in the low ground which was over
lowed. So rapid was the rise of the tide
that great numbers were unable to escape,
and the work of rescue engaged the energy
Of the people.
At twelve o'clock eleven persons were re-
.,,orted drowned The only names obtained
were Nellie West, child, and Mrs. Louise
Horner and her two children.
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 were used to save life and property.
The Missouri River is very high, and when
the flood in the Floyd River struck it the
water damned up and rushed over the ada
cent low grounds. The stock yards and
hacking houses were situated at the confiu-
ence of the two rivers and they were quickly
inundated About two thousand head of
live stock were drowned.
The whole railroad yards and switching
track district was under water, and there
has been immense damage to the round
houses and railroad property. The round
houses of the Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis
and Omaha were damaged to the extent of
$4,000. That road, the Illinois Central and
Sioux City and Northern enter the city by
the Flovd Valley, and all were compelled to
stop. Not train left Sioux City that day.
The water reached to Jennings street on
Fourth street at one O'clock. The Hotel
Fowle and the Boston Investment Company's
building were surrounded with water. The
Union Depot was cut off at nine o'clock.
1t was estimated that eight thousand
geople were driven from their homes. All
business was suspended. The Chamber of
Commerce organized for relief work. Be-
fore noon the ladies had several soup and
lunch houses opened for the flood sufferers.
At Spencer, Iowa, a fearful wind and
rain storm from the northwest ragged. Such
fall of water in a similar length OF time
has never been known there. The Sioux
River rose two feet. Three to four hundred
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