Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-05-20
PLUCKY SIOUX CITY.
Does Not Intend to Ask
for Outside Aid.
A SCENE OF DESOLATION.
Great Havoc Wrought by the Mad
Rush Of the Floyd.

Sioux CiTY. Ia, May 20--At the ordi-
nary Stage oi water the Floyd river Is as
insignificant . stream us ever meandered
IN pastoral quietude But swollen by the
continual rains until its well-de1ned
banks were ocliternted.i IL was in poor con-
dition TO carry away the immense flood Of
water which fell from tho cloudburst. A
wave. moving as solid wall of water.
swept down tine narrow valley of tho
stream The Floyd flows through tho
center OF Sioux City. and along it's banks
are the homes OF thousands. To these the
food brought death and demolition Of their
homes. A million dollars will not cover
the loss by food To this city alone.
The water in Floyd river has receded
rapidly, but Is still outside OF its banks
and considerable portion Of the bottom
lands Is still covered, but To ne great
depth for the most part. The scene which
Is disclosed by the recession Of the food
Is one which
Deggars Description.
Throughout the flooded district 1t is one
story Of destruction and damage. rhe
food Mt its height extended from Court
street To- the Floyd bluffs and from the
suburb of Lynn to the Missouri river
This comprises district four miles long
and mile aud half wide. For distance
OF mile and half above the mouth Of
tho Floyd the bottom IL denseiy popu-
lated. "A large portion Of the Inhabitants
are poor people who are employees OF pack
ing houses. railroads, ETC. There are q
great many retail shops throughout this
region. There is a confused scene Of desola-
tion.
At the height OF the food the current
struck straight through the residence
street. Among those nearest the river
scores OF dwellings were swept from their
foundations aud carried long distances
and either smashed or turned bottom side
mp. 1t is NO uncommon sight 70 see .
building turned over on its side or roof
Many two story buildings were swept
away. The buildings which are twisted
or carried short distances aro innumera-
ble II must be remembered that over all
this area for six or eight streets from the
river the water was
Far Aboys second Story Windows
with n SWIFT current and the wind blow
ing u hnrricaue. Everywhere fences, out-
houses, sidewalks, wooden pavements,
railroad ties aud timbers, are scattered
about the contorted and overturned
dwellings. Many of the streets are paved
with cedar blocks, and the water drifted
hundreds OF thousands OF them and car
ried them away.
la some places there are immense masses
of debris piled on top OF houses. Several
thousand people closely followed the re-
ceding food TO search for their homes and
missing ones. Only n few on the outer
edge Of Inc fJoi will be able TO occupy
their homes at present The streets are
impnssable. Duoryards are filled with
mud and driftings. What houses are not
wrecked and carried away will be left un-
inhabitable. Furniture is destroyed and
many things in the houses lost. The rescu-
ing parties are hard at work. One lady
named Mrs. Kecly. aged G7 years, was
found up To her chin In water. She had
put n trunk on q table and sat OH it for
twenty-iour hours. She will recover
Boats are plying over the flooded terri
tory, searching the houses remaining for
Sick and Dead People,
and bringing to shore the valuables Of
their poor occupants. AS the water re-
cedes, the list of deaths will certainly be
increased.
Oscar Anderson, who worked like a
hero, and who witnessed the drowning Of
little child torn away from its .mother
when the rescuing party had almost
reached her, lost his reason aud Is raving
about the beautiful baby that was swept
under the muddy waves.
No trains have left this city yet, except
on the Milwaukee and Dakota line. The
water in the street has fallen six feet, and
IL IL hoped large part Of the flooded dis
trict may be ont Of the water today. The
Missouri river fortunately has not kon Q
over Its banks.
The Missouri flows eastward past this
point, and the Floyd, which has done all
the damage, flows due south. In the Floyd
bottoms are the packing houses and most
of the manufacturing plants of the city,
aHd the little homes that naturally cluster
about the workshops. About 400 head Of
cattle and 60 head of hogs were drowned
at the stockyards.
A public meeting was held at the court
house. which was attended by all the
wealthy men of the city. Committees Of
workers were appointed for oil features of
relief and sufficient money subscribed to
meet immediate necessities.
Sleeping places were found for every
refugee The ladies q the city met in
one OF the principal halls. and at once
filed 1t with tables and began serving
meals. Several thou sand were thus
served. and after their meals, those insult
fciently clothed were taken to another
hall, where clothing was forthcoming and
fitted out. So 10 may be said that In spite
Of the overwhelming floods which riddled
the workingmen's quarters of Sioux City,
all were fed and clothed and housed. IL
is not the intention to ask for any outside
aid