The morning call., 1892-05-19
SIOUX CITY SUBMERGED.
The Rapid Rising Of the Waters Inun-
date the Town.
FLIGHT OF THE PEOPLE 10 HIGH GROUND
Thirty Of the Inhabitants Have Been Drowned.
Great Damages in Iowa, Missouri
and Illinois.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

OMAHA, May 1S-A Bee special from
Sioux City, Iowa says: Early this morning
a great wave came down the Floyd River,
which flows through the center of this city.
The water spread over the banks to depth
Of three feet and in few moments had
risen above the first floors OF the
dwellings and stores, and several thou
saId people fled IN terror to higher
grounds The warning was given but
short time before the flood came, and only
few of those in the low lands had received
an intimation of the danger The water
rose four feet In an hour and q balf and
continued to rise steadily. butnot so rapidly.
Probably 1000 people live on the low land
which is overflowed.
The rise was so rapid that number were
unable to escape and the work Of rescue
was ousily carried on. AT IL O'Clock thirty
persons were reported drowned. and there
must be many others. The only names
Obtainable so for are Nellie West, Mrs.
Louise BoIner and two children All the
boats from the lighthouses on the Sioux
River were used to save life and
property. The stOckyards and packing
houses were situated at the confluence
Of the Missouri and Floyd rivers and they
were inundated About 1000 head of live
stock was drowned. and many carcasses
were seen floating down the FLOYD River.
The railroad yards and the switching
track district IS under water, The round
houses and railroad property has been enOr-
mously damaged. The roundhOuse of the
Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha
road is damaged to the extent of $40, goo.
No trains left Sioux City to-day.
Hotel Fowle and the Boston Investment
Company's building are surrounded by
water The Union depot was cnt off at
o'clock 1t is estimated that 5000 people
were driven from their homes. All busi-
ness is suspended.
The Chamber of Commerce organized re-
lief work this morning, and by noon the
ladies had several SOUP and lunch houses
open for the flood sufferers. The loss Is
heavy, but as yet it is impossible to eSti-
mate il.
A later dispatch TO the Bee says: The
damage will reach $780, 900. The lnSs to
the Sioux City and Northern road is 100000.
The scenes along the edge Of the waters are
pitiful in the extreme, The loss Of
it is difficult in the confusion to
learn names. At Springdale a woman
stood in the second-story of a house 900
yards out holding baby up over the waters
and was still there at 9 o'clock tonight
Two men have been already drowned in at
tempting to rescue her. The gale of wind
added greatly TO the misfOrtuneS of this
city, the houses being broken up all tile
time. and there is neither gas nor electric
light. both plants being under water.
A partial list of the persons known to be
drown ed is as follows: Frank Henderson,
wife and child two boatmen, names un-
known; A. p. McClearat. an unknown
Scandinavian, Mrs. Peter Rasmussen and
two children. two unknown men near Fair
mount Bridge and an unknown man at
Sioux City and Northen Yards
DEs MONIES, Iowa, May 16.-The situa-
fi0N hare Sarl0us fO.n niUht The DaS
Mones and Raccoon rivers are both rising
rapidly. and hundreds of people are moving
out of the lower districts. Reports from
poipts above indicate an eight-foot rise there.
With this amount of water above the river
is apt to rise another foot before morning,
If it does that, or even less, one half of this
city, including some Of the business portions
on either side will be surrounded with
water. Mud and water are now flowing
through hundreds of houses and residents of
the bottom lands are fleeing panic-stricken.
The damage done to property in this city is
great, and in the country districts all hope
OF cultivating the bottom lands this season
has been abandoned. The Des Moines
River has just broken through North street,
which has protected the Cotton Home Addi-
tion. Fully 100 residences in the addition
which were built within the past two years
are now under water.
FORT DODGE. Iowa, May 18.-The rain
last night caused heavy damage here. Word
has just been received frcm Sioux City re.
porting the loss of 63 lives by the bursting
OF reservoir there. The dispatch also said
the damage to property In the Floyd and
Little Sioux Valleys Is immense, besides
the prospect of the loss OF great life. The
damage done here will reach into the thou
sands. The Illinois Central, Minneapolis
and ST. Louis and Mason City and Fort
Dodge roads have lost heavily by wash
outs and slides. The water works
are threatened and with the coal
mines flooded a famine IN the two
commodities is feared. The weather
is clearing tonight, but the riter Is still on
the rise. Ii II continues great distress aud
destruction will fOllnw.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, May 18.-A cold
wave struck here this afternoon, the ther-
mometer dropping 40 degrees. A gale is
blowing and it is cold enough for snow.
ALTON. H., May 18.-The water has risen
nearly three inches in the last q hours, and
nearly every mill and factory along the
river has ceased operations. All the farm
ers in the lOwlands have been res
cued and brought to the city. The
river is 10 miles wide, and the Chicago
and Alton track near Mitchell will be de-
stroyed. All the cars have been ordered
TO be removed from the glass works, as 1t
was feared they would be washed away.
MARsHALLTowN. Iowa, May 1S-A
veritable tempest has prevailed throughout
central Iowa for several hours from the
northwest. Trees and outbuiIdings have
been blown down all over the country and
much damage wrought. 1t is still raining.
OMAHA, May 1S.-The heavy northwest
gales last night have apparently driven the
rain clouds away. Railroad traffic has been
resumed. except on the Burlington and Mis-
souri, line running south.