Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-06-03
SIOUX CITY STRICKEN.
SUDDEN RISE IN THE FLOYD
RIVER FLOODS THIRD
OF THE TOWN.
.nany People Caught I'm the Torrent
Eleven Lives Known 10 Have Been
Lost and Other Fatalities Feared.

Sioux Cry, Ia, May IS. Especial
Telegram to The Omha Bee. At the
ordinary stage OF water the Floyd riv-
er ia as Insignificant a stream as ever
meandered in pastoral insgnilicance.
But swollen by the continual rains
until its never well defined banks were
obliterated. IL was in poor condition
TO carry away the immense flood OF
water which fell in the cloud burst OF
last night A wave, moving as u solid
wall OF water, swept down the narrow
valley OF the stream last night reach
ing this city early this morning. The
Floyd flows through the center OF Sioux
City and along its banks are the homes
OF thousands. 10 these the flood
brought death and the demolition OF
their homes.
The wave came few minutes after
o'clock. Warning had been sent
short time before TO the inhabitants OF
the low lands. but only few OF them
had been notified. The first intima-
ton was volume OF water spreading
| over the banks to n depth OF three feet
and throwing mist OF foam before it
In a few minutes the water had risen
above the first floors and several thou
sand people fled in terror to the higher
ground.
DEATH RODE TIE WAVE.
Tho water rose four feet in an hour
and half, ana from o'clock contin-
ued to rise steadily, nut not so rapidly.
Probably one-third OF the inhabitants
OF the city live on the low grt uud
which is overlooked. SO rapid was the
rise OF the tide that great numbers
were unable to escape and the work o
rescuing engaged every energy OF TIE
people.
Alto O'Clock the fire alarm was
sounded TO call out more workers.
All the boats from the DO 1T houses
on the Sioux river have been brought
in and are being used to save life and
property.
STOCK YARDS AND RAILROADS SUFFER.
The Missouri river is very high. and
when the flood in the FLOYD river
struck it the water damned up and
rushed over the adjacent low grounds.
The stock yards and packing houses
were situated at the confluence of the
Two rivers, and they were instantly
inundated. About two thousand head
OF live stock were drowned there
Great numbers of dead stock have also
been found floating down the Floyd
river.
The whole railroad yards and
switching track district is under water
and there has been immense damage
to the roundhouses and other railroad
property. The roundhouse OF the Chi
, cago, ST. Paul, Minneapolis u Omaha
is damaged to the extent OF $40, 900.
That road, the Illinois Central and the
Sioux City & Northern enter the city
by the Floyd valley and all are
stopped. Not a train has left Sioux
City today.
EIGHT THOUSAND PEOPLE HOMELESS.
At l o'clock p. m. the water had
reached to Jennings street on Fourth
street The Hotel Fowle and the Bos-
ton Investment company building
are surrounded with water. The
union depot was cut off at o'clock.
1t is estimated that 5000 people
have been driven from their homes.
All business is suspended. The Cham
Der OF Commerce organized this morn
ing for relief work. Before noon the
ladies' had several soup and lunch
houses opened for the flood sufferers.
1t is impossible yet to estimate the
loss OF property, but il will be large.
There is only one telegraph wire
working out of the city and that runs
to Omaha. 1t is not in good condi-
ton, and the work OF sending out news
is greatly retarded.
The water is slowly receding to-
night. A citizens meeting at the
court house is organizing to provide
several thousand people with shelter.
The damage to property will reach
81, 50S 900. The loss OF the Sioux
City & Northern railroad will exceed
! 5000. 900.
| lSdlGT hCCOuubS SuOW bud6 VIC lOS9 Vi
/ life has been much greater than at
. first reported. 1t will probably be 20
or 20.
There is neither gas nor electric
! light as both plants are under water.
| partial list OF the persons known
to be dead is as follows;
Frank henderson, wife and child.
| Two boatmen unknown
! A. p. McClearat.
An unknown Scandinavian at the
Young ice house.
Mrs. Peter Rasmussen and two chill
dren.
| Two unknown men near Fourth
street, near Paramount bridge.
Unknown man ut Sioux City &c
Northern yards.
The scene at the yards is almost in
describable. The rush of waters came
down across the bottoms, as the over
| flow OF the river at first flowed out on
the east bank. At 1850 solid blocks
! OF hog pens were seen swaying with
the motion OF the wind and waves and
in a short time they began moving
down stream. The new division was
the first to start and then almost the
whole block started off down street,
and at | o'clock there was not a sign
OF the hog yards left.