Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-19
DISASTERS AT SIOUX CITY.
Waters Overflow Their Banks and Take
Many Lives.

Waters Overflow Their Banks and Take
Many Lives.
At O'Clock yesterday morning, or q little
more than an hour after the wOrkingmen living
along the banks Of the Floyd and Missouri
rivers in Sioux City. Iowa, had gone to their
work. torrent Of water came down the Floyd
and in half an hour had risen over large area
in the city to depth Of three to ten feet. The
wind was blowing u high gale and made the
work Of rescue by boats dangerous as well as
fatiguing. 1t is known that about dozen peo-
Pile. among them four or five men, have been
drowned and the number may reach twenty
five, it not being possible at this hour to con-
firm all the reports. During the 10th and 18th
the rainfall was extraordinarily heavy. con-
sequently rivers were already high. 1t is not
yet definitely known where the sudden and
enormous food which has caused this damage
comes from.
At midnight at Lemars. Iowa, twenty miles
northeast Of Sioux City. the water was a foot
higher than during the great flood which de-
stroyed Cherokee and Neville last June. Not
a railroad centering there has moved a train
this morning. Their loss is very heavy. The
Union Stock Yards Company will also be great
losers, as nearly all their pens went out early
in the flood. Not less than seventy-five houses
have been carried into the streets or into the
L. \
and contents of 500 are ruined.
Nellie Westshield, Mrs. Louise Horner and
two children are know to be lost.
Word reached st. Louis last night that the
levee the east bank of the Mississippi river at
East Carondolet seven miles below the CITY,
had broken and there were thirty-five families
| there in danger of drowning unless assistance is
Immediately sent them.
wild rumor reached st. Louis about noon
that the Bowman dyke and the embankment of
| the Ohio and Mississippi railroad had given
away and that great loss Of property had re-
suited. This proved to be untrue, but it was
| still asserted that water had risen above the
| level Of the Bowman dyke and that the space to
the south Of 1t was filling with water. which was
| encroaching on the railroad yards in that
| vicinity.
Around Madison, some three miles north OF
East st. Louis. considerable damage is being
| done. The break at Namoke. reported Tuesda,
| night, is letting great deal Of water encroacl
| on the town from the northeast, and break in
the Glover Leaf railroad track lets water int,
Venice, which backs up into an eastern part Of
| Madison.
DEsoLATE SCENE.
| The city OF Alton has been entirely cut Of
from railroad communica ion for twenty-foul
hours. and travel will not be restored until Fri
day at least. West Of st. Charles, No., thu
| scene along the river is one of desolation ant
destruction. Thousands upon thousands o
| acres of rich farm lands on both banks Of thu
stream are inundated TO depth Of several feet
Hundreds of farmers have been driven from
their homes. their crops destroyed, their stool
drowned and in many cases their houses WASHED
into the river.
At Labadie the river extends from the Mis-
| souri, Pacific track to Augusta on the opposite
bluffs, distance of over five miles.
Steamers are landing passengers at the foo
Of the bluffs at Augusta. two and one-half mile
inland from the shore proper.
HOUSES FLoATED AWAY.
About twenty-five houses in North st. Loui
have foated from their foundations and thei
occupants are camping in tents on the higl
ground. The scenes north of the river ar
heartrending. From the hills in O'Fallon Parl
relief boats can be seen hurrying to and Fl,
among the needy and helpless. Over 100 fami
lies in that vicinity have been rendered home
less.
To add to the general wretchedness robber
and thieves have begun to pillnge the abandone,
houses. Over 5000 bales Of cotton in Gel
lars on the levee. Roustabouts have been work
ing all day in water up to their necks, gettin,
81 an hour to rescue the cotton.