The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-05-27
THE SIOUX CITY FLOOD.
Loss Estimated At Four Million
Dollars.
Eight Thousand People Homeless
City In Darkness.
THE BURNING BUILDINGS.

Later reports from Sioux City giving par
%ticulars Of Wednesdays flood show that the
loss of life and damage were both much great
cr than first reports would indicate. The re-
lief committee has the names of fifteen per-
sons lnown to have been drowned and re-
liable reports Of the drowning Of nearly fifty.
One estimate places the loss OF life in Sioux
City and ncighborhood at not less than one
hundred. Only one passenger train left the
city OF Wednesday md yesterday. The ter
minals Of all the railroads were submerged
and grades end tracks washed away. Only
one telegraph wire was in working order and
city was shut of. The press report sent out
says: The flood was the result of a cloud
burst in the valley of the Floyd river, but
how far above the city cannot be harmed, as
the wires are down. The valley Of the
Floyd, from the maunl, cturing suburb Of
leeds down to the Missouri, is from one to
two miles wide, low and flat, ard includes the
manufacturing and industrial districts Of the
city, the railroad yards and shops, and the
homes Of a large part Of the laboring classes
Of the city. The water came down in a great
wave, and in an hour the valley was 4 raging
sea from bluff to bluff. The river continued
to rise coming up Third and Fourth streets on
an hour, and reaching across most Of the bus
mess part Of town.
Developments show this flood to be almost
4 Tohnstown. Later estimates place the los:
at about $1,000 900. The packing interests
and stock yards lose 100000, the railroads
100000 and the city and individuals ST..
ooo, 600. Nearly 100000 worth Of ccJal
block paving was destroyed, torn up ant
carried away. AS 4 result Of the continuou.
rains for many weeks and a great %downpoul
of rain last night and this morning the Mis-
souri, river is sweeping through this city in ;
fearful torrent a mile wide, carrying dcNasta
ton and suffering and death before it.
AT 5 o'clock, or 4 little more than an hou
after the working men living along the bank
of the Floyd and Missouri rivers in Siou:
City had gone to work, 4 torrent Of watc
came down the Floyd and in a half an hou
had risen over Il large area in the city TO
depth Of 5 to 10 feet. The wind was BLOWN!
4 high gale and made the work Of rescuing b,
boats dangerous as well as fatiguing,
At 9 o'clock this morning the river com
mcnced to rise rapidly and by noon ha
reached the highest point ever known. TIL
rise in the channel OF the stream was prolpahl
t"cnty-fcct. As soon as ii became know
that many people were in danger the mayo
organized the police and fire departments il
to rcscuing corps, and all the boats TO be ha
were pressed into service.
The gas WORKS and electric light plant n
under water and the city is i'll darkness. II,
rising water Stacked lime in a lumber yar.
setting fire to il and 4 number Of submcrge
!, buildings.
s The Floyd river low into the Missouri ;
7 4 point 4 mile cast Of the center Of the bus
ness section Of Sieux City and close TO the S
Paul 4 Omaha railway bridge across tn
:, Missouri. The Floyd runs also by Mornin
: Side, Il suburb, which is connected wit
=, Sioux City by the elevated roads. Leeds
, about two and onc-hall miles north OF I'll
{ center Of Sioux City. The packing house
are located near the mouth Of the Floyd.