The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-08
FLOODS In THE WEST.
Several Towns in Missouri and Illinois
Surrounded by Water.

KEoKUK, Iowa, May Tt is not believed
that so great disaster as that of 1881 will
result from the present floods in and around
Alexandria, Mo. The unprecedented rains
of tine past week have swollen the Fox, Des
Moines and Skunk rivers to such an extent
that the Egyptian levees between this place
and Alexandria have broken, flooding
thousands of acres Of land, mostly in wheat.
and doing great damage. Alexandria is be-
ing rapidly submerged and the people are
preparing to 90 to the high lands. Stock
has been driven to the hills, but great loss
of cattle is nevertheless reported. Business
at Alexandria is at siandstill and the only.
means of l0comotlOn is by boat The view
OF the flooded district from Warsaw pre-.
sents picturesque sight. The river has
made the low lands back OF Alexandria a
great lake, upon which is floating wreck
age, driftwood and small buildings. The
loss cannot be estimated, but stock and
farm products have suffered greatly.
The greatest fears are entertained for the
extensive levees along the Illinois shore.
but now it is thought that the thousands OF
acres OF wheat between Warsaw and
Quincy will not be inundated. The river
measures about Is feet above high water
mark both at Warsaw and Alexandria, and
the water is still pouring over the lowlands.
At Keokuk the river is 15.6 feet above the
UlHl-hdbck VI 1SOts anu Will NJ
cations of a further rise, as the rain has
apparently ceased. Heavy floods are re-
ported along the llue of the Toledo, Peoria
and Western read, with bad wash0uts near
Bushnell. Untold damage has been done
the crops and farm property by the rain,
and floods. On the Mississippi the danger
point has passed and the river is falling.
Between Alexandria and West Quincy some
80 miles OF track of the st. Louis, keokuk
and Northwestern is covered by water
from one to two inches and trains were
abandoned this afternoon. This morning
the water put out the fires in freight en-.
gine. The report that train was washed
away is untrue. 1t is expected that the
water Will have fallen enough by Monday to-
permit the trains TO run as usual. The
track of the Rock Island, paralleling the
Des Moines River. is badly damaged, but a
large force is making repairs and trains are
running on time. The Bonaparte Woolen-
mill las teen closed until the food reeedes.
Many People Homeless.
PEORIA, H., May THE river continues
to rise rapidly, and this evening registered
over Il feet, the highest point reached in
nearly half century. There are folly 800
homeless people in this city and between
here and Pekin; The worst scene OF de-
strucli0n Is in the Lamarsh drainage dis
trict, which Is now under 10 feet OF water.
The crevasse is now over 1000 feet in length.
A rescuIng party was out all night, and by
daylight all of the 80 families living in the
district had been accounted for, with the
exception of George Nichols and family.
who res ded IN the lower end OF the district.
1t is not known what became of them. For
tunately there were men at work on the
high embankment below the upper dikes
when 1t gave way and they quickly gave
the alarm, so that most of the residents had
time to get on the roofs and in the trees 10
await the coming of the fescueTs. Many mar.
row escapes are reported. A second break OF
over 1000 feet occurred to-day, and three
men who were standing on the dixie when
u gave way were rescued with difficulty
Nearly all the houses in the iuuniat ted CitS--
trict are threatened with total destruction,
as dTiftwood and debris is piling high
against them. The household goods have
fOated eff and are being rescued In bad
shape. Many houses along the river bank
in this city were carried away, and their
owners are occupying tents. The Lanarsh
district commissioners hold the railroad re-
sponsible for the dana ge, as the dixie was
constructed of sand instead OF dirt The
greater portion Of the crops had been
planted and will be total loss, as the
ground cannot be used this season. Several
industries in this city are threatened with
high water, and unless the river quickly
subsidies, of which there Is no indication,
they will be compelled 10 shut down. Most
Of the railroads are again running.
The Water subsidIng.
OTTAWA, H.. May AT 8 o'clock this
even ing the Fox and Illinois rivers were
four feet below high-water mark. All the
manufacturers are ready TO resume work
and will start to- morrow and Monday The
electric railway of Lasalle, Peru and OF
tawa will resume running trains to-mor-
row. Only an approximate estimate Of the
losses can be given, but they will be large.
falling principally on the corporations and
manufacturing concerns. The total loss in
Ottawa is about $50. COO The loss at Peru
is $1,000. The loss at Lasalle is estimated
at $500. The Rock Island road will suffer
a loss OF $4,000, besides a loss In traffic.
Within 10 miles of Ottawa over 90 railroad
bridges and culverts have been carried
away. The feeling of alarm has entirely sub
sided and the people are resuming their