Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-19
The Flood Gates of Heaven
Opened in Iowa.
Sioux City at the Mercy Of the
Raging Rivers.
The Loss of Life Already Estimated
at Thirty to Sixty.
Des Moines, Council Bluffs, sargea ant and
Other Cities Inundated-The Mis-
sissippf still Rising at
st. Louis, Mo.

BY the Associated Press.l
OMAHA, May 1S.-A Bee special from
Sioux City, Iowa, says: Early this morn
ing great wave came down the Floyd
river, which flows through the center of
the city. The water spread over the
banks to depth of three feet, and in a
few moments had risen above the first
floors, and several thousand people fed
in terror to higher grounds. Warning
wae given but short time before the
food came, and only few of those in
the low lands received the intimation.
The water rose four feet in an hour and q
half and continues to rise steadily, but not
90 rapidly. Probably 1000 people live
on the low land which ia overfowed.
The rise was 80 rapid that a number
were unable to escape, and the work of
rescue is busily carried on. At IL
O'Clock eleven persons are reported
drowned, and there must be many
others. The only names obtainable so
far are Nellie West, Mrs. Louise Borner
and two children. Ali the boats from
the boat houses on the Sioux river are
being used to save life and property.
The stock yards and packing houses
are situated at the confluence of the
Missouri and Floyd rivers, and they are
inundated. About 1000 head OF live
stock were drowned. Many carcasses
are also floating in the Floyd.
The railroad yards and switching
track district is under water. The
round house and railroad property are
enormously damaged. The round house
of the Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis
and Omaha is damaged to the extent
of $40, 900. No trains left Sioux City to-
day.
The Hotel Fowle and the Boston In
vestment company's building are sur
rounded by water. The Union depot it
cut off.
At 8 O'Clock it is estimated that eight
thousand people are driven from their
homes. All business 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 sufferers. The loss is large but
it is as yet impossible to estimate it.
A later dispatch to the Bee says: The
damage will reach million and bali
The loss to the Sioux City and Northern
railway is 100000. .
Scenes along the edge of the waters
are pitiful. The loss of life will be very
large, although it is difficult in the con-
fusion to learn the names.
At Springdale woman stood in the
second story of q house, 900 yards out,
holding baby up over the waters, and
was still there at 8 O'Clock tonight.
Two men have already been drowned in
the attempt to rescue her.
A gale of wind has added greatly to
the misfortunes of. the city. Houses
are being broken up all the time, and
there is neither gas light nor electric
light, both plants being under water.
A later special says: A partial list oI
the drowned 10 as follows: Frank Hen.
derson, wife and child; two boatmen
names unknown; A. P. McClearat; an
unknown Scandinavian Mrs. Peter E
Rasmussen and two children; two un.
known men near the Fairmount bridge
and an unknown man at Sioux City anG
Northern yards.
Later accounts show the loss OF life tc
be much greater than at first reported
It will probably be twenty or twenty
five.
Sioux Cry, May 18.-It is known thai
thirty persons have been drowned, and
the names of half that number have
been obtained. One body has been re-
covered. The search for bodies will bt
continued IN the morning.