Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-05-31
FLOODS
The Missouri River Threatens to
Wash East Atchison Away.
STORES AND HOUSES BEING MOVED.
The Northwest suffering from a Flood
Caused from Melting SNOW Damage
to Railway Property and Farm
Lands Great.

hTcmsos, Kan, May 2s.-During the
forty-eight hours ending at o'clock
yesterday evening the Missouri river
has risen nearly feet at this point.
The rise was very sudden and great
damage is being done TO property In the
vicinity of East Atchison. During past
twelve hours the stream has cut away
nearly 200 feet OF adjoining land near
that town, and the work Of destruction
continues. The town of East Atchison
has been protected heretofore by a
strip of land known as the point"
and which extended for several yards
into the river. This point has been
cut away, however, and the main cur.
rent of the stream strikes the town nj.
most directly from the north. II will
probably be only n question OF n few
hours until the current has full sway
at East Atchison from this direction,
and then no power on earth can save
the place from being swept away.
Great excitement prevails there, and n
great many persons have moved TO this
side OF the river for safety.
Store buildings and houses which
stood In the north end of the village
arc being torn down or moved by their
owners. Probably as many as dozen
buildings were moved yesterday, and
the work will continue throughout the
night. Laborers and teams from this
city as well as from the country sur
rounding East Atchison have been sent
there 10 assist the citizens In removing
their houses.
just north Of East Atchison there are
three lines OF rail road paralleling each
other--the Rock Island Santa Fe and
Hannibal &c ST. Joseph. The river has
encroached To within less than 80 feet
OF the tracks of these railways, and II
Is probable that trains will be com
PEELED to stop passing over them.
Several days ago large force Of
men were put to work by the
railways rip-rapping the bank In an
effort TO stay the encroachments. This
was discontinued Saturday for the
reason that no bank could be secured
TO continue the rip-rappinR and also
that the stream washed IL out almost
rs fast rs II was placed there. II is
thought nothing can be- done now 20
prevent the cutting. and citizens nre
either preparing TO leave the place or
else standing idly by watching the
river on its mission of destruction.
PORTLAND INUNDATED.
PORTLAND, Ore, May 2s.-Thc entire
northwest is just now suffering from
disastrous food caused by melting
snow In the mounta in ranges. The
Willamette in this city Is now 95 feet
above low water mark and Is rising ut
the rate of \ inch per hour. AT the
Dalles during the past twcnty-four
hours the Columbia has risen feet,
which means n foot and half rise at
this point during the next twenty-four
hours. The wuter yesterday reached
Front street and all day long merchants
on the water front were moving goods
to upper stories. In Albina many small
houses on the fats are under water and
the occupants have moved 10 higher
grounds.
The Spokane river and Cnur d'Alene
nrc higher than ever before known, aud
immense damage has already been done
70 railroad property in western Wash
ington and northern Idaho. All rivers
and streams flowing into Puget sound
are swollen, many of them beyond their
banks The damage TO railroad prop
erty and farming land is very heavy.
ANTHRACITE MINES FLOODED.
PnLADELPuIA, May es.-rhe anthra-
cite coal trade, like the bituminous
trade, is at standstill, though from
vastly different causes The floods
throughout the anthracite regions
have flooded many of the mines,
forcing suspension OF work un-
til the flooded mines can be re-
lieved Of the surplus water.
Out of some forty collicries operated
by the Reading, all but twelve nre at
present in Il condition TO prevent the
mining of coal, but the companys oili-
cials expect In Il few days To have the
majority of them pumped out and in
operation. Such of the mines as are in
working condition are being pushed To
their fullest extent, orders have been
TO work all of them ten hours day
and every day in the week.
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