Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-07-29
FLOODED THE TOWN
Tremendous Oownpour of Rain
at Kansas City.
STREETS CONVERTED INTO RIVERS,

Block Havements Torn Up and Washed
Out, In Some Instances Being Carried
Into the Observation-Disclosures Sweeps
>Ryes North Dakota and Destroys $4,000
4l4es Of Crops-Eiemental Havoc All
oSfhe West and Northwest
kANs CITf, July 29-Kansas City
and vicinity was visited about 4:3O in the
morning by the worst rain and lightning
Storm in tho history of tho weather bu-
resd.sssEhD rainfall in Kansas City was
i.57 inches, the heaviest on record. Across
the line In Kansas great damage was
done to private and public property. Re-
ports from all over the city indicate that
the damage will foot up into the thou.
sands Street pavements were washed
out liks SO much kindling wood, side
.waskswsfe carried away, small wood.
sheds and outhouses were moved to the
creek bottoms and destroyed, and the
homes Of a number Of people were flood.
cd, running their furniture. The greatest
amount Of damage was done in the vicin /.
ity CT Twelfth street and the IL" road
Water Banks Up Twenty Five Feet.
At that point the culvert which crosses
Jersey creek caved in and tho water
banked up as high as twenty-five feet.
The homo OF William Smith, which sets
upon mound fully twenty-three feet
above the creek bottom, was flooded and
Lis furniture almost ruined. Tho homes
Of William Shaw and John Daro, which
Hrc only u short distanc, from the Smith
house, were flooded and part Of the fur.
niture washed away. What furniture re-
Inained In the houses was covered with
mud At Thirteenth street and Jersey
creek small buildings were washed away
and carried down the creek several
blocks. The homes of Tom McMahan
und Tim Murphy were also flooded with
water and much damage done to tho fur
niture. The pavement at thirteenth and
Wavcrly avenues was completely washed
out, leaving ditch eight feet In depth
and extending from one side to tho
other
Pavemonts Swept Into the River.
Tho sewer ut Thirteenth street and
Freeman cavcd in, making a big hole In
the center Of the street. The city at large,
however, suffered tho greatest loss. Tho
damage done to the streets alone will
reach up into tho thousands of dollars. 1t
Is safe to say that not street In the en-.
tire city which is paved with cedar blocks
escape damage. Cedar blocks arc strung
along Nebraska avenue from Seventh
strict to Sixth, and from Sixth and
Nebraska to Washington from Sixth and
Washington to Fifth, and from Fifth
and Washington to tho Northwestern
crossing. About 100 feet Of cedar paving
was washed out of Oakland avenue near
Fifth street. Many Of the block pavements
were swept into the Missouri.
Damage Done ia tho Suburbs.
In Armourdale and Argentine, Kas.,
much damage was done to private and
public property. In tho west end and
along Twelfth street Of Armourdale the
tracks OF the Metropolitan street car limo
were covered with water for three or four
blocks during the early part of the day.
In the southern portion OF the city many
residences were flooded with water, mud
and trash. The Metropolitan cars were
unable to run part Of the day between
Armourdalo and Argentine. In the bot.
toms of Argentine travel of all sorts was
suspended nearly all day by an accumula.
ton OF mud and refuse matter washed
down from the hills, and which was piled
up along the streets