The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-04
KANE Pa, June s.-Never before has this
DESTRUCTIVE FLOODS.
Medicine valley Swept by the BURST
ing of Dam.

CURTIS. Neb., June 3.-Curtis lake burst
from its bank late yesterday afternoon
and the volume of water released carried
destruction through the Medicine valley
country. The lake covered an area of 1OO
acres. and was constructed as an irrigation
reservoir and incidentally 10 furnish power
TO the Curtis roller mills. An enormous
dam was built across the mouth of Wild
canyon, where it intercepts the Medicine
river at this point, and all the water
drained from the territory TO the north,
some thirty square miles. was confined in
the artificial basin. The enormous flood
of water that has passed into the lake dur
ing the past five days was too ieavy for
the dam. The first intimation the citizens
OF Curtis had that the valley was threat
ened with disaster was when the bank
of the lake burst with roar that could
be heard several miles. and a wall of water
ten feet high rushed down the valley, car
rying everything in its path. Houses.
freight cars, sock and mountain Of debris
was caught up and dashed about like
feathers. The fine roller mills. which oc-
cupy the east side of the great ravine, re-
ceived the first shock of the torrent. and
the building was almost ruined. The dam
age in this direction alone is estimated at
S20,Oo0 A few hundred yards peioW lne
road tracks OF the Burlington When the
flood struck this narrow dehle its progress
was impeded, but only for an instant; then
the heavy embankments gave way, anu the
wall of water rushed through. cutting a
path 100 yards wide. A number or frelsht
cars standing on the tracks close 10 TINS
point were undermined and preclpltateu
into the river, being carried down stream
like straws. Much of the track was left
spanning the ehSs Soa hs GRer SR he tTe
pressure of the flood. The companys loss
is about $4,000.
AS the wall of water passed beyond the
territory and It's powers OF destruction
were correspondingly decreased. The dam
age, however, was merely shifted as the
extensive meadows for many miles to the
south were flooded several feet deep ana
fears are entertained that the crops wa, froD 1e
the south where the torrent passed indl-
cate very extensive damage Farm PROD
ucts of every description were enguifed,
and in many Instances where the homes Of
the farmers were in the immediate vicinity
of the valley they were ruined Smaii
buildings were swept away or undermined
i'm such a manner as to be rendered worth
less, and in some sections the wafer los, los
so rapidly as to seriously menace the hves
been reported Twenty miles to the south,
where the Medicine valley is conhned 10 a a
small space. IL is believed the damage VII
the river empties into the Repubiican, al
Cambridge Neb.. some damage was done to
ra1lrOau properly, buN Vi HO
portance. -. r =; g.,
danger of flood more disastrous TO prop
ertv and life than the one that took place
a wear ago. The river Platte is steadily
rising and at noon was about 10 overflow
it's banks. Just above Rio Grande avenue
the flood is rising at the rate OF one inch an
hour Railway men were watchfui to-day,
fearing a repetition of the destructive
washouts occurring one year ago about this
time Work trains were all in readiness 10
go out at a moments notice and In some
Instances they were in demand The Rio
Grande was the only road having train
on time to-day. On the bulletin board al
the Union Depot the Rock Island train
was marked annulled and the burlington
trains indefinitely postponed The Jules
burg train was recorded six and one half
hours late and the Denser Pacific was only
few moments late, though washout of if-
ty feet of track had been repaired during the
night near Pierce. High water had washed
out all the filling from under the track
The rainfall prevailed everywhere and one
OF. the Gulf road officials who had beer
watching the storm all night, remarked
| that the rain ceased just at lthe right time
| for the country was being flooded and had
| il continued much longer damage would
have followed to the railways. There was
| severe washout the Julesburg line
near Weldon. which caused the delay of the
| train which did not arrive on time to-day.