The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-06-08
There Is Too Much of Both Just
Now in the East.
"A LAKE BURSTS ITS BANKS
Carrying Destruction With 1t as 1t Goes
Sweltering Heat and
Sunstrokes

Omaha. June "a special to the Bee
from Curtis, Neb., says that Curtis lake
burst from it's banks late yesterday af
ternoon and the volume of water that
was released carried destruction
through Medicine valley. The lake COW
cred 100 acres, and was constructed as
an irrigation reservoir, and incidentally
to furnish power to the Curtis roller
mills. An enormous dam was built
across the mouth of Wild canyon, where
It intercepts Medicine river at this point,
and all the water drained from the ter
ritory north, 80 square miles, was con-
fined in that artificial basin. The enor-
nous flood that has passed into the lake
in the past five days was too heavy for
the dam.
The first intimation the Curtis citi-
zens had that their locality was threat
ened with disaster was when the banks
of the lake burst with a roar that could
be heard several miles, and a wall of
water 10 feet high rushed down the val
ley, carrying everything in its path.
Houses freight cars, stock and noun
tain debris were caught up and dashed
about like feathers. The fine roller mills
which occupied the east side of the great
ravine received the first shock of the
torrent, and the building was almost
ruined. The damage in this direction
alone is estimated a $50, 600.
A few hundred yards below the mills
Medicine river passes under the railroad
tracks of the Burlington. When the
flood struck this narrow defile it's pro-
gress was impeded, but only for an in
slant. Then the heavy embankment
GOV xrrot fIa Of TOR. ha1
through, cutting path 100 yards wide.
A number of freight cars standing on
the tracks close to the point undermin
ed were precipitated into the river. be-
ing carried down the stream like straws.
The railroad company's loss will be
about $25, 900.
AS the wall of the water passed be-
yond the city it rapidly spread out over
an immense territory, and its powers of
destruction were correspondingly de-
creased. The damage however, was
merely shifted, as the extensive alfalfa
meadow for many miles to the south
were flooded by several feet of water,
and fears are entertained that the crops
Will be permanently destroyed.
All the details from the south, where
the torrent passed, indicate extensive
damage. Farm products of every de-
scription were engulfed, and in many
instances where the homes of the farm
ers were in the immediate vicinity of
the valley the disaster was almost ruin
ous Small buildings were swept away
or undermined in such a manner as to
be rendered worthless, and in some sec
lions the water rose so rapidly as to
seriously menace the lives of the fam
lilies.
&c hoc fh11c hpan
ported.
Twenty miles to the south, where the
Medicine valley is confined to small
space, it is believed the damage will be
the heaviest.
Laramie, Wyo., June 3-The amount
of rainfall last week was 1 74-100 inches
according to the report of the state uni
= -versity meteorologist. This storm is
unprecedented in the history of the
state. Another inch Of rain has faller
since midnight Saturday, and 1t is still
raining. The value of the rain to the
range is almost incalculable.
IN A DENVER SUBURB.
Denver. June 3-JerOme Park, sub
urb of Denver, is in danger of FLOOD
more disastrous to property and hf'
than the one that took place year ago
The river Platte is steadily rising anC
at noon began TO OVernOW us DduhS JUS
above Rio Grande avenue. Railwa,
men are watchful fearing a repetition
of the destructive washouts occurring
one year ago. Work trains were all Il
readiness to go out at a moments no
tice. The Rio Grande was the only roa
having a train in on time today.
on the bulletin board at the Unto
depot the Rock Island train was marke
"annullel," and the Burlington "indef
nitely postponed" The Julesburg trai
was recorded six and one-half hour
late" and the Denver Pacific only
few minutes late, although washor
of so feet of track had been repaire
during the night near Pierce. The rail-
fall prevailed everywhere.
ANOTHER WATERSPOUT.
Pierre. S. D., June st. E. Phillip
a. rancher, 40 miles west of here, r
ports a waterspout in his section We
terday. Much young stock was kille
and other damage done.
FOIND THE WASHOUT THEY SOUGf