The record-union., 1895-12-21

ing Towns in Danger of Partial
observation-disclosures and Indian
Territory Visited by Heavy Snow
storms.
CHICAGO, Dec. 20.-The deluge in
Chicago and it's suburbs abated this
evening, after four days of almost in
cessant rain, leaving a scene of watery
waste, varying in depth from a few
inches to several feet. Much business
and residence property was damaged
or washed away, and the overflow of
the Des PLANES River and Illinois and
Michigan Canal resulted in the pollu
ton of the city's lake water supply, as
well as the flooding of the canal towns
with sewage water from Chicago.
The Weather Bureau indications are
for a slight fall in temperature, which
may turn the threatened rain to snow.
The big drainage channel presented
desolate appearance to-day, and work
of every kind had to be abandoned ex-
cept for pumps keeping the water from
rising. In some sections water was six
feet deep, and mules were imprisoned
up to their necks. The banks of one
section were washed away, and the tor
rents poured into the channel South
of Lemont, on the old canal the flood
washed away the Santa Fe tracks, and
trains were run over the Alton road
from Joliet.
The 1oodgates at the Bridgeport
pumping station on the Chicago River
were forced open, and TO save the people
of RoGSsport and adjacent towns on the
old canal from being flooded out Of their
homes; the Bridgeport engineer last
night shut down the pumping engines,
letting all the filthy water flow toward
the cribs in the lake.
During the last forty-eight hours the
rainfall here has been > per cent.
greater than for the whole month in
December in any year since the
Weather Bureau was established,
twenty-four years ago. The total pre-
cipitation in the last two days and
nights was $50 incheA
The Valley of the Des PLANES is a
lake, stretching from the city to Lock
port, and all the river towns as far as
Joliet are in danger Of partial destruc-
ton by flood.
The Chicago sewer system is incapa-
bic of relieving the flooded condition of
the streets ano, easements.
The suburban low-lying towns are the
worst sufferers, the homes of many res
identS being inaccessible, and tranSpor-
tation being seriously impaired by the
deluge. The big dyke at Dauphin Park,
in the southern part of the city, has so
far been kept intact by gangs of men.
Behind this dam is vast expanse of
water which would sweep away the
houses and stores in Grand Crossing,
Roseland, Burnside and adjacent sub
urbs. The flood extends to Pullman in
the same district, and work is being
continued with great difficulty in the
car shops.
STORMS IN OTHER SECTIONS.
KANSAS CITY (Mo), Dec 20-The
snowstorm which began last night con-
tinued without interruption until 2:30
o'clock this afternoon. more than six
inches of snow covering the ground
Street-car traffic, except on the
Twelfth-street line, was at standstill,
no cars moving until noon. All the
steam railways from the East were
from one to four hours late.
Throughout Kansas the weather has
been variable. Baxter Springs reports
an almost continuous rain for sixty
hours, causing Spring River to leave it's
banks, and at some points it is five
miles wide. William HOFFMAN, wife and
IL.
and two children, were rescued from
the roofs of their houses four miles
southeast of here. Farmers living in
the bottoms had difficulty in saving
themselves. The river rose from six to
eight feet during Wednesday night
Half of four-story flour mill is under
water.
The tracks of the Gulf road between
here and Galena are washed out and
iVoiT
electric light plant is ruined. Great loss
of stock is feared.
AT Coffeyville, after a three days
heavy rain, a fierce snowstorm set in
and ragged all night. The snow is eigh-
teen inches deep on level, and still
falling. Trains are delayed, roads are
almost impossible and business is at a
standstill.
Independence reports a heavy snow,
with five inches on the level, and still
falling.
Six inches of snow and about six
inches of rain at Fort Scott has resulted
in the abandonment of passenger and
freight trains, and put quietus on
Christmas trade. But one passenger
train had arrived there over the Mem
phis road since yesterday noon, and
that an accommodation train.
In the Indian Territory all traffic has
L
six miles wide and the flood worse than
for many years, and trains are run
ming around over the Iron Mountain
No mail has been received in that city
since last evening, except on the Mis-
souri, Pacific from ST. Louis The high
water is receding. At Cherokee snow
began to fall at o'clock last night, and
to-day the ground is covered to a
SApth of six inches and it is still falling.
sN-~I-+ -,
were abandoned last night on account
or washouts. Missouri Pacific trains
from the East are ten hours late. No
mail from Kansas City has reached
there since yesterday noon.
At Pittsburg, after about forty-eight
hours of steady >downpour of rain.
about eight inches of snow fell this
morning. The streams are all swollen,
and all kinds of railroad traffic are very
much impeded by waShouts. Trains on
the Pittsburg and Gulf have been aban-
doned. and the Frisco has abandoned
all trains between there and Carl juno
ton on the main line.
The Santa Fe mines at Chicopee and
the Weir Coal Company. shaft No. 2,
at Kirkwood, are flooded. 1t is feared
that a great deal of damage will re-
suit if the snow should melt before the
present volume in the streams should
flow away.
MONTGOMERY MOI Dec. 20-Rain
has been falling for forty-eight hours,
and creeks are overlooking bottom
lands Much damage has been done to
corn in shocks.
W. H. and James w. Harvey, who
were in camp on Lutre bottom, five
miles west of here, where they are run
ming a sawmill, were aroused from
their slumber by a flood of water in
their tent They started for their
horses, but before reaching them were