Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-03-25
RIVERS ON A TEAR.
The Tributaries to the Upper Mis-
souri, Become Raging Torrents.
FIVE MORE VICTIMS OF The FLOOD.
While Trying to Cross u Railroad Trestls
the High Water Overwhelms Mrs.
Eta I4ix and Her -Four
Children.

OMAHA, Neb., March l0.-Special
kilograms from oil points In the north
west indicate that the bonds Of winter
were simultaneously broken yesterday
and the streams that have been bound
In Ice for months are suddenly turned
to raging torrents. The worse reports
come from South Dakota. Along the
Missouri last night the settlers were
fleeing In darkness from rapidly In
creasing foods and nothing definite
can DO told further The snow that
capped the state lay from four to six
feet deep on the level. Two days Of
warm weather, with two nights OF
rain, have set this all running to the
river At Pierre the Cheyenne and Bad
rivers, ut Chamberlain the White, ut
Yankton the Big and Little Sioux riv-
ers and the Floyd at Sioux City are
pouring their torrents onto the Ice In
the Missouri, which has not yet broken.
The lowlands are flooded and the
rivers are rising with frightful ra-
pidity. The Platte river, swollen to
more than Its usual spring height, is
rushing into the Missouri, carrying
with 1t the debris Of wrecked bridges
and farm yards in It's valley. The
Elkhorn adds Its food to the Platte
and all the valleys seem to be atoat.
From Iowa comes stories Of Ice gorges
on the Des Moines river at Fort Dodge
and Madrid, flooding miles Of the bot
toms and doing great damage.
80 far as Is known only one life has
been lost. Harry Faville, farmer Of
Dixon county was drowned while try
ing to cross bridge over n swollen
stream 1t was very warm last night
and warm rain fell. This indicates
o tremendous increase in the floods be.
fore another day has passed.
FIVE MORE VICTIMS OF THE FLOOD.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, March l9.-Last
night the great food claimed five more
victims Near Marion, Ark, Eta Lix
and her four children were trying to
make their way to Marion for shelter,
and while attempting to cross rail
road trestle the strong current over
whelmed the party and all persisted.
The oldest child was a girl aged 10 and
the youngest an infant Of eight
months. The river is still rising at
Memphis and the indications are that
1t will continue to do so for some time
TO come. The conclusion as to con-
tinuation in the rise Is based upon the
fact that the rise is continuing at
Cairo. Throughout the entire north
west territory the drainage from which
swells the volume Of water in the up
per Mississippi, these rainfalls con-
tinue. The same conditions prevail
In the territory when feeds the Ohio
and other tributaries, while the heav-
lest rains Of all are descending over
the already submerged Arkansas ter
ritory.
Four or five rescue steamers arrived
here, bringing several hundred ref
ugees, nearly all Of whom are desti.
tute, to be cared for by the charity of
Memphis people, The relief commit
toe has its hands full. As long as the
overflow continues funds will be need.
ed to relieve the immediate pressing
wants OF the flood sufferers. Inas-
much as all Of the sufferers practically
are residents Of Arkansas, the relief
committee telegraphed to Gov. Jones,
Of that state, asking his cooperation
in relieving the dire distress in which
thousands Of the people Of his state
were in. The governor replied that
there were no funds at his disposal.
Last night the Yazoo Valley railroad
abandoned Its trains, owing to the en-
croachment Of water over Its tracks
few miles south Of Memphis. The
railroad situation on the Arkansas side
Of the river remains unchanged. All
trains are entering the city over the
Iron Mountain tracks, which remain q
tn inches above The water.