The record-union., 1897-04-27
Inundating a Large Section of the City
of Ottumwa.
Five Hundred Families Compelled to
Vacate Their Homes, While at
Bradyviile, Eighteen Miles North,
One Hundred and Fifty Families
Were Forced to r1OVe to Higher
Ground, the Streets Being Navi-
gated in ROWbOatS.

OTTUMWA Qowa), April 26.-The
Des Moines River, which last midnight
was stationary at the high-d ater mark
established by the great flood of 1892,
suddenly began to climb, and by s
o'clock to-day had added fifteen inches
to the record The levees broke in
many places, railroad embankments
were undermined and hundreds of fami-
lies were compelled to quit their resi-
dences in great haste. In Ottumwa 500
families We're compelled to move, a
large number making their escape in
boats. At Bradyville, eighteen miles
north of this city, 80 families vacated
their domiciles, and the principal
streets are being navigated in row
boats. At South Ottumwa the river
flows parallel with the main street. 1t
broke across this street early this
morning, poured down the business and
residence streets, causing a panic and
scramble for higher ground. Five
thousand people reside in this suburb.
Several hundred deserted their resi-
dences and removed their goods. The
water stands four feet deep in Fairview.
Farm lands are completely inundated.
A large reservoir situated at the
summit of Court Hill is the source of
considerable fear. The recent down
pour has swollen the sources of supply,
and the reservoir is now so full that it
threatens to burst and flood the popu-
lous districts just below.
Rich farming lands above and below
this city are inundated. The flood there
has not reached high stage, but has
/ = l,
of five to six miles
No loss of life has been reported, but
the damage to property will be very
large.
DECLINE AT ST. LOUIS.
ST. LOUIS, April 26-The MISSISSIPPI
pi registered a decline here this morn
ing, but above, II Keokuk, Hannibal
and other places a rise OF 1.6 feet was
shown, and the Missouri is also BOOM
ing.
At Kansas City the advance for the
past forty-eight hours has been fully
feet, while at Boonville it is ID feet.
There are places near Quincy where
the water spreads over the lowlands
from bluff to bluff, making the river
from eight to ten miles wide. The le-
wees can stand a foot or two more
water but the danger lies in the con-
tinual rising surface water on the in
side, which is now almost to the top
| of the banks.
| HANNIBAL IN TROUBLE.
| ST. LOUIS, April pa dispatch
from Hannibal, Mo, says: Flood con-
ditions are becoming alarming. The
| Government gauge at 10 o'clock this
| morning registered IS feet and /
inches, being nearly feet above the
danger line. The water is up to Front
street, and cellars on Main street are
/ filled.
BIG BRIDGE INJURED.
KANSAS CITY (Mo), April 26.-One
span of the Northwestern Railroad
forced out of plumb by the great mass
/ of driftwood.
! CANADIAN TOWNS THREATENED.
| WINNIPEG, April 26.-Red River
continues to rise and the flood situation
! is becoming serious. The water is
| higher than in thirty years. Morris,
| Emerson, st. John and other towns be-
/ tween Winnipeg and the Dakota
| boundary line are under four feet of
water and the people are living in
barns or the upper stories of their
| houses. The railroads cannot run
trains and all communication is shut
off with several points. Winnipeg will
have the water in a day or so. The
water is now within few inches of
the electric power houses and soon the
city will be in total darkness.
| NO FURTHER RATIONS
MEMPHIS, April 26.-The Memphis
Flood Sufferers Relief Committee, act
| ing in conjunction with the War De-
partment ordered the formal closing of
Camp Congo. at the home established
for flood refugees early in the overflow
! season. All planters We're notified to
send in transportation for farm hands
at once, as no further rations will be