The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-14
Threatens to Resume N Channel 1t
Abandoned Twenty Years Ago
and Ruin Much Property.
PART OF THE CITY INUNDATED
RESIDENTS ON Low LANDS FORCED
TO FLEE FOR THEIR LIVES.
Davis Island, Below Vicksburg, Now
Under Water-SituatiOn Elsewhere
Along the mississippi.

OMAHA, Neb., April 13.-Piling and
boards and bags of sand, old hay and
stones are being fed to the hungry NAV of
the big muddy at Omaha in an effort to
restrain the manifest intention of that
erratic stream TO resume the channel aban-
doned twenty years ago. At nightfall it
looked like the effort might succeed. But
all hope is hedged about with provisos-
that the river does not rise any higher, that
a north wind does not blow, and most un-
certain of all. that the break in the bank
above Florence lake is not so bad as the
overflow of water indicates East Omaha
and North Omaha are flooded by the waters
that are rushing from the overfull Missouri
river. The residents are fleeing for their
lives, leaving their possessions behind. The
houses are standing in the flood submerged
in water from one TO five feet deep. Fields
of grain and fences disappear beneath the
surface of the water, and the trees no
longer show any trunks.
The flood is pouring in on the low lands
of the East Omaha bottoms in a stream
that is estimated to be 1900 feet in width.
1t is sweeping southeast, and pours into
Florence lake. The water in the lake has
broken over the levee. and it is rushing
with everincreasing volume into Cutoff
lake. 1t is sweeping over plowed and
planted fields; it is driving residents from
their homes in North Omaha: it is tearing
up fences and threatening the houses that
stand from three TO four feet deep in the
water; il is pouring into Cutoff lake just
north of the long bridge which leads TO
Courtland beach. In the last twelve hours
Cutoff has risen almost two feet Ii this
rate continues 1t is anticipated that by
morning the lake will overflow its southern
banks. If this should occur and the rise
be still maintained the entire southern por-
tion of East Omaha would be threatened
with a most disastrous flood. as there is
no elevation of land to stem the outpour-
ing.
The beginning of the flood occurred sew
eral days ago. For weeks past the river
has been rising gradually. 1t was thought
there was no danger. The levees would
hold it was thought. They did hold until
two days ago. Then the mighty volume
could not be restrained longer. Two days
ago the water crept over the top of the
bank in the bend of the river just below
Florence 1t came slowly at first, but it
found easier passage as time went by. Early
yesterday afternoon the force became re-
sistless. A great hole was dug in the shore
~ fisherman's hut that appeared TO block
the way was torn out bodily and swallowed
up by the river. The water having chosen
and made its path. poured along it into the
bottoms to the south. The speed of the
food was rapid. At 8 o'clock yesterday
afternoon North Omaha was surrounded on
all sides with dry land. At o'clock the
people in many of the houses on the low
lands were fleeing from their homes This
morning this portion was covered with
water from one to five feet deep.
At present the worst of the flooded dis
trict is located just north of North Omaha
At Sherman avenue broad stream has
shot directly to the south THIS stream Just
skirts the east end of the little settlement
known as North Omaha. 1t began to Green
along the bottoms about o'clock yesterday
afternoon. 1t first drove out of their houses
and from the premises three milkmen.
Erickson, Larson and Milhouse 1t swept
a quarter of mile further south and there
took within its bosom a dozen cottages.
The Rileys, the Petersons, the Johnsons.
the Schaffers, the Knapps, the Clarks and
several other families decamped about 5
o'clock. All these are residents of the east
ern part of North Omaha.
The stream then went on further south
a distance of half mile and struck an
otner little settlement. The residents here
at o'clock began to move. Among those
who had TO vacate were the families of
Thomas Plummer, Milton Bilby George
Skinner, Frank Burwell, Charles Framer.
Erick Peterson, Charles Butcher, Enquist
and Murphy. All these people were forced
to abandon their houses in haste, some of
them with only their night clothes on.
Many narrow escapes from drowning are
recounted, but so far as is known no lives
We're lost. Efforts to recover personal ef-
fectS from the engulfed houses have been
of little avail. Forces OF workmen were
hurried out TO protect the houses in the
flooded district. and have succeeded in re-
straining the spread of the water to the
west, confining it to the channel cut from
the river TO Florence lake. and from Flor
ence lake to Cutoff lake. This has saved
most of North Omaha from destruction.
Cutoff lake at nfghtfall was filling up
rapidly, but could then accommodate four
of five feet more of water. 1t is held back
by a strong double dyke across its lower
end, and from there on TO the river the old
bed is crossed by paved streets, Street-car
tracks, railroad tracks, ETC., all of which
present embankments of from eight TO
fourteen feet in height, which must be
washed out before the Missouri can resume
its abandoned bed. There is much unccr-
tainty owing to the extensive property in
tereStS involved
Should the river complete the cutoff it
has threatened, East Omaha with exten-
sive factory plants, including the great
Carter white lead works. will be moved
into Iowa and the 100000 bridge of the
East Omaha Terminal Company will be
left across II slough while the thousands
OF dollars expended by the government i'm
protecting the banks of the river along the
great bend will be wasted on a cutoff lake
Down town the situation is less serious
than it was last night. The smelter of the
Omaha d Grant Company is still above
water. The Thompson-Houston electric
lighting plant and the Willow Springs dis
tillery can stand a rise of another foot and
the railroad companies feel that their
tracks are safe for the present. All are
watching, though. and are taking every
precaution 10 protect their property The
weather has cleared off and the prospects
are favorable for cessation of the rains.