The record-union., 1897-04-15
HIGH WATERS In
EASTERN STATES.
LOWlandS North and South Of Omaha,
Nebraska, Inundated.
Settlers Forced tc Flee to Higher
Grounds for Safety.
Merchants at Davenport, Iowa, Nov
ing Their Goods From Cellars on
Account of the High Water and
Fears of Flood-FactOry Easements
at Moline, Illinois, Under Water.

at Moline, Illinois, Under Water.
OMAHA (Neb.), April 14.-Up till mid
night last night the river held station
ary, but after that it began to rise and
at 9 o'clock this morning the gauge at
the Florence pumping station showed a
rise of eight inches.
The wind is blowing strong from the
south and this has materially assisted
in maintaining the repairs made in the
levee along the south bank of Florence
Lake. That still holds out, but second
stream of water which runs from the
river west of Florence Lake is still
pouring into Cutoff Lake.
The banks of the river are holding
better than had been expected, but
there is still great danger.
The Government work boats which
were tied up during the winter have
been steamed UP and sent to the breaks
to do what they can to save Cutoff.
From all along the river north and
south of Omaha come reports of flooded
bottoms and squatters fleeing in the
night from angry waters. No loss of
life is reported.
The men employed along the river
struck to-day for double pay. They
were getting fifteen cents an hour, and
demanded thirty. Their damends were
refused, and twenty quit work. Other
men were easily secured.
On the Iowa side of the river the
water has inundated farms for a dis
tance of three or four miles back from
the stream. The water came up in
the night, and the farmers report many
hogs, cattle and horses drowned
The reports are coming in tonight
from every point along the river as far
south as st. Joseph. The flood is the
worst since the inundation of 1881, and
is doing immense damage to property
along the river side The flood seems
to have reached it's hight and will
probably fall from now on.
RISING AT VICKSBURG.
MEMPHIS, April 14.-The river con-
tinues to rise at Vicksburg and all
points south and the situation along
the Louisiana system of levees is acute.
The waters are being hurled outward
with tremendous force, and several
thousand men are working and watch
to hold the entertainments intact.
Reports from the overf1owed Mississ-
ippi delta tonight are not encouraging
The expected fall in the waters that
extend for miles and miles over the
fertile valley has not occurred.
Throughout the overfiowed district
rain fell in torrents last night At He
lena the downpour was of such vio-
lence that great pumps We're put to
work in the lower part of the city The
water gained SO rapidly that the pumps
had to be abandoned as impracticable
The whole of the southern part of He
lena is under water from one to four
feet. deep and those who had provided
themselves with boats were fortunate
The pumps were started up again to-
night and it is expected that the water
will be thrown out of the streets in one
to four days.
The work of relieving the flood suffer-
ers with the Government fund appro-
priated by Congress for that purpose
is progressing smoothly
STEADILY RISING.
KANSAS CITY, April 14.-A further
rise of half foot has taken place in
the Missouri River for the twenty-four
hours ending at noon to-day. and
Weather Observer Connor saws the
danger line will be reached this even
ing.
TRACKS SWEPT AWAY.
LEAVENWORTH QAan.), April IA
The river has risen a foot since yester-
day. At noon it was higher than at any
time since 1891. When the pontoon
bridge went out this morning it carried
out a portion of the Rock Island track.
That road and the Chicago and Great
Western are compelled to use the Bur-
lington tracks.
MISSISSIPPI RISING.
DAVENPORT Qa.), April IA - The
Mississippi is within less than two feet
of the danger line at this point and is
rising at the rate of several inches
daily. The merchants are moving goods
from cellars in the business district and
in the district below, the Rock River
and Iowa River Valleys, a large area
of low land is under water, while fami-
lies are moving back from the river to
escape the advancing flood
At Burlington, Ia, the river is again
inches above normal
The residents of Huron Island have
moved to the main land, as that island
is nearly under water.
FACTORY EASEMENTS FLOODED.
MOLINE Qll.), April 1.-THE river is
still rising here and the danger of the
Moline water power wall is so imminent
that the Government has taken an
emergency action to protect it. A slant
ing bulkhead is being built so as to take
care of a possible rise of two feet or
more above the present wall. The
water now stands at 20.5, or within two
feet of the top. The wall, which was
built many years ago, has been weak
ened, and the water is now sweeping
through all along its length.
The cofferdam protects the new wall
in course of construction, and that is
also being strengthened with stone but
tresseS and bags of sand
Several factory Easements are al
ready under water and considerable APP
prehension exists regarding the flood.
Armor Plate for Russia.
WASHINGTON. April 14.-In view of
the very satisfactory tests of American