The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-27

oTTUMwA. Ia. April es-Ths Des
Aosres river. which last midnight was
stationary at the hish-watsr mark eStab-
hshed by the great aoo1 CO lSS- sudden
~ began TO climb and by 5 o'clock today
had added fifteen inches 10 the record.
The ievees broke in many places. rail-
road entertainments were undermined and
hundreds CT families were compelled 20
quit their residences in great haste. In
Ortumwa SO families were compelled TO
move, q large number making their eS-
cape in boats AT Bradyvtlle. eighteen
miles north Of this city. 80 families va
Gated their domiciies. and the principal
streets are being navigated in roxboats.
At South Ottumws the river dews paral-
lei with the main street II broke across
this street early this morning and pour
ed down. the business and residence
streets. causing panic and scramble for
higher ground. Five thousand people re-
side in this suburb. Several hundred de-
serted their residences and removed thier
goods. The water stands four feet deep in
Fairview. Farm lands are completely In
undated.
A large reservoir situated al the sum-
nit of Court hin is the source OF consid-
cradle fear. The recent downpour has
swollen the sources OF supply and the
reservoir Is now so fun that il threatens
to burst and food the populous districts
below this city are inundated The food
there has not reached high stage, but
mas spread out In many places to a width
OF five or six miles
No loss OF life has been reported. but
the damage TO property viii be very large
Railway traffic IS almost at a staadstllI
All the small streams in Southern Iowa
are out OF their banks. Railroad bridges
are gone and travel by highway is out OF
the question. The Burlington line be-
tween Chicago and Denver Is cut in two
ny nve miles OF inundated track. Through
passenger and freight trains are being run
over the Galesburg and St Louis and
the Hannibal s. ST. Joseph roads to O.na-
Ia The Rock Island also has FIVE miles
OF track under water west OF here Train
service was kept In motion with Keokuk
until late this afternoon. when a large sec
ton OF track went out at Clirland ef-
fectuslly blocking the Rock Island east
and west The Milwaukee St Paul
roCndhouse and yards are under water
and part Of the approach to their bridge
mas been washed away. Trains are run
ming only between Ottumwa and Marion
The Chicago Great Western line is en-
tirely shut OF. So is the Iowa Central
The wabash still has entrance from the
south. but is shut of on the north end
Work on the levees before the city has
been progressing since Friday, but the
sudden rise this morning DESTROYED a
great part OF the labor. Large forces are
employed tonight In an endeavor TO pre-
vent further breaks. The suburbs have.
so far. been the worst sufferers aside from
the railroads West Ottumwa. a large
residence section. IS entirely flooded. and
the water Is still rising. The inhabitants
cling to their homes. however, hoping
that the worst Is over
Situation at st. Louis
ST. LOUIS. April 2s.-The Mississippi
registered a decline this morning, but
above. at Keokuk, Hannibal and other
places a rise Of I6 feet was shown At
Kansas City the advance for the past
forsy-eight hours has been fully two feet,
while at Boouvilie IL Is but twelve feet
There are places near Quincy where the
water spreads over the low lands from
blu1 TO bluff, making the river from eight
10 ten miles wide. The levees can stand
foot or two more water. but the danger
lies in the continual rising or surface
waters on the inside which is now almost
TO the top OF the banks.
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