The herald., 1897-04-27
Cause a Sudden Panic at
Ottumwa
FIVE HUNDRED FAMILIES
DRIVEN FROM HOME BY RISING
WATERS
Relief Work Ceases at Memphis While
othor Townf,inthe) North iset
Taste OF Sorrow
Associated Press Special wire.

OTTUMWA, Iowa, April 26.-The Des
Moines river which last midnight was
stationary at the high water mark estab-
lished by the great flood of 1892, suddenly
began to climb and by o'clock today
had added fifteen inches to the record.
The levee broke in many places, railroad
embankments were undermined and
hundreds of families were compelled to
quit their residences in great haste. In
Ottumwa 500 families were compelled to
move, a large number making their es-
cape In boats. At Bradyville. eighteen
miles north of this city, $50 families va
Gated 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 morn
ing, poured down the business and resi-
dence streets, causing a panic and
scramble for higher ground. Five thou
sand people reside in this suburb. Sew
eral hundred deserted their residences
and removed their goods. The water
stands four feet deep in Fairvlew. Farm
A large reservoir situated at the sum-
nit OF Court hill is the source of consid-
eTabie fear. The recent downpour has
swollen the sources OF supply and the
reservoir is now so full that it threat
ems to burst and flood the populous dis
tricts just below.
Rich farming lands above and below
this city are inundated. The flood there
has not reached a high stage, but has
spread out in many places to width of
five to six miles.
No loss of life has been reported but
the damage to property will be very
large.
IN THE NORTH
WINNIPEG. Man, April 26.-The Red
river continues to rise and the flood sit
uation is becoming serious The water
is higher than in thirty years. Morris
Emerson, st. John and other towns be-
tween Winnipeg and the Dakota bound
airy line are under four feet of water
and the people are living in barns or the
upper storiee of their houses. The rail-
roads cannot run trains and all COM
munication is shut off with several
points. Winnipeg will have the water
in day or so. The water is now with
in a few inches of the electric power
house and soon the city will be In total
darkness
AT ST. LOUIS
ST. LOUIS, April 26.-The Mississippi
registered a decline here this morning,
but above, at Keokuk, Hannibal. and
other places. a rise of 1.6 feet is shown.
and the Missouri is also booming. AT
Kansas City the advance for the past
forty-eight hours has been fully two
feet. while at Boonville 1t is IL feet
There are places near Quincy where the
water spreads over the low lands from
bluff to bluff, making the river from
eight to ten miles wide. The levees
Iecan stand foot or two more water, but
danger lies in the continual rieing OF
surface water on the inside. which is
now almost to the top of the banks.
CAMP CONGO CLOSED
MEMPHIS. Tenn, April 26-The
Memphis flood sufferers relief committee
acting in conjunction with theswar de-
partment, ordered the formal closing OF
Camp Congo at Che home established for
flood refugees early in the overflow sea
son. All planters We're notified to send
in transportation for farm hands at once
as no further rations will be issued.