Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-18

stock is being taken away. The water is
too deep for wagons and the removal must be
by boats.
This eastern arm Of the lake is also eating
into a dixie that is furnished by high graded
street two blocks north Of Locust street. 1t
is overlooking westward In broad streams.
These streams are meeting others that are
flowing from the west arm OF the lake. The
land between the two arms south OF Court
land beach is now practically an island. The
only approach on foot is along the high grade
upon which are located the street car tracks
running to the beach. All the other roads
are crossed by broad streams OF water that
are six and seven feet in depth.
1t Is questionable also whether this island
VIII long remain an island. II promises to
become a part OF the lake IL the rise con-
tlnues. In fact, II is now more than half
under water. Potter G. Georges addition at
the west end Of the Ames avenue bridge is
all under water. The houses are every one
OF them vacated There Is some high land
west of the east arm Of the lake, but this
is slowly being flooded. The water is coming
up from the north, west, south and east
MAY SAVE THE BRIDGE.
The road that leads from the Ames avenue
bridge along the Courtand beach fence to
the main entrance at the east is under water,
except short distance at the east end Of
the bridge. Spectators who wished to go to
the pavilion at the beach walked along the
top Of the fence. The beach itself is also
covered with water except a small portion at
the pavilion.
The Ames avenue bridge was in a pre-
carious condition yesterday. The current
had eaten away the approach at the west
end and all the morning a gang at
work upon wooden approach some
what similar condition exists at the east
end. The water is licking up through the
boards on the bottom of the bridge If the
rise continues the bridge will be unsafe
for travel in short time. The only teams
that were allowed upon 1t were those draw
ing the furniture of the fleeing residents.
A number of the latter are camped in tents
on the ground between the lake aud Sher-
man avenue.
Swfts and the other ice houses on the
northern shore Of the lake appear to be
safe. The dam in Florence lake is holding.
The biggest part of the back water from ii
is sweeping along the Sherman avenue cur
rent. AS this food pours into the lake it is
overlooking to the south and is therefore,
saving the northern shores of the lake
The river is continuing to back further
into the southern shore Of the island At
Nicholas street II has gone further inland
and is within a few feet of number of
factories but it Is not endangering them. 1t
is pouring more water into the pools that lie
to the south Of the Locust street dixie, to the
north OF which are the waters from Cut On
lake.
The river front of the city is much the
Shlllt as tTludy. lie ONeiuUW has HOt
yes fallen and the squatter settlements are
still surrounded by water.
The Union Pacific river report yesterday
showed that the water had neither risen nor
fallen since o'clock Friday morning.
Omaha was the only principal point on the
river which reported the water as being
stationary. The reports from Sioux City.
Bismarck and Yankton indicated a decided
fall in the water.
DRAWS MANY SIGHTSEERS.
Hundreds OF spectators crowded about the
yesterday afternoons to witness the food and
it's effects. They came in all manner of ways
and spent hours in gazing upon the vast eX-
panse Of water. Vehicles were not allowed
upon the bridge but it was crossed by num-
bers of foot passengers who were not able
however, to go far beyond the east end be-
cause of the flooding of the road and the
adjacent fields. The calmness of the after
noon induced some to go out in boats upon
the bosom of the lake in order to gain a more
extensive view Of the effects of the flood and
the overflow.
A couple dozen fishermen waded all day
through the stream pouring into the lake at
the west end of the bridge. They tried after
the fish coming in with nets. spears and
hooks, but their efforts were not very sue
cessful, as the game kept to the bottom of
the running water. Occasionally a prize was
obtained Several big buffalo were pulled
out Fishermen in considerable numbers
also infested the lower portion of the lake
Here they were more successful as the fish
came to the surface in the quiet water