The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-03-25
The Spring Thaw.

The rivers OF the northwest have caused
losses this spring that, when the amounts
are known, Will figure up into the
thousands Of dollars. Railroad and wagon
bridges, fences and other property have
been carried away. South Dakota, Iowa
and Nebraska seem to have had their share
of grief.
The Missouri at Vermillion has
carried away three wagon bridges and half
the piles of the railroad bridge west Of
the city. The Vermillion River rose two
feet Saturday afternoon and was over its
banks i'll many places. AdviceS from this
city state that terrible food can only be
averted by the speedy clearing Of the river.
The ice in the Missouri at Yankton began
going out late Saturday afternoon and
Sunday there was a gorge above city twelve
feet high. The Jim River was full from
bank to bank and the ice solid. Acres of
water are seen in all direction at
Huron. Farmers along the Jim River
have removed their sheds and stock to
higher ground and anchored more perma
nent buildings. Passengers on the North
western for points beyond Salem were
brought back TO Huron Saturday night and
no tickets were sold TO stations south of
Hurley OH this date. The Big Sioux is
mile wide in places in the vicinity of
Flandreau. A great deal of damage has
been done TO small bridges and to hay on
the bottoms.
Intense excitement prevailed at Rock
Valley Saturday on account of the flood.
l.. III. Dearborn rescued eighteen persons
from an island in the Rock River in a
small boat. Three men at this point
ventured out TO partially wrecked rail-
road bridge. The water carried out a
section Of the bridge, cutting off
their retreat, and leaving them
in midstream. After four hours Of
anxious waiting they were rescued byropes.
The waterworkS and electric light plant
at Sioux Rapids were both under water
Saturday. The wagon bridge and ap-
proacheS at this point are gone. People
living on the lowlandS at Cherokee have
been compelled to move. Several bridges
have been carried away and the city pump
ing station is flooded. The river at Des
MoineS was fourteen feet above nor
NAL on the goth and the sitqa-
ton is much worse than at any
previous time. The sudden rise in the
Des MoineS flooded many houses in the
north part of the city and people were
taken out in boats. Mayor MacVicar has
been called upon for aid. The great gorge
in the Iowa River went out at Iowa Falls
Saturday. Aside from damage to the mill
and dam at Alden no harm was done. The
dam of the Northern Milling Company
at Humboldt was carried out, but
no other serious damage resulted.
AT Sioux City the Missouri River is full of
ice, but is not gorging. The lower part of
the city was flooded by the Floyd and hun
dreds of families driven from their homes.
The river had receded to such an extent
Saturday that people were beginning again
to inhabit their homes. A number of rail-
road and wagon bridges have been de-
stroyed in this vicinity.
The Missouri has reached the danger
line at Omaha, with the flood from the
north yet to come. No serious damage has
as yet been done. The north fork of the
Elkhorn is several miles wide in places in
the vicinity of Norfolk. Part of the city is
Inundated to depth of from one to three
feet and includes many residences and
some business houses. The c. ST. P, M.
& o. yards were under water and pas
sengers had to be ferried into the city
Saturday. No fatalities have occurred, but
the property damage will be high.