Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-05-01
A SUDDEN RISE
In the Des Moines River Breaks the Lcvec
~ Many Places and Spreads Devastation
broadcast.

In the Des Moines River Breaks the Lcyee
~ Many Places and Spreads Devastation
broadcast.
VfTUMwA, Ia, April 25.-The Des
M0nes river, which last midnight was
STATIONARY at the high water mark es-
tabiished by the great flood of 1892,
suddenly began to climb, and by eight
O'Clock to-day had added 10 inches to
the record. The levee broke in many
places, railroad cmbankments were un-
dermined, and hundreds of families
We're compelled to quit their residences
IN great haste. In Ottumwa over 800
families were compelled to move, a
large number making their escape in
boats.
AT Eddyville, IS miles north of this
CIV $50 families vacated their domi-
Giles and the principal streets are be-
ing navigated in row boats.
AtSouth Ottumwa the river flows
parallel with the main street. 1t
bro ~ across this street early this
morning, poured down the business
and residence streets, causing a scram-
BILE for higher ground. Five thousand
people reside in this suburb. Several
hundred deserted their residences and
removed their goods. The water
stands four feet deep in Fairview.
Farm lands are completely inundated.
A large reservoir situated at the
summit ofCourt hill is the source of con-
siderable fear. The recent downpour
has swollen the sources of supply and
the reservoir is now so full that it
threatens to burst and flood the popu-
lous districts just below.
Although the railroad companies
have made strenuous efforts TO save
their roads, traffic is at standstill.
The small streams in southern Iowa
are out of their banks. Railroad
bridges are gone, and travel by high
way is out of the question. The Bur-
lington main line between Chicago and
Denver is cut in two by five miles of
inundated track. Through passengers
and freight trains are being run over
the Galesburg & st. Louis and the
Hannibal & st. Joe roads to Omaha.
The Rock Island also has five miles of
track under water west of here.
Train service was kept in motion
with Keokuli until late this afternoon
when large section of track went out
at Cliflland, eff.ctually blocking the
Rock Island, east and west The Mil
waukee & st. Paul roundhouse and
yards are under water and part of one
approach to their bridge has been
washed away. Trains are running
only between Ottumwa and Marion.
The Chicago Great Western line is en-
tirely shut of. So is the Iowa Cen
tral. The Wabash still has entrance
from the south, but is shut off on the
north.
Work on the levees has been pro-
crossing since last Friday, but the sud-
den rise destroyed great part of
the labor. Large forces are employed
to endeavor to prevent further breaks.
The suburbs have so far been the
worst sufferers, aside from the rail
roads. West Ottumwa, a large resi-
dence section. is entirely flooded, and
the water is still rising. The inhab-
itants cling to their homes, however,
hoping that the worst is over.
Rich farming lands above and below
this city are inundated. The flood has
not reached high stage, but has
spread out in many places to Il width
of i've or six miles.
No loss of life has been 1cpcrted, but
the damage to property will be very
large.