The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-14

are being fed to the hungry NAV of tbs
big muddy Missouri at Omaha, in ar
effort to restrain the manifest intention
e9ef that erratic stream to resume the
channel abandoned 20 years ago.
At nightfall it looked like the effort
might succeed. But all hope is hedged
about with provisos that the river does
not rise any higher; that a north wind
does not blow; and, most uncertain of
all, that the break in the bank above
Florence lake is not so bad as the
overflow of water indicates.
FLEE FOR THEIR LIVES.
East Omaha and North Omaha are
flooded by the warers that are rushing
from the overfull Missouri river. The
residents flee for their lives leaving
their possessions behind.
The houses are standing in the flood.
submerged in water from ore to five
feet deep. Fields of grain and fences
disappear beneath the surface of the
water and the trees no longer show
any trunks.
The food is pouring in upon the low
lands Of the east Omaha bottoms in a
stream that is estimated TO be 1000 feet
in width.
T. v NO1OM
1t is sweeping southeast and pours
into Florence lake The water in the
lake has broken over the levee that was
built to separate it from Cutoff lake,
and it is now rushing, with ever-in-
creasing volume, into the latter. 1t is
sweeping over plowed and planted
fields; it is driving residents from their
homes in north Omaha; it is tearing
up fences and threatening the houses
than stand from three to four feet
deep in the water; it is pouring into
Cutoff lake Just north of the long
bridge which leads to CORTLAND Beach.
In the last u hours Cutoff lake has
risen almost two feet If this rate
continues, it is anticipated that, by
! morning the lake will overflow its
southern bank. If this should occur,
and the rise be still maintained, the en-
tire southern portion of east Omaha
would be threatened with most disas-
trous result, as there is no elevation of
the land TO stem the outpouring.
THE BEGINNING.
The beginning of the flood occurred
several days ago For weeks past the
river has been rising gradually
It gas thought that there was no
THE levees would hold, it was
Thought.
They did hold until two days ago.
Then the mighty volume could not
5be restrained longer.
! Two days ago the water crept over
She ton of the bank in the bend of the
river Just below Florence.
It came slowly at first, but ii found
easier passage as time went by. Early
yesterday afternoon the force became
resistleSs.
A great hole was dug in the shore. A
isherman's hut TIT appeared 10 block
the way was torn out bodily and swal-
lowed uD by the river.
1.-The .5peed of the flood was rapid.
o'clock yesterday afternoon north
aha was surrounded OF all sides
dry land; at ) o'clock the people /
~ any of the houses on the low lands
fleeing from their homes; this
hing this portion was covered with !
FER from one TO five feet deep.
IA present the worst of the flooded |
Hrict is located just north of North |
E&S ha At Sherman avenue, a broad |
<hm has shot directly to the south. |
stream just skirts the east end of |
&<& little settlement known as North |
- ha 1t began to creep along the |
BINS about 4 o'clock yesterday |
moon. It first drove out of their
es and from their premises three |
men, Erikson. Larson and Mill
kUGHT TWELVE COTTAGES.
= n swept a quarter of a mile further
Fth and there took within its bosom
Pdozen cottages. The Rileys, the Pc
Fersons, the Johnsons, the Schaefers,
the KnappS. the Clarks and several
other families decamped about
o'clock All these are residents of the
eastern part of North Omaha.
The stream then went on further
south a distance of about half a mile
and struck another little settlement.
.5lhe residents there at 6 o'clock began
RI move. Among those who had to va
cate were the families of Thomas
Hummer, Milton Billy, George Skin
ner. Frank Burwell, Charles Frages,
mist and Murphy. A. these people
uers forced to abandon their houses
In haste, some of them with only their
night clothes on. Many narrow es-
drowning are recounted, but
"a far as is known no lives were lost.
Efforts to recover personal effects from ,
rbe engulfed houses have been of little
avail. Forces of workmen were hur-
lied Quit to protect the houses in the ,
hooded district and have assisted in
restraining the spread eff the water to !
r. west, $onfning it to the channel cut i
DIV the river to Florence lake and from {
Florence lake to Cutoff lake. This has l
saved most3 OF North Omaha from de- I
Cutoff lake at nightfall was
filing up rapidly, but could then ac- (
:ommodate four or five feet more of I
water. It is held back by strong 4
iouble dyke across its lower end and I