Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-14
THE OMAHA FLOOD.
People Leave Their Homes In Order
10 Save Their LIVES.
SWIFT Is THE DESTROYING ANGEL
The Weather Clearing OF, However,
and Prospects Are Said 10 lie
More Favorable.

OMAHA, April l3.-Plling and
boards and bags Of sand, old hay anu
stones are being fed to the hungry
NAV Of the Big Muddy at Omaha In
an effort to restraip the manifest iDten.
tion Of that cratic stream to resume
ago. AT nightfall it looked like the
e6ort might succeed. But all hope Is
hsdged about with provisos that the
river does not rise any higher, that
north wind does not blow and most
uncertain Of all, that the break In the
bank above Florence lake is not 50
bad as the overflow OF water iuoi.
Gates.
East Omaha and North Omaha are
flooded by the waters that are rushing
from the overflow OF Missouri river The
residents fee for their lives, leaving
their possessions behind. The houses
are standing 10 the flood, submerged
In water from ono to five feet deep.
Fields of grain and fences disappear
ben eath the surface OF the water,
and the trees no longer show any
trunks.
The flood ia pouring In upon the
lowlands OF the East Omaha bottoms
in II stream that 10 estimated to BIZ
1000 feet In width. 1t is sweeping
southeast and pours Into Florence lake.
The water in lhe lake has broken over
the levee that was built TO separate 1t
from CuioT lake and 1t Is now rushing
with ever.lnereasing volume into the
latter. 1t is sweeping over ploughed
III In rot Halta. Ia driving
dents from theit homes In North
Omaha; it is tearing up fences anu
threatening the, house that stand
from three to four feet deep IN the
water; 1t Ia pouring into Cutof lake
Just north OF the long bridge which
Leads to CORTLAND beach. In the laal
twelve houIa Cutoff has risen almost
two feet. Ii this rate continues 1t lie
anticipated that by morning the lake
will overflow its southern bank. IL
this should occur, and the rise be still
maintained, the entire southern poll
ton OF East Omaha would be threat
ened most uisastrously, as there 10 no
elevation of the land 10 stem the out
pouring.
The beginning OF the flood occurred
several days ago. For weeks pact the
river has been rising gradually, 1t
was thought that there was no danger.
The levees would hold. II was thought.
They did hold until two days, ago.
Then the mighty volume coulu
not be restrained longer. Two
dsys ago the water crept over the top
of the bank in the bend OF the river
Just below Florence. IL came slowly
at fret, but 1t found easier passage AS
time went by. EARLY yesterday alter.
noon the force became resistless. A
grent hole was dug in the shore. A
fishermsn's hut that appeared TO blOcs
the way was torn out bodily anu swal-
lowed up by the river. The water
made its path and poured along the
h ttoms to the south. The speed OF the
foe d was rapid. Alb O'Clock yester-
Jay North Omaha was surrounded on
all sides with dry land. AT O'Clock
the people in many of the houses on
the lOwlRnds were fleeing from their
homes. This morning this portion
was covered with water from one to
five feet deep. At present the worst
OF the flooded district lie located just
north OF North Omaha. AT Sherman
avenue a broad stream has shot direct.
ly to the south. This stream just
skirts the east end OF the little settle
ment known as North Omaha. 1t be.
gan to creep along the bottoms about 4
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. The
stream then went on further south u
distance OF half mile AMI struck
another little settlement. The real.
denis here at O'Clock began TO move.
Many narrow ESCAPES from drown Mag
are recounted, but so far as known no
lives were lost. Ell to recover
personal effects from the enguiled
houses have been OF little avail.
Forces OF worhmen were hurreJ
Out to protect the houses In the fi1oJ-
ed district and have succeeded IN
restraining the spread Of the water 10
the west, combining H. to the chanUel
cut by the river to Florence like, and
from Florence lake to CutoG lake.