Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1897-04-07
Flood al De Soto.

The eastern part Of De Soto was
submerged last "Wednesday night
by q cloud burst. and lhou-ant>, OF
dollars worth Of property was de
stroved. Rain had fallen ;;isllns.
all day and up to about l., oclock
that night there Was !: steady down
pour. still there was 10 fear felt
by persons living in the valley on
the east side: but about l2:3o 4
roaring noise was heard and soon
the eastern portion OF town, cast
Of Main street, was under wafer.
Cries for help cou!d he heard on
every side. but it seemed Is if none
could be had. Peeplc were driven
from their houses and started for
the hills on tie west side on! Y 10
be stopped by the mad waters a.
they rushed down the railroad
tracks and Main street. About the
only portion OF ground nj covered
with water was a part OF t:ie yard
Of the Arlington hotel and a space
Of abotl! thirty yards along Airing
ton avenue. East Main street
from Butchers green house to
Clement street WAS 4 river. The
water being from three to six feet
deep, rushing down with a mighty
force. Over near the Joachim creek
barns. fences and olthouScs were
carried away, while many resi-
dcnces were undermined. The new
bridge was swept away and lies q
twisted mass of iron and steel 800
wards below where it stood. Bal
lard Bros. slaughter house. rs we'll
as the fence arrrn,i it. are gone.
Chris Rouden' : stable >uccliinhId
10 the mighty torrents and, with q
horse, WAS carried away. Cord
wood, ties and piling are scattered
all over the streets. \. ". Blank
| loses hundreds of dollars worth OF
lime, cement. plaster, wood, coal,
etc. $. ". Crawfords lumber
ward is wrecked. Butchers green
house and yards are ruined. The
St. Clair S,avc companys plant is
ruined with a loss Of thousands OF
staves. 1t is impossible at this
time to estimate the damage done
to property, but it will reach into
thousands OF dollars, while the city
in the way of streets is about
ruined. 1t Is sad sight to sec
ones friends standing in a building
crying for help, expecting every
moment to be carried down to &
watery grave, when they knew what
it meant to attempt Il rescue. For
tunatcly, however. there is no orc
known to have beea drowned. L.
II. Hassee was sleeping iii q porl,
packing establishment and was
forced to the roof Of the building.
where he Stoodand waveda lamp anc
cried. "hclp." 1t was Impossible t;
reach him. J. W. Butchers fami
Iy were also driven to the roof ol
the house. Hugh Steel and +. N
Grow. who room at Crawford
lumber yard, were penned in by
the water, which swept by them
! l;,s'lir- the building with terrific
force. while their friends stool
! within fifty yards unable to lcno
/ them aid. expecting every moment
to see them swept away. II was ;
night of terror and one long to i,
remembered by those who l,;tSscg
i through it.-I'acts.
Heavy rains along the terrritor,
drained by the Neramec and upper
tributaries sweiIcd that river to ;
torrent. The town Of SEeelvilic
which is situated in the valley. wa:
flooded and all the adjacent low
living farms were inundated
Fences and outbtiildings were wash
ed away. and four feet of watcl
stood in the streets. The hranci
railroad on which it is situated wa
badly damaged. Several thouSan'
feet OF track and Il dozen bridge
and culvcrts were washed out.
e 1