New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-27
RIVERS RISE SUDDENLY.
HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES DRIVEN FROM
THEIR HoMEs-RAILRoAD TRAF
FIG BLOCKED.

FIG BLOCKED
Ottumwa Iowa April 26-The Des Mones River
which last midnight stationery at the high
water mark established by the great flood or lssz
suddenly began to climb and by o'clock to-day
had added fifteen inches TO the record. The levee
broke In many places railroad entertainments were
undermined and hundreds OF families were COM
nelled to leave their homes in haste. In Otumwa
over three hundred families compelled 10
move a large number making their escape In
boats
AT Eddyville. eighteen miles north Of this city,
so families vacated their houses and the principal
streets are being navigated in rowboats.
A, South Ottumwa the river flows parallel with
the main street 1t broke across this street early
this morning and poured down the business and
residence streets causing panic and a scramble
for higher ground Five thousand people live in
.his suburb Several hundred deserted their homes
and removed their goods The water stands four
feet deep In Fairvlew Farm lands completely
Inundated.
A large reservoir at the summit Of Court Hill Is
the source of considerable fear. The recent down.
pour has swollen the sources Of supply, and the
reservoir is full that II threatens TO burst
and food the populous districts just below.
DAMAGE TO THE RAILROADS.
Although :he railroad companies have made
strenuous efforts TO their property. traffic is
almost at a standstnl. All the small streams in
Southern Iowa out of their hanks. Railroad
the question. The Burlington main line between
Chicago and Denver is cut in two by five miles OF
Inundated track Through passenger and freight
trains being the Galesburg and St.
Louis and the Hannibal and ST. Joseph roads to
Omaha The Rock Island also has five miles of
track under water west of here. Train service was
kept in motion with Keokuk until late this after
noon, when large section of track went out at
Climand effectually blocking the Rock Island east
and west The Milwaukee and ST. Paul round
and N
approach 10 the bridge has been washed away
Trains are running only between Ottumwa and
Marion. The Chicago Great Western line Is en-
tirely shut off. So is the Iowa Central. The Wa
bash still has an entrance from the south. but Is
shut of on the north end.
Work on the levees before this city has been pro-
ceeding since last Friday but the sudden rise this
morning destroyed great part OF what had been
accomplished. Large forces employed tonight
IN an endeavor TO prevent further breaks. The
suburbs have far been the worst sufferers aside
from the railroads. West Ottumwa large resi-
dence portion is entirely flooded. and the water is
still rising. The inhabitants cling TO their homes
however hoping that the worst is
Rich farming lands above and below the city are
inundated. The food there has not reached high
stage, but has spread out in many places TO
width OF FIVE or six miles. No loss OF life has been
reported but the damage TO property Will be large
ALARM on THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
Natchez, Miss. April 2s.-The crevasse waters
from the Biggs and Read breaks above are now
going down the Tensas River at rapid rate
causing the stream 10 rise at the rate OF seven
inches in twenty-four hours At Clayton Station
there is left only five feet Of bank The Black
River is also rising from the same cause, and IN
q dav or two trains over the Natchez Red River
and Texas Railroad will suspend operations. The
United States steamer Meigs came down this after
noon and nut off a weeks rat!Ons for 200 refugees
She will proceed up Black River on her relief ex-
petition. The river here rose a tenth OF foot IN
twenty four hours
Lake Providence, La, April "a second break
took place in the Promised Land levee last night
about five hundred feet above the first one. The
levees above the two breaks went in to-day and
the break proper is about 1000 feet wide Work
men making bulkhead TO protect the
upper end Of the levee. The Oteri Bayou levee
remains in a critical condition. Tn river fell one
tenth of d foot in the last twenty-four hours, the
gauge reading FL.
ST Louis Alril 26-At noon the Mississippi regis
tered IS feet above low water mark at Quincy.
ris. Of five inches since last evening. The
Government has force Of men working on the
leyees between there and Warsaw, H., strength
er.ng The weak places Grave fears are enter
doned north OF here. and the greater part or me
over The Chicago Burlington ana Quincy Railroad
Graenville Miss. April 3G.-CCnsderabe uneasi-
RS, is manifested the sudden rise of eleven
foet reported in the Arkansas River at Fort Smith
Any considerable rise there in the present stage OF
the Mississippi means another from Arkansas Guy
south iu the Mississippi win corresponding rise
g. the hackwatcr and total destruction or all crops
planted since the water began to fall
KANSAS RIVERS TAKE JUMP.
LAwrencc. Kan. April 2G.-The Kansas River at
this point is higher than it has been in six years
End is rising rapidly. The dam furnishing water
power to thirty-fivc important industries, including
the city olectric-leht plant is considered in dan
ger II the dam goes out It means certain destruc-
ron Of the Douglas County Mills and possible de-
e,ruction OF the plant Of the Consolidated Earned
Wire Company and other valuable property
Kansas City Mo. April 25.-The Kaw River
reached ifs highest stage this year to-day, and is still
rising The sewers in Armourdale causing some
trouble This afternoon people were busy plugging
uD mauhlles and catch-bas as the wafer was
coming no into the streets and ;hreaen serious
trouble. The damage = far H. slight. AZ one OF
the houses The cattle yards are under Wdtef
ar1 on The loWlandS several small houses are sur
founded and the occupants have been compelled 20
GEEK Sler ground ,,, 900
booming alarming. The Government gauge to-day
registered * feet and II inches, nearly two feet
above the danger line The water is mp 70 Front-st
ana the cellars on Main-st. filed. the damage
already has been considerable. and IL increasing
every hour