The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-05-06
FLOOD AT oTTuMwA.
Des Moines River Rose Suddenly and
Broke the Levees.


Ottumwa, Ia, April 28.-The Des
MOines river. which last midnight was
stationary at high-water mark, estab,
lished by the great food of 1899, sud-
denly began to climb. and by O'Clock
today had added fifteen inches to the,
record. The levees broke in many
places, railroad embankments were un-
dermined and hundreds of families
were compelled to quit their residences
in great haste. In Ottumwa, 500 FAM
lilies were compelled to move, large
number making their escape in boats.
At Bradyville, eighteen miles north of
this CITY, $50 families vacated their
domiciles, and the principal streets are
navigated in rowboats. At South o.
tumwa, the river flows parallel with
the main street. It broke across this
street this morning, and caused a panic
and scramble for higher ground. Fivet
thousand people reside in this suburb
Several hundreds deserted their resi-
dences and removed their goods. The
water stands four feet deep in Fairview.
Farm lands are completely inundated
A large reservoir situated at the sum-
NIT Of Court hill is the source of consid-
cradle fear. The recent downpoun
has swollen the sources Of supply, and
the reservoir is now 80 full that it
threatens to burst and food the pop
ulous districts just below.
Rich farming lands above and below
this city are inundated. The food
there has not reached high stage, but
has spread out in many places to q
width Of five to six miles. No loss Of
life has been reported, but the damage
to property will be very large.
Railway traffic is almost at stand
still. All the small streams in South
ern Iowa are out Of their banks. Rail-
road bridges are gone and travel by high
way is ont Of the question. The Bur-
lington line between Chicago and Dem
yer is cut in two by five miles Of inun-
dated tracks. Through passenger and
freight trains are being run over the
Galesburg & St. Louis and the Hanni-
bal & st. Joseph roads to Omaha. The
Rock Island also has five miles Of track
under water west Of here. Train serv-
ice was kept in motion with Keokuk
until late this afternoon, when large
section of track went out at Clifland,
effecutally blocking the Rock Island
east and west. The Milwaukee & 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 West
ern line is entirely shut of. So is the
Iowa Central. The Wabash still has
entrance from the south, but is shut
off on the north end.
Work on the levees has progressed
since last Friday, but the sudden rise
this morning destroyed great part Of
the labor. Large forces are employed
tonight in an endeavor to prevent fur
'ther breaks. The suburbs have thus far
been the worst sufferers. West Ottum-
wa, large residence section, is entire
~ flooded, and the water is still rising.
The inhabitants cling to their homes,
however, hoping that the worst is over.
The Report From st. Louis.
st. Louis, April 2s.-The Mississippi
river registered a decline here this
morning, but above. at Keokuk, Han
nibal and other places, a rise of lie
feet is shown and the Missouri is also
booming. At Kansas City the advance
for the past forty-eight hours has been
fully two feet, while at Boonville it is
one-half foot. There are places near
Quincy where the water spreads over
the low lands from bluff to bluff, max
ing the river from eight to ten miles
wide.
The levees can stand foot or two
more of water, but the danger lies in
the continual rising of surface water on
the inside, which is now almost to the
top of the banks.