The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-14

OMAHA, April I3-.Pfisns ana boards
ana bags Of sani. old hay ard stones
arc being fed 20 ths hungry raw Of the
sls Muddy AZ Omaha IN an effort 20 re-
strain the manifest intention ef that er-
ratle stream 10 resume the channel ansn-
donec twenty years ago A. rigstfsn it
locked Ike N. effort might succeed. But
ali hope Ia hedg@i about with rrovisos
that the river does nos rise any higher.
that north wind does net Blow and.
most uncertain OF ali. that the break in
the bank above Florence lake is not SO
bad ar the fiow OF water indicates.
East Omaha and North Omaha are food
ed 5y the waters that are rushing from
the overfun Missouri riyer. The residents
fee for their lives. leaving their possessions
behind The houses are standing in the
Hood. submerged In water from one 10 i've
feet deep. Fields OF grain and fences dis
appear 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 10 be 2 90 feet in
width. 1t is sweeping southeast and pouFs
into Florence lake. The water in the lake
has broken over the levee that was built
TO separate Il from Cut-On lake. and Il is
now rushing with eyer-increasing volume
into the latter. IL Is sweeping over plowed
from their homes in North Omaha; it IS
tearing up fences and threatening tha
houses that stand from three 10 four feet
deep in the water: IL is pouring into Cut
on lake, just north OF the long bridge
which leads 10 CORTLAND beach In the
last twelve hours Cut-on lake has risen
almost two feet II this rate continues. ii
is anticipated that by morning the lake
viii overflow It's southern bank IL this
should occur. and the rise ee still main
talned. the entire southern portion OF East
Omaha would be threatened with a dis
asfrous food. as there Is no elevation OF
the land 10 stem the outpouEing.
The beginning OF the food occurred sew
eral days ago. For weeks past the river
has been rising gradually. IL was
thought that there was no danger. The
levees would hold it was thought. They
did hold until two days ago. Then the
mighty volume could not be restrained
longer. The water crept over the top OF
the bank in the bend of the river just be
low Florence. II came slowly at nrst
but it found easier passage as time went
by Early yesterday afternoon the force
became reslstless. great hole was dug
in the shore. A fisherman's hut that ap-
peared 10 block the way was tora out
bodily and swallowed up By the river
The water having made its path. poured
along IL on the bottoms TO the south. The
Yesterday afternoon North Omaha was
surrounded on all sides with dry land. At
5 o'clock the people in many Of the houses
on the low lands were fleeing from their
homes This morning this portion was
covered with water from one TO i've feet
deep.
At present the worst Of the flooded dis
trict is located just north Of North Oma-
ha. At Sherman avenue broad stream
20 f4z
stream Just skirts the east end Of the
little settlement known as North Omaha.
II began 20 creep along the bottoms aDout
4 o'clock yesterday morning. II drove out
OF their houses and from their PREMISES
three milkmen. Erickson, Larson and
MlIhouse II swept a quarter Of mile
further south. and there took within its
bosom a dozen cottages. The Rileys. the
Petersons the Johnsons the Schaefiers
the Knapps. the Clarks and several other
families decamped about 5 O'Clock. All
these are residents of the eastern part Of
North Omaha
The stream then went on further south
n distance Of half a mile and struck an
other little settlement. The residents
here at O'Clock began 10 move. Among
those who had 20 vacate were the rami-
lies Of Thomas Plummer, Milton Bilby.
George skinner. Frank Burwell Charles
Frages. Erick Peterson. Charles Butcher.
Enqulst and Murphy. All these people
were forced 20 abandon their houses In
haste. some OF them with only their night
clothes on.
Many narrow escapes from drowning
are recounted hu; so far as IS known no
lives were lost. Efforts 10 recover per
~onai effects from the engulfed houses
have been Of little avail. Forces Of work
men were hurried out 10 protect the houses
in the flooded district. and have succeeded
in restraining the spread of the water 70
the west. confning Il to the channel cut
from the river 10 Florence lake and from
Florence lake to Cut OF lake. This has
saved most Of North Omaha from de-
struction.
cut on lake al nIghtfaI was filing up
rausdlv. but could then accommodate four
or Eve feet more OF water. It Is held back
bv a strong double dixie across its lower
end. and from there on 70 the river the
old bed Is crossed by paved streets. street
car tracks. railroad tracks. etc. all az
which present embankments from eight 10
fourteen feet in height. which raust hc
washed our before the Missouri can re-
surns lts abandoned bed. There IS much
uncertainty owing 70 the extensive prop
erty interests involved.
should the river complete tha cutoff II
has threatened East Omaha. with its ex-
tenssve factories including the great Car
ter White Lead Works. VIII be moved into
Iowa. and the 81 co eo bridge Of the .-ast
Omaha Terminal Company viii be Jeff
across a slough. while the thousands II
dollars expended BY the government IA
protecting the hanks % tire river along the
great herd viii have been wasted from
Cut DH lake.
Down n tovu the situation s. less se-i-
Gus than it vas last night. The smelfsr
nf the Omaha & Grant Company is st3I
above water The Thomson Houston cleo
srtc lighting plant ana the Willow Springs
dlStillery car stand Ttse % another foot.
and the railroad companies feel that their
tracks are safe for the tirae- Al are
watching though. and taking every pre-
caution 10 protect their property- The
weather has c1earea cf here. ard the pros
poets are favorable for cessation % the
rains-
DAVIS ISLAND IEyEE HOLDS.