The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-09

Particulars of the great foods that have
been delaying trains In North Dakota
show that the inundation has been gen
eraL The reports place the seat Of trou-
bic between ST. Cloud. MINI. and Lari-
more, y. D.. on the line OF the Great
Northern, taking in large section OF the
Northern Pacific. The trouble TO the two
systems has been about equal, although
the Northern Pacific, by reason Of the
washing away of two bridges. has been
compelled 10 run its trains over section
Of Great Northern tracks In North Da
kota. The Great Northern has been more
fortunate than its rival In that IL has sue
ceeded in getting its trains through in
tact although several hours late. The
Northern Pacific overland was twelve
hours late yesterday and the Great
Northern about six. The former, though,
was not through from St. Paul
In connection with the foods in the Da-
kotas. the following word comes from the
seat OF the trouble. which. although sew
eral days late, gives an idea OF the extent
Of the damage:
"All indications point to the highest
water in the history of the country, even
far exceeding the flood of ISL, and there
Will be along the Red almost the largest
body OF fresh water on earth West or
Fargo and south OF the Northern Paeihc
tracks the water averages about two teet
deep. and is higher In the big coulee west
OF the city than has ever been known The
ridge will be a terrible flood when II
reaches here. as II VIII be added 10 the
immense quantity now here and going
northWard
There have been no trains over the
Great Northern since Tuesday. No. on
the Northern Pacific was sent north over
the Great Northern tracks at noon today
and will reach East Grand Forks and
Crookston. The Great Northern has en-
gines and cars here. but made no attempt
to run its specials north. It's train started
at Sabin. One Northern Pacific train is
expected this afternoon over the Great
Northern tracks.
IAN the highway bridges in the towns
Of Elmwood and Glyndon have been car
ried away and the railroad bridges are
expected TO 20 at any time. The Great
Northern bridge at Sabin is held in place
by ten cars heavily laden with Montana
copper. All the farmers at sabin have
lost their seed potatoes and many OF them
their live stock. At Glyndon and Stock
wood everything is under water. 1T Is
now reported that the Northern Paclnc
bridge at Tenny. five miles east OF this
CITY. has gone out. 1t is also reported
that there is gorge In the Red river near
wahpeton. and that the high bridge on
the Breckenridge division OF the Great
Northern has been carried away.
Another account of the floods is given
In the Spokesma a. Review of April in
the form of an interview with citizen
of that place. who was Great Northern
passenger arriving in Spokane the day
before. Ii says:
About 100 miles west of St. Paul We
ran into the flooded district said Mr.
Libby yesterday. IAN of the streams
were out OF their banks and many OF the
towns and cities were flooded. Forty miles
west OF Wahpeton. y. d, the whole coun-
try was under water. There was nothing
but water 10 be -een as far as the eye
could reach. We had been obliged 20
leave the main track at 81. Cloud and
continued from there through Nahpeton
and other towns on a branch line that
paralIeis the main line 10 the west. We
were stopped for one night al Wahpet0n
and again Et point one mile east OF
Dickinson where the water was over the
that the culverts had proven insufficient
20 carry II OF 50 I seemed 10 be under
mining the track. Finally a loaded box
car was sent down and placed in front
% an engine 10 hold the track down
ahead OF us and We got through We
cot back 10 the main track at Dickinson,
y -. Crossing the Northern Pacific
tracks there. we saw them 10 be in bad
shape. AZ Dickinson we were transferred
After passing IarimQre. y d, we expert
eaced no trouble with foods. although
now and then Ne were obliged 10 stop
hv reason of bouiacrs rolling down on the
track All through the flooded district
the dcpotS md grain warehouses were
filled with people who had been obliged
to abandon their homes and seek shelter
there. In many OF the little towns the
water was half way to the top OF the
windows and the people had moved out.
During the delay we were treated with
the utmost courtesy and kindness by fhc
railroad officials and employees and ev-
erythng was done for our comfort"