The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-27
Railway Traffic at standstiII I'm
Some Sections Owing To Loss of
Bridges and Tracks.
LEVEES ARE GIVING WAY
AND IMPORTANT DAMS ARE IN DAM
GER OF DESTRUCTION.
Break I'm the Promised Land Levee,
Near Lake Providence, La. Now
Thousands of Feet Wide.

OTTUMwA, Ia, April 26.-The Des
Mones river, which last midnight was
stationary at the high-water mark estab-
lished by the great flood of 1892. suddenly
began to climb and by o'clock to-day had
added fifteen inches TO the record. The
levees broke in many places. railroad en-
bankments were undermined and hundreds
of families were compelled TO quit their
residences in great haste. In Ottumwa
over three hundred were compelled TO
move a large number making their escape
IN boats. At Eddyville. eighteen miles
north of this city, 150 families vacated their
domiciles and the principal streets are be-
ing navigated in rowboats. At South OF
tumwa the river flows parallel with the
main street. 1t broke across this street
early this morning, poured down the BUSH
ness and residence streets. causing a panic
and a scramble for higher ground Five
thousand people reside in this suburb.
Several hundred deserted their residences
and removed their goods. The water stands
four feet deep in Farview. Farm lands are
completely inundated. A large reservoir
situated at the summit Of Court hill, is the
source of considerable fear. The recent
downpour has swollen the sources of sup
ply and the reservoir is now so full that IL
threatens TO hurst and flood the populous
districts just below.
Although the railroad companies have
made strenuous efforts TO save their prop
erty, traffic is almost at a standstill All
the small streams in southern Iowa are out
of their banks. Railroad bridges gone
and travel by highway is out of the ques-
ton. The Burlington main line. between
Chicago and Denver, Is cut I'm two by five
miles of inundated track. Through passen-
ger and freight trains are being run over
the Galesburg and st. Louis and the Ham
nibal & st. Joe road to Omaha The
Rock Island also has five miles Of track
under water west of here. Train service
kept in motion with Keokuk until late
this afternoon, when large section OF
track went out at Cliffland. effectually
blocking the Rock Island east and west
The Milwaukee & St Paul roundhouse and
yards are under water and the part of ons
of the approaches to the bridge has been
washed away Trains are running only be-
tween Ottumwa and Marion. The Chicago
Great Western line is entirely shut of. So
is the Iowa Central. The Wabash still has
entrance from the south, but is shut of on
the north end.
Work on the levees before this city has
been progressing since last Friday, but the
sudden rise this morning destroyed a great
part of the labor. Large forces are en-
ployed tonight in an endeavor TO prevent
further breaks. The suburbs have so far
been the worst sufferers aside from the rail-
roads. West Ottumwa, n large residence
section, is entirely flooded and the water
is still rising. The inhabitants cling to
their homes, however, hoping that the
worst is over. Rich farming lands above
and below this city are inundated. The
flood there has not reached a high stage,
but has spread out in many places To a
width of five or six miles. No loss OF life
has been reported, but the damage 10 prop
ertY will be very large.