Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-25
BIG BLUE SWAMPS BEATRICE
River 0verfows There and Endangers Many
Lives.
WIGHT OF TERROR TO THE TowNsPtopLE
Driven from Their Beds by the Rush
of waters and Forced to Seek
Safety on Housctops and
i'm Trees.

BEATRICE, Neb., April 24.--(Special
Telegram 1.-THE most disastrous flood in the
history Of this section OF the country began
about midnight last night. At that time
the Big Blue began rising and came up
30 rapidly that many people living on the
west side Of the river in this city were un-
able to escape before a torrent OF water was
running through their houses. At 2 o'clock
the fire alarm whistle at the water works
was thrown wide open and was blown at
short intervals TOR an hour or more for the
purpose of alarming the people who were
In danger from the food, and also
to get out assistance for those
who we're waterbound. The scenes from 2
o'clock until daylight are indescribable, and
Ia many Instances we're heartrending. Every
boat that could be found was pressed into
service, and the work OF rescuing men,
women and children from nodstops, trees
ana high points Of ground was vigorously
puaned forward. 1t was no uncommon thing
to hear cries for help come up out of the
blackness OF the night and the work OF rescue
was made more difficult by the torrents of
water falling and the wind, which was al
mcst blowing a gale
The water has fallen about eight inches
since morning. but information from the
country north Indicates that there will be
another rise during the night.
as lar as 1t Is possible TO ascertain, no
lives nave been lost. but there were
many almost miraculous escapes. One
family containing several small children
was taken from the roof Of house In the
northwestern part Of the city at late hour
this morning, they having been perched upon
the roof for ten hours, all thoroughly soaked
ana chiiied through. 1t was supposed until
3 o'clock this morning that family named
Wolisey had been drowned, but they were
finally rescued from their house uninjured.
The iron bridge across the Blue at Scott
street was swept out during the night. The
wafer has cut channel across Court street,
west Of Dempsier,s mauufactory, and has
cut Off communication between the east and
west sides Of the river. About 5 o clock this
morning the water had reached q higher
point than 1t has ever been known to reach
In The history OF the city. and at that hour
the fire in the water works station wac
reached and the city has been without fire
protection all day 1t is impossible to make
any estimate at this time of what the loss
Will amount to.
Tbe city officials and citizens generally
have acted with commendable promptness
In seeing to 1t that the flood sufferers are
provided with shelter and food. Chief of
Police Hershman reports that tonight finds
1,lOO people without homes and depending
upon the charity of the city. on account of
the high water, and that all are being prop
orly cared for. Early this afternoon an i'm
pronptu meeting of citizens, both men and
to eolclt cash and supplies for immediate
neeus, and this evening meeting was held
ct the Auditorium to plan systematic work
Rev c. S. Dudley presided. The city was
divided into three districts, and a commit
tee appointed for each district to ascertain
Just what supplies are needed these commit
tees to report to an executive committee
from which orders will be issued upon
custodian In charge of the supplies. There
is no doubt but that the city will be able to
care for all of it's unfortunates, and no out
side aid will be solicited
TECuMSEH, Neb., April 24.-(Speciai Tele-
gram)-The worst flood along the Nemaha
river since 1883 prevailed today Heavy
rains along the river caused a rise at
O'clock and by o'clock this morning it was
eight feet above its normal condition. The
lowiands we're badly submerged and dam
age Is quite extensive. The farm lands are
badly washed and many bridges and cul-
Verts dslodged. Stock is drowned in large
numbers Here In the city, those families
living on the bottoms were compelled to
hastily desert their homes. Houses and fur
niture are damaged and stock barns, sheds.
walks, etc, are washed away. Mills, eleva-
tors and corncribs are suffering. North Of
town over mile of b. & M. railroad track
is wrenohed off the bed and the bed badly
washed. IclCw the city the damage is also
great, but cannot yet be reached. Road
master BrackeI. will have a big force at work
on the track in the morning. special stock
train. carrying 500 fat. steers, is stalled at
AuHiLS anu u freight ut oleIllHB.
from Nebraska City only have reached here
today rnd all telegraph lines with the excep-
ton os the ore by Nebraska City are down.
Two and one-tourth inches Of rain fell at
this point.
WYMORE, Neb., April 24.-(Special)-A
terrific rain storm, accompanied by some
hail, visited this section last night Prob
ably FIVE inches of water fell and no farm
work can be done for some days.
HUMBOLDT Neb., April 2i.-(Special)
A heavy rain, amounting to about two
inches, fell during the night. Lightning
struck the three-story building of Fellers &
Segrist but fortunately only tore down the
chimney. Both the rivers are running al
most level with their banks
DECATUR, Neb.. April 24.-(Special )-The
Missouri river is cutting in lots OF land
here. Two dwelling houses have been moved
back from the bank. and 1t will not be long
before the feed mill will have to be pulled
away. Several acres of the townsite has
fallen in, Below the town on line of about
three miles 1t is safe to estimate that 200
acres OF farm land has dropped off in the
past week. 1t was thought owing to the
bad luck had during the recent high waters