Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-07-10
Flood Situation at Des
MOineS Becomes
Alarming.
MANY ARE HOMELESS
While Street Car Traffic
and Other Business
is Threatened.

Des Moines. July 10.-The flood sit
uation reached its most alarming
stage in the history of the city today.
The Des Moines river was 21 feet
above low water mark at o'clock,
having risen three feet in less than
10 hours. and is still rising at a rapid
rate. The Raccoon river, which emp
ties into the Des AIoines at this place,
advanced four feet in few hours,
and is still going up.
The district containing thousands
of residences, business houses and
factories is seriously menaced by the
high waters. Levees which protect
the district have already given away
in many places. Hundreds are work
ing desperately along the Ievees to
save their homes and property, but
the water is slowly driving them
from their positions.
Residents of South Des Moines, ow-
ing to the breaking of a large sec
tion of the levee. were forced to flee
from home early this morning.
Thousands of dollars worth of prop
erty was destroyed and that section
is now practically cut off from the
rest of the city. Four feet OF water
is rushing through the district of 20
blocks occupied by residences.
In North Des Moines a wide breach
in the Ievee caused 400 residents to
abandon their homes and much prop
ertY.
waterworks and Street Cars stop.
The situation will be intensified by
= l.
ter works if the river advances an
other foot, and the city will be alb
solutely out of water for domestic
consumption, factory use or fire pro-
lection. Street car traffic has been
abandoned on a number of the lines
and viii have to be abandoned all
| over the city in short time.
1t is reported from Adel, Fort
Dodge and other places above Des
Moines that the river is still rising,
which is a greater menace to this
city.
Des Moines, Ia. July 10..The Des
| Moines, Iowa, Raccoon. Cedar and
| Skunk rivers are from seven to fifteen
| feet above low-water mark and the
| lowlandS are submerged. Hundreds
have been made homeless. In Des
| Moines 200 persons have already been
| forced to abandon their homes and
have suffered the loss Of horses, cat
| tie, and hogs. Truck gardeners have
| suffered the loss of crops of an es-
| timated value of $4,000.
| DeS MOineS. Ia. July 1O.-The con-
| tinued rains have forced nearly all
Iowa streams from their banks and
| the destruction of crops, live stock
and other property is assuming i'm
menSe proportions. 1t is impossible to
estimate the damage from the indeti-
mite reports received. The damage is
| especially textenSive In the central,
nor thern. western and southwestern
parts of the state.
Sioux City-STa July 1O.-Damage TO
| the extent of many thousands of dol
lars has been done in the bottom lands
| southeast of Sioux City by Hoods. Rain
ceased falling ut noon and the worst
| is believed to be over. Reports from
towns nearby tell of heavy loss. Otto,
Hornic. Luton and Mapleton are flood
ed and surrounded by vast eXpanseS
| of water.
Nebraska Situation Serious.
| Lincoln. NeD.. July 10.-The hoon
! situation here is becoming serious. Re-
ports of rise in Salt creek. south OF
| here caused the. police To warn people
| TO escape from the lowlands. y carload
of flour donated to sufferers is being
/ distributed The number Of those
| forced to leave their homes is not
| large. All over the state rain has
worked much ruin, and in the worst
sections the ruin to crops is almost
| comulete.
Chippewa Falls, Wis, July .10--Se-
rious damage was done by the storm
| in Chippewa county Wednesday night.
| Ole Hanson. a farmer near Wheaton,
| had two large barns and a number OF
| machine sheds blown down. and will
suffer a loss of $1,000. Crooks and
| Cummings large hay barns were de-
| molished. their loss being 81 200. Matt
| Cheney's barn was struck by lightning
and destroyed, entailing loss of ST.
| 500