The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
LOSS ESTIMATED AT 100000
SEVERAL IOWA TOWNS FLOODED BY
THE RAMPANT SKUNK RIVER.
Much Damage on the Illinois Side
People Rescued by steamers-High
Water at and Near sa Sale, Ill.

KEOKUK, Ia. July ia hard battle was
fought all day to-day and has reached its
crisis tonight. in which the Missouri farm
ers fought the waters OF the combined Mis-
sissippi and Des Moines rivers at the Egyp-
tian levee, a few miles south Of here. Once
the attacking river succeeded in making a
break in the strong breakwater, but the
farmers rallied and drove it back They
were fighting for their homes, many square
miles OF cornhelds and the safety OF the
town Of Alexandria.
The Des Moines, at its mouth. rose to-
day six inches higher than during the food
of the first week Tonight it lacks a bare
half foot of topping the Egyptian levee and
is steadily rising. The Mississippi is COM
ing up still faster, rising foot and half
to-day. This checks the current in the
Des Moines river and turns the food against
the great levee. The crest of the flood of
both rivers is due to arrive at noon Sun
day, when the question whether Alexandria
and the surrounding corn crop shall go
with the rest will be settled. II the levee
breaks another 100000 will be added to the
damage already done.
Late reports tonight picture the destruc-
ton down the Mississippi. the scurrying
of farmers TO get off inundated lands and
save their families and steamboats, taking
off many. including all residents of the
islands in the Mississippi. The conditions
of yesterday were much worse to-day and
the Mississippi river is from two to ten
miles wide for seventy-hve miles below
Keokuk and rising rapidly The food is
reaching far outlying farms hitherto
missed, and farmers in the lowlands on the
Mississippi side have lost everything but
their eitadels on high knobs and few
fields behind the highest levees.
Damage is also occurring on the Illinois
side between here and Quincy where there
are many thousand acres on the riverside
levees, and the levees themselves not en-
tirely efficient, the water working through
at the site OF the flood gates The Lima
and Hunt levees. opposite Canton. No. the
most dangerous places and which protect
many square miles OF corn Ia Illinois. are
being constantly patrolled and hopes are
entertained that they may possibly hold
The greatest damage is on the Missouri
side of the Mississippi river. between Keo-
kuk and Hannibal, territory covering 800
square miles, and on which the corn was
estimated at eighty bushels TO the acre a
few days ago. Hundreds OF farmers are
tenants who lost crops by last years
drought in the uplands and moved TO the
lowlands this year. Reports to-day arr
that in the territory indicated the loss will
be over four millions. chiefly 10 corn laid
by and I'm splendid condition previously.
The damage done UP the Mississippi river
is greater than expected or at first re-
ported. One township in this county, Green
Bay, is six or seven feet under water IL
contains over 1900 acres OF crops. There
families were driven out hurriedly and
some cattle drowned. Corn there was the
very finest in this section OF the country
last week. The levee eight miles north OF
Burlington broke, inundating three square
miles that had been considered safe
The Skunk river, the most damaging trfb-
utary OF the Mississippi. is roaring down
with a food reached but twice in the his
tory Of the State-in 1851 and 1892 The
water topped the record Of 1892 and touched
the highest record of 1851. This river rises
in the center OF Iowa and empties into the
Mississippi twenty-five miles north OF Keo-
kuk and greatly increases the food at
points below.
Interior Iowa towns on the Des Moines
and Skunk rivers were surprised by the
rapid rise and there is much excitement
II was believed the recession OF the flood
OF the first three days OF the week removed
all danger. and people returned 20 ordi-
nary conditions. The surprise. entailing a
lack OF preparation. caused much increased
damage Eddyville. Ottumwa and Coppock
are among the heaviest losers from this
cause.
Railroads IN Iowa viii be put 20 great
cost in the maintenance OF tracks and
safety Of trains The Burlington and Rock
Island systems are closely patrolied by
watchmen at all bridges and culverts. No
great damage has occurred 20 them on ac-
count OF the systematic prevention, but this
has been done al great cost.
LOSS OF 100000.