The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-07-17
TRAFFIC ABANDONED
Floods Cause Railways and Pa
irons Greatest Inconvenience.

The trains on all roads going
through the city were in bad mix
up owing to the heavy rains of Sun
day night and travel is almost stop
ped Every train in to-day was late
and the time schedules are almost
useless.
There has been no trains north over
the Iowa Central .ince Sunday after
noon No. 2 south bound, due here
at $3.50 p. m. Sunday night came in
several hours late and early Monday
morning it was reported that both
approaches to the bridge over Skunk
River had been badly washed. The
5:l5 train from the north this morn
ing has not arrived and No l going
north at $3.50 remained in this city
being unable to go farther. All traf-
fic was abandoned for the day.
On the Rock Island road affairs are
in general mix up Word was re-
ceived from Sigourney early Monday
stating that there was 600 feet of
track out just this side of that city
and that no trains could reach the
depot from the west A telegram
from Ottumwa stated that three feet
of water stood over the tracks there
covering both the Rock Island and
O., B. & @, road beds for nearly two
miles. No. 203 from Ottumwa to Des
Moines did not arrive, and No 206
from Des Moines to Ottumwa arrived
over a quarter of an hour late. No
passengers were allowed to get on
the train until orders were received
and when it was found the train could
not get into Ottumwa it was decided
to run it on to Sigourney in place of
No. 8. A later dispatch from Sigour-
ney said they could transfer pas
sengers across the washout but bag
gage transportation was almost i'm
possible. No. s which mates up at
Evans and runs to Washington max
ing connections there for Chicago,
was ordered back to the round house
as No. 2O5 from Des Moines was
carrying the passengers east. The
officials did not know what the train
would do after reaching Sigourney,
but thought probably it would com q
back here for further orders. All
thought of schedule time was aban-
doned aud the generali spirit was
ANY way to get there" Most of the
travelling men bound for Ottumwa
went over the Burlington on the
O'Clock freight hoping 10 make con-
nections with the Milwaukee at He'd
rick, The tram from EIdon to Des
Moines came around by way of Wash
ington.
The depots were crowded all
morning with disappointed travellers
to get out of town. Several
had missed their trains on Saturday
and had already been delayed over
Sunday, and their expressions of dis
gust were deep and heartfelt. All
baggage over the Rock Island was
CHECKED at the owners risk the COM
pany refusing to be responsible for
lee safe delivery. Wires are down all
along the washouts and it is difficult
to get particu' ars of the damage done
in any direction.
Later reports along the Iowa Gen.
trail stated that the Skunk river
bridge was again in shape for travel
and that the principal trouble is &C
Searsboro where the bridge is still
out. Train No. going north through
here at 1880 p. m. was turned around
at this city and sent back along the
eastern line as the regular passenger
No due through from the north at
IL 80 a. m.
The Burlington suffered the least
of any. No washouts are reported
and trains are running almost as
usual The noon passenger was
little late but otherwise the tra11c is
in no way retarded.