Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-07-17
BEATRICE LOSSES REACH QUAR-
TER OF A MILLION.
SAVED BY HEROIC EFFORTS
ron A TIME 1T SEEMED THE CITY
WAS DOOMED
WITHOUT FIRE PROTECTION
cnder Found IN the CrisIs who Formed
Bucket brigade EIood That Surrounds
city Is Subsiding.

Beatrice, Ncb July ii-Fire and
floods formed combination OF ele-
mentS which has severely tested the
physical and mental strength OF the
people Of Beatrice the past twenty
four hours, and that there have been
seen in that time many historical
people would excite 10 wonder II a
fun view ~ the situation could be
presented. Losses aggregating fully
one quarter If "A million dollars have
been sustained by the people Of Be
atrice, ana that the fire which
started early Thursday morning did
not lay waste the entire business
section was purely providcntial
Fol- over forty hours the city had
been completely shut oil from the
outside world as far as railroad COM
munication goes.
The Blue river is a miniature lake
for miles, and though no rain has
fallen in this section for forty-cight
hours the foods steadily continued
to rase yesterday and last night I'M
til the water at 10 O'Clock this
morning had reached seventeen
inches higher than it was ever before
seen here. All night gangs Of men
were busy taking people out In
boats, and as the city was in total
darkness some Of the scenes depicted
were thrilling to degree.
A regular systematic boat patrol
was established and as the river was
rising everywhere with swift cur
rent, 1t is wonderful that no lives
were lost.
Sensational stories Of railroad dam
age repeatedly came in but the truth
was bad enough. Up to noon yes
terday railroad traffic through here
was uninterrupted, the various roads
using the liues here as an avenue for
trains from other divisions where
there was trouble but since then
everything has been tied up
This evening m extra work train
on the Rock Island. which was en-
deavorng to back In to Beatrice
from the east, lost four cars Of meat
and provisions near the Bear creek
crossing The track slid out from
under the cars which fell over iD the
water. They remained coupled, and
the train Is being held there. The
butchers Of Beatrice depend largely
on the packing houses and the meat
supply is nearly exhausted.
Tonight the water is rapidly fall
ing and as it does scene devasta-
ton is revealed which Is appalling
The damage to property owners in
and around Beatrice will reach fully
one hundred thousand dollars, while
the city and county loose heavily
in washed out and damaged bridges
Railroad men say the damage to
tracks is almost beyond belief.
Some Idea Of the extent Of the water
can be gained when 1t Is known that
the river was ngaJly one mile wide
on Court street. Where this i'm
mense volume Of water came from
IS pulling.
The nervous tension experienced
by Beatrice people because Of the
food was quickly heightened when
at 2 O'Clock this morning a signal Of
fire was given.
With the waterwOTks shut down
every one stood aghast at the situa.
ton The fire which was OF un-
doubted incendiary origin, began in
nearly the heart Of the business sec
tion. 1t was not believed by anyone
within view OF the flames that any
power around could stay the blaze,
and the stoutest hearted quailed as
appeal after appeal was made for
assistance. Help was at hand In
Lincoln, the authorizes soon found
out, but there was no possible way
VI transportation. The situation
was one which the people OF Beatrice
hope never 10 have To face again
From the Green block, where the
fire started, which went down with
in thirty minutes, II quickly eat its
way into the big department store
OF the Klein Merchantile company.
The heat became intense and soon
all the windows 10 the three story
Masonic temple building across the
street on the west side were ablaze,
Killed Two Medicine Men.