The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-11
FLOODS IN
WEST CAUSE
BIG DAMAGE
Iowa Residents Flee and No
Car Traffic. Situation in KAN
-Sas and Nebraska.

Des Moines. Ia. July 1.-THE flood sit
uation reached its most alarming stage
yesterday. The Des Moines river was 2l
feet above low water mark at 7 o'clock
and was still rising. The Raccoon river
whichssmpties into the Des Moines at this
place. rose four feet between and 1880
o'clock and was still rising. The flood Is
at the highest point since 1851.
Hundreds of men are working desper-
atsly along the levees TO save their homes
and property. but the water Is slowly
driving them from their positions. Resi-
dents OF South Des Moines keeping an
anxious vigil owing 20 the breaking Of q
large section OF the levee, we're forced TO
fee. Thousands OF dollars worth OF prop.
erty were destroyed in 30 minutes and II
is now practically cut Off from the rest
OF the city. Four feet OF water Is rush
ing through a district of 20 blocks, occu-
pied by residences.
The Des Moines river by noon had re-
ceded three inches. The Raccoon river.
however. continued TO rise. At noon II
had invaded the factory district and moth
ing but the roof OF the Keith furnace
factory and the Mccormick Manufactur-
ing company, could be seen. Thousands OF
dollars worth OF machinery In these
places were destroyed.
In North Des MQines a wide breach In
the levee occurred at 8 o'clock. and 400
residents were forced to abandon their
homes and much OF their property.
STREET CAR TRAFFIC. SUSPENDED.
The situation is Intensified by the ne
cessity OF closing down the water works
II the river advances another foot. Hun
dreds Of men are constructing a tempor-
ary levee about the water works. but the
water rises almost as fast as they work.
Street car traffic has been abandoned on
Adel. Fort Dodge and other places above
Des Moines that the rivers are still ris-
ing. which is a greater menace to this
city.
Another span of the Great Western
bridge at thisl place went out during the
forenoon, the bridge now being almost
total wreck.
At Nineteenth street occupants of a
half-dozen houses which were surrounded
by water were heard from the second
story window crying piteously for boats.
None were available at the time and the
prisoners were almost beside themselves
with fear.
FARM COUNTRY DEVASTATED.
A tornado struck Oxford yesterday. dew
astattng the farm region In that vicinity.
causing the greatest damage TO orchards
and outbuildings and killing live stock.
At Marshalltown the Iowa river has
reached Its highest point and a number of
washouts have delayed trains on the
Northwestern and Great Western roads.
The Des Moines river Is rising two inch
es an hour and is lslz feet above low
water mark.
IN NEBRASKA AND KANSAS.
At Bennington. Nebraska. the Papio
river has risen to torrent a mile In
width. Twenty families have been forced
10 abandon their homes. A conservative
estimate places the losses from the floods
In Nebraska at more than a million dol
lars. In Otoe county more than 80 bridges,
valued at $4,000. have been carried away.
Northern Kansas again experienced an
other heavy rainfall. following the uncre-
cedented rains OF the last few days. West
of Clyde two Missouri Pacific bridges
have been washed out. Streams are still
rising.