Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-03-13
shawneetown, ILL.,, Is Threatened
with a Flood.
RESIDENTS PREPARING 10 LEAVE.
Fear Breaking of the Levees-
Much Damage in Nebraska-
State of Mississippi IL
Sufferer.


the town, thus doing away with the
great danger of disaster that now
threatens the place, which is situat-
ed on low ground and protected by
a large levee, which the people fear
may break should the river rise
much more. A few years ago the
levee broke at Shawneetown and the
place was inundated and scores of
people drowned. The story cannot
be confirmed, but those who know
the situation of the city; believe it
true.
Man and Team Drowned.
Omaha, Neb., March 1.-THE st.
Paul & Omaha road has been unable
to move a train on its Wakefield
branch since last Saturday, on ac-
count of washouts. Albert Kohler, a
young farmer, was drowned near Os-
mond. He was driving across a bridge
over which the water was running.
The horses jumped off the bridge and
the driver and both horses were
drowned.
In Nebraska.
Lincoln, Neb., March 1.-THE food
situation in Nebraska is even worse
than "a hours ago. The wrecking by
an ice gorge of the main line bridge
of the Rock Island across the Platte
river at South Bend, and that of the
Missouri Pacific near Louisville has
still further demoralized railroad
traffic. The Rock Island is still run
ming trains between here and Oma-
ha over the Burlington tracks, and
the Union Pacific utilities the same
line for an outlet from Omaha west
ward. The center of the flood along
the Platte, which Monday night was
at Columbus, has moved eastward,
and on Tuesday reached Fremont.
the bottom lands for miles east and
west of that town being under water.
The point of greatest danger now is
at Plattsmouth, where the Platte
empties into the Missouri, which
stream, already high, will be given
an increased and dangerous volume
of water as the mass of ice and
water flows into it. A gorge, which
formed at Plattsmouth Tuesday
morning, caused the Missouri to go
out of its banks, and the crash of ice
against the Burlington's new steel
bridge shook the structure threaten
ingly. Workmen on the bridge at the
time, dropped their dinner buckets in
the river and fed in terror. Both
the Burlington bridges at Platts-
mouth are still in danger, and are. be-
ing carefully watched. Over the
state every stream of any magnitude
is bank full or running over. Stock
is being moved to higher ground. and
there is occasional reports of stock
losses.
Guarding the Levees.
Natchez, Miss, March 11.-Armed
guards are patrolling the levees
along the river front to prevent the
cutting of the embankments, which
are barely confning the waters OF
the flooded Mississippi.
jackson, Miss, March 1.-THE sit.
uation in the Mississippi delta and
along the Mississippi river water
front is growing more dangerous
hourly. Forces Of state convicts are
being rushed to the river front. A
great deal will depend upon the
levees on the Arkansas side of the
river.
Illinois River Rising.
Peoria, ILL.,, March 1.-THE Illinois
river is rising at an alarming rate,
and should the present rise continue
for the next "a hours the high water
mark will be beaten. The approaches
to the upper bridge are now inun-
dated, and farmers are unable to
reach the city. Fields below the city
are under water, and much alarm is
felt among the owners Of bottom
land.
Grows More Critical.
Cairo, Ills, March 1.-THE river at
Cairo is gradually rising, the gauge
showing a stage of 4s.4 feet. The stu
alton below Cairo is hourly becoming
more critical. At Bird Point the water
is running over the Iron Mountain
tracks and is within few inches of the
Cotton Belt tracks. The entire place
is under water. The water has backed
in behind the levee at Norfolk and the
entire country between the river and
Charleston is fast being submerged.
Reports from Belmont, Mo-, say the
entire place is under water and that
the situation is gradually becoming
worse. The steamer Rees Lee arrived
from the lower river and reports Sc
rious state of affairs at Columbus and
Hickman, KY, thousands of acres of
farming lands being covered by raging
waters. The farmers have been NOV
ing as best they could but much valu-
able stock has been left to perish. The
Kentucky country opposite Cairo is
under water for several miles hack
Not Forgotten.
Charleston, S. c., March 11.-Mrs.
John Hopkins, who lives in reduced
circumstances at Ophir gold mine,
Union county, this state, will receive
$4,000, the fortune Of the late Charles
Hill, alias "salem Charley" of Los
Angeles, Cal. It appears that Mrs,
Hopkins first husband, Robert Alex
ander, while in Texas 20 years ago,
saved the life of Charles Hill, and he
made will of all his property to his
preserver.
Battleshhp Oregon In Terrible storm.
San Francisco. March 11.-Sailors
recently on the battleship Oregon,
who have arrived here on the steam.
er Coptic, report that the Oregon was
in terrific storm on February &c