Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-11
TRAFFIC SCHEDULES ARE SUSPENDED
Roads Borrow Each Others Lines to
Enable Trains to Move.
FREMONT INUNDATloN RAPIDLY RECtDES
Ice COrge Breaks and Refugees HOPE
Soon TO Return Home,
WATERS VICTIMS DWELL IN CITY HALL
RnmpaEing River Carries Tons of
Broken Ice Through InEIewOOd
and Columbus streets, but
Little Damage Reported.


fine railroads in Nebraska are having
trouble in moving their trains because Of
the flooded condition OF the streams which
they cross. washouts ard flooded tracks
have suspended schedules and rendered
long lengths Of line useless.
The Chicago, st. Paul. Minneapolis &
Omaha has not been able TO move a train
from Harrington to Wakefield since Sat-
urday because Of high water and wash
outs. The Northwestern train from Bone
steel waA our and half hours late yester-
day because OF a washout.
On the main lines OF the Union Pacinc
and Chicago, Rock Island 4 Pacific trains
have been sent out Of Omaha over the
B. & NJ tracks. The Union Pacific sent
No out over the b. & NJ. tracks as far
as Grand Island Monday afternoon to con-
meet there with it's own tracks and has sent
others over the same tracks since.
The main line has been broken by
the washout OF the approaches TO
the bridge at Columbus. For the local
service between here and Columbus the
Grand Island and North Platte locals go
as far as Columbus and return.
The Rock Island tracks are seriously
embarrassed between here and Lincoln and
have not been able to get a train through
over their own tracks since yesterday
Until the track is repaired all the trains
will use the B. & NJ. tracks between the
two points.
The b. & NJ. has not had any dificulty
with its main line, but is unable to reach
either Schuyler or Columbus because thir-
teen bents have been washed out Of the
bridges at these points.
r. Buckingham, superintendent OF trans
portation of the Union Pacific, and Chief
Engineer J. B. Berry went to Columbus
on Monday night with a party Of twenty
FIVE laborers, fifteen telegraph linemen and
ten telegraph operators to assist in open
ing up the line. AS yet nothing has
been heard from them, as telegraphic
communication has not been established
President Burt followed yesterday
morning to look over the work and do
what he can to quicken it's execution.
Nebraska is InundaIed.
LINCOLN. March 1O.-Train service in
Nebraska is paraIyzed today. Bridges on
all the main lines OF the Burlington and
the Union Pacific were washed out by the
floods last night.
The Rock Island bridge at South Bend
was torn loose and bore down upon the
bridges at Louisville, destroying the middle
spans, and the waters washed out the
remainder.
This morning the lowlands on the Platte
for miles, from Schuyler to the mouth Of
the river at Plattsmouth. are under water.
At various points the Union Pacific tracks
are under water for a mile or two at
stretch.
Railroad bridges at Schuyler, Columbus.
South Bend. Louisville and Hardy have
been washed out
Fremont Floods Recede.
FREMONT, Neb.. March 1O.-(special Tel
egram.) 1.-The gorge which caused the over
flow In this city has broken. and early this
morning the water fell two feet, and is
still falling rapidly.
The lower part OF the city presents q dis
NAL scene. Cellars are filled. and pools OF
water are standing everywhere The dam
age to household goods will be heavy. A
large number of families was taken to
places OF safety last night.
The city hall sheltered several families,
and others stayed in the butter and egg
warehouse on Broad street Though the
current was swift and there was eonsid-
cradle ice running through the streets no
buildings were removed from their founda-
tions but the sidewalks we're carried some
distance on many streets.
The report last night that the Platte
river bridge was partly out was found TO be
incorrect this morning. Some OF the piling
IL gone and a couple Of spans wrenched and
twisted The water cut quite a channel
in running north from the northeast corner
OF the bridge.
Inglewood Jared hard. considerable float
ing ice passing through the streets. The
water in the road leading to the bridge
has nearly all run out. No damage was
done to the Union Pacific tracks and local
trains are running as far as Columbus.
The water was the highest last night Il
has been since 1881 when the river was
damned by a gorge which formed in nearly
the same place as this one. and the water
ran through the business part of the city.
Several families living west OF the city
had exciting times last night. The family
OF Iver Johnson was taken out in a boat
through the rushing ice. There is no less
of live stock reported, though many people
have spent the morning hunting for cows
and horses which they were obliged to turn
hose.
Two Bridges at Louisville.
LOUISVILLE. Neb., March lO.-(speeial
Telegram.l-At l this morning the Platte
river at this place suddenly raised and
came rushing down with terrific force
sweeping everything before It. Thirty-two
spans OF the Missouri Paeihe railroad bridge
and about forty spans OF the wagon bridge
were swept away. II is thought that II IL
had not been for the timbers and whole
bents OF other bridges in the river the rail
road bridge would have withstood the ice
The river is still out OF it's banks. but no
great amount OF ice is running.
LlNWOoD, Neb.. March i0.-(Special J.
The Platte river broke up here last even
ing. II ran out all over the bottoms north
OF here, driving some out Of their homes
while those who were In town we're unable
TO get home as the water was about four
feet deep.
Bridges GO Out at south Bend.
SOUTH BEND. Neb.. March iO.-(spe-
eial.)-BOth the Rock Island railroad and