The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-06-04
OTTUMWA IN BAD WAY IN A HORRIBLE PLIGHT
Five Thousand People Homeless,
Many Destitute.

OJIunWd, june InOuBn Ln0 wat
er in the DesMoines river at this point
reached its highest mark yesterday
afternoon, and has since been slowly
receding, the suffering. and damage re-
sulting has only commenced to come
to the surface. Five thousand people
in Ottumwa have been driven from
their homes. OF this number nearly
one-half are destitute and are being
care for at the relief stations by the
citizens committee. The suffering is
great. Every minute brings destitute
people to the relief stations for food
and clothing.
Such bakeries as are not flooded by
water have been working double
forces day and night to feed the vic
Tins of the flood.
Women with babies few days old,
some only few hours old, have been
brought to the relief stations to-day.
Members Of the relief committee at
work in the city raised thousands Of
dollars for the sufferers.
South Ottumwa is in most deplor-
/ able condition. The river has coursed
through the main street, tearing paw
ing and sidewalks away, and in many
instances houses. The fire wagons
were utilized bringing boats to South
Ottumwa with orders to rescue the
people.
Never in the history of Ottumwa
| has such a flood occurred. The river
all day to-day has been running in the
main streets of the city. Outside Of
an occasional Burlington train to the
east Ottumwa is cut off from the
world so far as railroads are con-
cerned. The Milwaukee, Wabash and
Rock Island are completely tied up
and the Burlington tracks from the
unicn passenger station to the bridge
four miles west are under water, in
some places washed away.
The water power is entirely shut or,
The gas plant is inundated. The Nor
rell plant is shut down. The water is
running in the first floor windows of
the Dain manufacturing plant in
South Ottumwa.
Mayor Pickler this afternoon tele-
graphed Mayor Carter Harrison, Of
Chicago, for the use OF a. fire engine
here until after the flood subsidies.
The first train to reach 0ttumwa
from the east was ON the Burlington
road at IL o'clock this morning, which
was stub constituting No. 3 passen-
ger, the fast mail and car load of
beer for the Anheuser-Busch agency
here.
Cold weather has prevailed here
since Sunday morning and rain has
been falling almost constantly for the
past seventy-two hours, retarding res
cue work and generally demoralizing
everything. Reports from all points
both north and west Of here are most
discouraging. Farm houses in bottom
lands are flooded and in many places
families have taken to the hills and
are living in tents, being forced to
abandon their homes on account OF
lie flood.
The Rock Island railroad has not
had a train across the bridge at FL
don since Saturday. About eighty
rods of the track at the end of the
bridge opposite Eldon has been car
ried away. Trains are still coming in
on the Rock Island from the east to
Eldon and turning on the return trip.
The territory between here and Eldon
is all under water, houses having been
abandoned people have sought high
land for safety, and considerable suf-
fering prevails in sparsely populated
yicinities. Conservative men here
place the loss to railroads, farms and
private property in this section at
least $500,000. 'a*...
All business houses along Main
street have suffered from water in
Easements. The Courier office press
room is full Of water and the paper
is being printed from small job
press in place of the perfecting press
usually used. The Traction & Light
Companys plant is still in operation,
but may have to close at any minute.
The big fly wheel is working in water
and hurls steady stream aga1nsS
the walls and ceiling of the engine
room. Great apprehension Is felt for
all bridges crossing the river. They
are likely to go out at any time.