The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-06-06
FLOODS CAUSE FOOD FAMINE
DIES MONIES, IOWA. SUFFERS FOR
NEcEssARIEs o Fife.
Trains Are Unable to Enter the City
Bakeries Were Taxed on Account Of
5000 Refugees-Great SUFFERING
Through Exposure-city Water Sup.
ply in Danger.

with food and fuel famine. Meat
markets all over the city declare they
have but two or three days stock on
hand. There are no trains enterins
the city and no prospect Of getting q
shipment of freight into Des Moines
In less than three or four days. Baker
les are overtaxed by reason OF the de-
mand Of the 5000 refugees.
The temperature Of the past three
days has been such as to cause great
suffering and to threaten great loss
OF life through exposure. Now it tran
spires that there is but a meager coal
supply and that the light and power
plant and the water works have an
insufficient supply. Roads are impas-
sable for team hauling and no coal
can be shipped In.
At the water company's office Il Is
stated that the situation is alarming.
Notice was sent to every resident in
the city to draw an extra supply OF
water to provide against the closing
OF the plant Owing to the breaking
OF another levee the commons, on
which so tents were placed for food
refugees, was flooded, completely sub
merging the tents. The occupants
escaped.
little hope has been inspired In the
breasts Of the 5000 food refugees by
the report that the river has begun
slowly to recede. After rising all night
fall of two inches was noted between
5 O'Clock and noon. The condition OF |
the sufferers has been slightly allie |
waited by the better organization OF |
the relief forces. Only isolated in
stances Of extreme need Of food have
been discovered, and those who were
living in rain soaked tents have near
ly all been removed to places of COM
fort In public buildings. The need Of
bed covering is still imperative.
Not whee. is turning in the fac
tory district and no effort is made to
open any business houses. Boats az
ford the only means OF communication
between north. south and east Des
Moines, and the main part Of the city.
This is extremely perilous.
So far as is known, but seven au-
thenticated fatalities have been re-
ported. Reports of a score more have
been received from that section of the
city that is cut off, but can not be
verified.
Water Receding.
At o'clock tonight the water in
the Des Moines river had declined IA
inches from its maximum height of
"a feet, attained early this morning.
Notwithstanding the steady rain that
has fallen for three days past 1t is be-
lieved that the danger Of further rise
has passed. The river continues to be |
from a half mile to two miles wide. I
cutting off all communica- {
ton between the main part of Des {
Moines from east, north and south Des {
Moines and covers thousands of homes
and business houses. The police re- a
port that thieves In boats are plunder-
ing stocks Of merchandise to an alarm e
ing extent and several arrests have c
been made C
At ottumwa. g
Ottunwa, Iowa, June 1.-An rec
ords for high water here were broken
Sunday, the water in the Des Moines
river standing q feet IL inches.
Hundreds of homes in the west and
south parts of the city are flooded.
Over Its Banks. =
Muskogee, |. T., June The food +
situation here is growing serious. The 9
Arkansas river is out of its banks and :
he lowlands are flooded. The river is q
low even with the tracks of the Mis- :,
'ouri, Kansas & Texas bridge. II has r
been raining all day and there Is no d
immediate prospect Of relief. al
War Department to Assist. "
Washington, June 1.-The war de- u
'artment will assist to the extent OF u
Is power In efforts to alleviate suf- d'
ering in the flooded districts of the
vest. Orders to this effect have been
'iven to Major General Bates, com
handing the department Of the Mis- Pl
ouri. The supply department at an
Kan, will be avaiIed of RI
DR. the shipment Of tents to the food. an
d localities should these be found ed
ecessary. mi
Flood Warnings Issued. ~
Washington, June 1.-The following CT,
1ecial flood warning has been issued his
7 the weather bureau:
The flood situation In the lower Mis-
'uri appears to be grave. Warnings ,
r stage Of 26 feet at Hermann and /.
Mo, and for 80 feet at 81,
pulls have been issued. The danger In,
De at the last named point is 30 feet.
"All food records since the year mo
81, when the district was sparseIy >
titled, have been surpassed by the ma
'ods Of the last week in the Missouri
Hey" said Alfred J. Henry, In charge
the forecast bureau we have
emed 1t necessary to send out spe- IN,
II flood warnings as the conditions sas
ntinue very dangerous. The danger e,as
e at Kansas City, for instance, is ar,
feet. and today a stage Of 27.5 feet
q rpunrfnd Thfa