Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-03-10
Columbus Stream Sweeps Over Banks fo
Nile and nalf.
RAGING FLOOD browns STANTON GIRL
Brother Escapes on Timbers Floating Down
Union Creek.
TURBULENT WATERS SURROUND FENDER
Weather bureau Issues warning, Es-
DeciaIIy to Ohio and Lower Mis-
souri, valleys and Tells of
Danger in East and south.
LoUP RIVER is ALSO ON RAMPAGE

souri, valleys and Tells of
Danger in East and south.
FREMONT, Neb.. March s.-Cspecial Tel
egram.)-An ice gorge formed in the Platte
about two miles west Of here tonight and
nearly all Of the city south Of the Union
Pacific tracks Is flooded. The water rose
very rapidly and without much warning.
II started about o'clock, a small stream
running east on South street. At
ll:S0 It had reached the tracks on II street
and on other North and South streets was
only block away and was not rising
much II flooded all cellars except a few
on higher ground and in a good many places
was foot deep on the first floor. The
basement Of the West Side school vas
filled and the people driven out OF the small
houses In the vicinity.
In several homes there were sick people
who were with some dificulty taken 70
places Of safety. There was considerable
excitement. One family had gone to bod
and the first they knew of the hojd was by
the sound Of the water in the room. People
could be seen with lanterns taking out
their horses and cows. One woman waded
through a couple OF feet Of water with half
dozen chickens In her arms, while chairs
anu oAutI luoNdDttb were
in the house. Cattls realized their danger
and their frightened believing could be
heard all through the flooded district.
A considerable part OF InglewoOj, sou-n
Of the city limits, is under water There
IS a strong current from the west, with
blocks OF floating ice running through IL.
The condition at the packing house can
not be definitely learned, but At oclock
the water was within 300 feet of II ami rust
be nearly 70 the yards.
Two spans Of the wagon bridge across
the Platte are reported out and the entire
bridge in danger.
About o'clock 1t was thought The food
was at its height but later 1t began to rise
again. The houses flooded are nearly all
those occupied by the poorer class of
people and their loss will be very heavy.
The bright moonlight helped people greatly
In moving their goods. The river Las been
. rising slowly all day. This evening about
4:Se II began to back up east OF the north
end of the bridge and soon a big stream
was running Up the road. II came so fast
that a good many people who re on
higher ground had to wade TO get cut. The
last team to carry dynamite to the bridge
had a close call The driver had to swim
his horses for a hundred yaris, s'here
twenty minutes before the water was not
over two feet deep.
LOup Out of It's Banks.
COLUMBUS. Neb., March 9-Three hun
dred families living in Columbus have been
Compelled TO leave their homes and seek
higher ground. The Loup river at this
point is more than a mile and one-half
wide.
The Union Pacific tracks for that dis
tanoe from Columbus TO the big bridge over
the LOup are under water and not being
used. Trafic has been entirely suspended.
The bridge is considered safe. Ice gorges
are forming and breaking continually.
Ice Gorge in Republican.
SUPERIOR. Neb., March s.-(Special TEL
egram.)-The two big iron bridges over the
Republican river at this place are in i'm
minent danger of being swept away. The
river is out Of its banks and is full of
floating ice.
The fee guards on the west bridge are
gone and cakes OF ice nifty to sixty feet
square are crashing against the piers. The
guards on the east bridge are Also gone and
the bridge has been knocked two feet out of
line.
One gorge formed and broke. but II looks
as though another is forming. The river is
steadily rising. The bridge at Hardy. Nsb.,
was swept away yesterday,
Girl Drowned at stanton
STANTON. Neb., March s.-Minnie and
William Doetsch were returning home last
night from a call at a neighbor's house and
were caught in the food Of Union creek, \
tributary OF the Elkhorn river. Miss
Doetsch was drowned. The boy escaped by
clinging TO a piece OF floating debris that
struck him as he fen.
Fender Is Isolated
PENDER. Neb.. March Especial TeIe-
gra n.l-Pender tonight is entirely sur
rounded by water caused by the overflow
OF the Logan river. All the houses on ths
lowlands are partially submerged. the oc-
cupants fleeing TO the higher ground for
safety. Old residents of the country say
this is the worst food that has ever been
known here. Great damage will be done
10 the bridges on the bottoms. Some loss
OF stock is already reported. The farmers
are entirely cut OF from the town. Schools
are closed until the waters subside. Re-
ports from the north say another rise may
be expected before morning.
Part of BiE Bridge Gone.
SCHUYLER. Neb. March s.-(speciaI
Telegram. when the ice gorge went out
OF the Platte river here today IL took along
about 500 feet Of the county wagon bridge.
SAA AbENAeA tceN OF AAt DFloge Is leIt stand
ing in an apparently undamaged condition
Several parties from the other side Of the
river we're caught in town and VIII have TO
lay over here several days. according to
present appearances. The B. & N. railroad
bridge VAS also damaged considerably. The
icebreakers we're knocked out. and several
piles broken on. so as TO let the track
sag out Of alignment and prevent trains
from crossing. During the winter the
county conuissisners had expended con-
siderable money IN making general repairs
on the wagon bridge. which was swept
away.
CENTRAL CITY. Neb. March s.-CSpe-
ciail-Thick ice and warm weather =
causing much fear OF loss OF Platte river
bridges when the ice goes out Ducks and
geese are coming in at a lively rate.
ST. PAUL. Neb., March s.-(SpeeiaI.)-
The rivers Of Howard county are on the
'aDpage. Last night the high water ae-
'ordins 70 reports Just coming IN. took
'ut The bridges over the Middle LOup az