The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-05-31
I0WAS CAPITAL
Is UNDER WATER
Six Thousand People Without
Food or Shelter.
LONG MIGHT OF SUFFERING
IMPOSSIBLE TO ESTIMATE THE
DAMAGE.

Des MOines, Ia, May S0.-Four feet Of
water were coursing through a large
section Of East Des MOines' business
district at daylight this morning. due
to a rise of the river Of one foot over
all PAST records and the carrying away
of a section of the levee and dam at
Center street Thirty-five thousand
people in East Des AGoines, 5000 in Des
Moines and 1000 in North Des MOines
are practically cut off from cOmmuni-
cation with the main section of the
city Absolutely no attempt is being
made to transact business. The street
railway company does not expect 10
be able to start ears for a week Six
thousand persons are homeless, 80 per
cent Of whom are practically without
shelter and have been unfed for
twenty-fOur hours, during which time
they have been exposed to the inclem-
ent weather. Women and children
ShiVered all night long in rain-SOaked
garments, unable to find a dry place
on which to lie. Box cars were placed
within reach of the refugees this
morning, in which they could find shell
ter from the rain. Inestimable suffer-
ing prevails. The suddenness of the
food gave no time for preparation or
organization Of defense This morning
the Des Moines river is two miles wide.
GAO4 AuOuS OeLA1dSGs
The damage cannot be computed be-
cause of the fact that close to 1000
buildings are submerged and it cannot
be told whether they will be carried
away. Great damage was done by the
breaking of the Ievee along the Chi
cago, Burlington & Quincy track, which
inundated the principal factory dis
tricts- Several hundred thousand dol
lars worth of machinery is under
at A
washed away. resulting in an approx
mate loss of S100, 0OO- The plant of the
Daily Capital is flooded and boats are
plying through the business district in
that vicinity. To get to the Northwest
ern hotel at o'clock this morning it
was necessary 20 use boat. The water
works and electric light and power
plant by heroic efforts, were kept in
operation this morning, although the
water was entering them as fast as the
engines could pump it out. If they
should cease the city would be without
light or water and many big plants
using electric power would shut down.
OF the seven bridges in the city only
one is open for traffic.
Trains Abandoned.
Railway service is practically sus-
pended. Water is over the Northwest
ern, Wabash, Burlington and Rock
Island tracks in many places in the
city limits. From Fort Dodge, above
here, the Des Moines river is reported
to be two feet higher and still rising
The weather forecast is for continued
rains The RaccOOn river above here
is at a standstin-
Since the early morning trains, but
two have left or entered Des Moines.
The St. Paul and Oelwein trains were
the last. All the others have failed
to get out.
The Great Western Chicago train.
the Peoria and Des MOines, Des Moines
and GAINESVILLE, Des NIoines and Kansas
City trains each made efforts to leave,
but had tO-run back.
The Rock Island reported at 1 p. m.
that the track west of the city was
damaged somewhat, but the trains are
moving fairly well. A train is expected
in about 3 O'Clock. The Denver train
got in on time this morning. but was
standing on the sidetrack at / o'clock
waiting to get east It is understood
that there is quite a washout at Grin
nell, but the nature is not known hee
because the wires are not working. The
limited, due here at S:37 was at Grin
nell when last heard from, waiting to
get through.
The Chicago Great Western. the Win
terset branch Of the Rock Island, the
Wabash and the Burlington are making
much of their tracks in the city are
submerged.
In two different instances babies were
born in flooded houses. The mothers
and their infants were removed to
places Of safety in boats as soon as
possible.
At 1890 four men engaged in an at
tempt to rescue household goods from
a house near the East Ninth street
bridge were throws out into the cur
rent and quickly drowned. The name
of but one. J. +. Kingman. was known
to the witnesses of the accident. In
South Des MOines from until 9 o'clock
upwards of a score of stranded food
victims sat on the roofs of their houses
and piteOusly begged for boats. When
rescued they were half dead from eX-
pOsurc to cold and rain. From Mar
shalltown IL is learned that the Iowa
river is spread out over a vast terri
tory and the Iowa Central railroad has