Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-30
5000 ARE HOMELESS
Many Practically Without
Shelter and Unfed.
FIERCE WORK OF RAINS
INESTIMABLE SUFFERING PRE-
Walls AT DES MONIES.
Four Feet of Water in Business Section
of City-Railroad Traffic
Abandoned.
FIERCE WORK OF RAINS

DES MOINES Iowa, May 3O.-Four feet
of water coursng through a large
section of the business district of East
Des Moines at daylight this morning, due
to rise of the river of a foot over all
past records and the carrying away of
section of the levees dam at Center street.
Thirty-five thousand people in East Des
Mones, 5000 In South Des Moines and
1900 in North Des Moines are practically
cut off from communication with the main
section of the city.
Absolutely no attempt is made to trans
act business The street railway company
does not expect to be able to start cars
for week.
Six Thousand Homeless.
Six thosand persons are homeless 30 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 constant heavy rain
with the thermometer close to the freezing
point.
Many women and children shivered all
night long in rain-soaked garments, un-
able to find dry place on which to lie.
Box cars were placed in reach OF many
of the refugees this morning, in which
they could find shelter from the rain but
relief work is in deplorable condition
and far behind the needs.
Great Suffering Prevails.
Inestimable suffering prevails. The sud
denness of the flood left no time for prepa-
ration or organization to combat It,
Levees all over the city are yielding
In many places the Des Moines river is
two miles wide.
The damage cannot be computed pc
cause Of the fact that close to 1000 build
ings are submerged, and it cannot be told
whether they will be carried away
Great damage was done by the breaking
of the levee along the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy tracks, which inundated the
principal factory district.
Several hundred thousand dollars worth
of machinery is under water.
Dozen Ice Houses Washed Away.
A dozen Ice houses have been washed
away, resulting in an approximate loss of
100000.
One of the newspaper plants Is flooded.
and boats are plying through the business
district in that vicinity.
To get to the Northwestern Hotel at o
o clock this morning 1t was necessary to
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 1t out.
Railway Traffic Abandoned.
If they should cease the city would be
without light or water, and many big
plants using electric power would be shut
down. OF the seven bridges in the city but
one is open for traffic.
Railway service is practically suspended.
Water is over the Northwestern. Wabash,
Burlington and Rock Island tracks in many
places in the city limits.
From Fort Dodge, above here, the I'es
Moins river is reported to be two feet
higher. and is still rising. The weather
forecast is for continued rains. The Rae
coon river above here Is at a standstill.
Parts Of City Completely Cut Off.
At 10 o'clock all traffic across the Des
Moines and Raccoon rivers was suspended.
East North and South Des Moines are
completely cut off from the main part of
the city.
The river was 22.7 feet above low water
mark at this time, foot and half above
all past records.
The state fair buildings and churches all
over the city have been thrown open to
flood refugees.