Omaha daily bee., 1905-02-28
ice DERANCES SCHEDULES
Train Service Interrupted by Floods in
Platte River.
RAILROADS ARE KEEPING ON SAFE SIDE
Bridges Thrsatened by Moving lee
Are Abandoned So Far as
Use for Tramo H.
Concerned.

N The Platte river is playing havoc with the
railroads crossing that erratic stream and
also affecting travel in and out Of Omaha
today TO a certain degree. The residents OF
Bellevue. Fort Crook. Louisville South
Bend and La Platte are today cut of from
railroad communication. Burlington east
and west trains are all passing through
Omaha and over the Union Pacific bridge.
The Ashland Burlington bridge is reported
as being out Of danger, while the Schuyler
bridge is uncertain. Missouri Pacific trains
81 and s. were annulled yesterday morning
on account OF the bridge at La Platte. The
Rock Island Is running trains to and from
Lincoln over the Burlington tracks, the
Rock Island bridge at South Bend being un-
safe. The Union Pacific reports its bridges
practically all out Of danger.
At Northwestern general offices IL is re-
ported that all bridges on that line in this
territory are in good condition and that no
trouble has yet been experienced in the
running of trains over the bridges.
Families Driven From Home.
ASHLAND, Neb. Feb. H.-(Special Tele-
gram.)-An ice gorge formed in the Platte
river about twelve miles north of Ashland,
near Daniel Hupe's place. last night and as
d result the Platte bottom is almost en-
tirely under water. In places the current
houses are surrounded and can only be
reached by boats. Water from the Platte
has backed up into Clear creek, overfiowing
its banks for many miles. Charles Sandy,
James Chamberlain and others were, COM
PEELED to abandon their homes, the water
being above the level of the floor Timothy
Carey's family sought refuge in the upper
story. David Carr's house was flooded and
his family found shelter at Charles Bar
bees, where tie water was almost to the
floor level. Besides doing damage to house
hold property for several farmers, much
stock is reported drowned. Far as known
all the families in peril were rescued
Wahoo creek is bank full but not over
flowing, while Salt creek. running through
the town. Is out OF its banks in many
places. The property loss cannot be ac-
cIirately estimated yet, but II will be severe.
No immediate danger is anticipated at the
Platte river bridge. near Ashland.
Conditions mt Columbus.
COLUMBUS, Nep., Feb. H.-(Special Tel
egram) The Spalding-Albion line of the
Union Pacific was operated today by run
ming a stub from this city to the washout
twelve miles west of here. Mail and pas
sengers were transferred but trains will
not be able to cross for couple of days
The Burlington managed to get a train
over the Rldtte r1Ver DTluBe TINS evening"
the first since Saturday noon. The wagon
bridge south OF town is still closed to
travel, but the county supervisors have
men at work. and the damage will be re-
paired as soon as possible.
The bottom land all alorg the Loup river
IS covered with huge cakes of ice from
eight inches, to thres feet thick.
Bernard Mecik. who was working as ex-
ira hagmar for the Union Pacific last
night, wan run oven by an engine and had
his left arm crushed below the elbow. The
arm was amputated today.
FREMONT. Neb,. Feb. 27.-Tho water in
the Platte has gone down and the stream is
now within it's banks About '275 feet of
the wagon bridge on the north side has
gone out. The telephone wires are down
and the condition OF ths bridge across the
south channel is no, known but is believed
TO be al right. There is still considerable
water in the low places south of the city
Fear for schuyIe= Bridge.
SCHUYLER. Neb.. Feb. 27.-(Special y
Deep anxiety n felt about the new wagon
bridge across the Platte at this poiat which
was opened for traffic late in ths autumn
of 1904. on account Of the unusually heavy
fee that was known to be likely to be turned
loose against 1t with the breaking up Of
winter A large amount of dynamite was
procured to break the ice around 1t, and to
float foes of IL floating against the bridge,
bpt in spite OF all diligence and precau-
tions the bridge failed to Withstand the
strain. 1t has been discovered that up
wards of thirty spans, about one-third Of
the bridge, are swept away or badly dam
aged, considerable number OF them only
having the superstructure removed. The
-. loss to the county is upwards of 5000. The
bridge was built and steps taken after
wards to require Butler county to stand
lalf the expense OF II. as was done in cases
OF the bridges between Dodge and Saunders
and Sarpy and Cass counties. The Bur
lington & Missouri railroad bridge, which is
q half mile below the wagon bridge. suf-
fered by having the piles swept from un-
der a number of spans, the damage being
at each end of the structure. Only FIVE
or six spans of this bridge are damaged.
y, The wagon bridge was damaged at different
places almost throughout Its entire length,
In addition to the damage to the bridges
there was great havoc wrought by water
and ice sweeping down the slough between
the river and the town. Stock. feed troughs
and other squipment were swept out of the
Folda feed yards, one animal being
drowned, and debris is piled in great guam
titles whore II will be damaging.
BFATRICE, Neb Feb. 27-(Specal Tele-
gram 1.-The ice gorges formed in the Blue
river at this point went put today. and
residents OF the lowlands, who feared a