Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-19
MISSOURI OUT OF BANKS
Vsrmilion Experiences Higher Water Than
Since Flood Of 'Eighty-0ns.
ICE GORGE FORMS DURING THE NIGHT
Overflow Comes So Suddenly that
People Have Marrow Escape
and stock f. Dying
by Thousands.

vERMILION. s. D.. Feb -1s.--Cspecial
Teiegram)-Not since the food Of 1881 has
such a vast volume OF water swept over
the Missouri bottom az that submerging
everything in its path today. An ice gorge
which formed last night cannot be broken
and the food IL sweeping everything before
A. on the lOwlands. The river is still rising
slowly.
Farmers are unable to get stock to safety.
and loss will be appalling. SO sudden was
the overflow that residents barely escaped
with their lives and it is now impossible to
save stock and the railroad grade east to
Burbank Is washed out and train service
will be delayed. Water stands from FIVE to
beven feet in many OF the houses. Cattle
and hogs are dying by thousands. Unless
the gorge breaks soon many homes are
sure TO be swept away. The VermiliOn
river IL out Of its banks all along its course.
With little prospect OF the ice gorge
breaking here for several days and a gorge
reported near Springfield which may break
any minute. conditions are pretty serious.
The river has fallen eighteen inches this
afternoon. due probably TO the gorge farther
west The prospects for warmer weather
are good and under hot sun for two days
the gorge might go out. The ice il piled
up for three miles. Three miles Of railroad
track are under water southeast OF this
city.
YANKToN. s. D.. Feb. 1s-(speciaI Tele-
gram 1.-THE ice gorge above this city causes
considerable uneasiness here. The ice run
ming in the water sunk a steamboat and
ferryboat for Captain Joe Leach Loss
S5,ooo The water Is low here and 30 far
no damage has been done.
On the Platte.
PLATTsMOUTH. Feb. 1s-(Special)-
The large gorge Of ice which formed in the
Platte river broke loose Saturday night
and the rushing torrents washed out one
span OF the Missouri Pacific bridge across
the stream at Oreapolis and much Of
the track on the north side OF the river.
The Burlington also had much of its track
north Of its bridge damaged. All trains
over both roads between Omaha and this
city were annulled Sunday. The tracks
north OF ths bridges are covered with huge
chunks Of be for long distance. but the
Burlington bridge was not injured The
mall from Omaha arrived about IL O'Clock
Sunday via Council Bluffs and Pacific
Junction pile driver and a large num-
Der Of men have been repairing the tracks
and the Burlington resumed the running OF
trains today. Bottom land on each side OF
the river is overhowed. but damage TO
stock OF Of any other kind has been re-
ported
Rising Again at Fremont.
FREMONT, Neb., Feb. ls.-(Special) y
The Platte rose fast during the night and
at noon today was within two feet Of the
high water mark OF Wednesday night or
Main street. 1t has been stationery during
the afternoon. A few houses were flooded
and most Of the people who moved back
are staying there, only about forty beine
Obliged TO leave. The approach to the
wagon bridge is badly washed. but the
bridge Is all right this afternoon. The Bur
lington bridge is also safe, but the grade
across the bottoms is in bad shape. A
quantity OF dynamite has been used today
70 keep the floating ice moving. The sand.
bag embankment built west of town yes
terday is still there. but the water is run.
ming over the top OF II.
Test of Work on Missouri.
BLAIR. Neb.. Feb. 1s.-CSpecial Tele
gram.)-The expensive riprap work being
put in by the Northwestern railroad nea
Blair to protect it's bridge over the Mis-
souri, river had a genuine test today. Al
immense Ice gorge had formed about tire
miles above the npraping. and at noon to
day II broke and came down against
large field OF ice. about three-quarters of
mile long and thousand feet wide. an
showed IT high up against the riprap dixie
The crew on the pile driver saw the hug
wall OF ice and water coming, which, the