Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-07-10

T + y y i \ 49, y - y
+ Des Moines, July 9. (Spec- +
+ iaD The Des Moines river \
i has fallen seven inches since Z
!. midnight, when the flood i
i. reached stage of 144 feet. +
+ The prediction Is q steady fall 4
!. from now on.
J 4 4 + :. 4 i i \ +
When the river showed indications
OF fall yesterday, during the lull In
the stage which for several hours re-
manned stationary the people here
were becoming hopeful that the crest
had been reached and the stream
would gradually recede. This morn
ing however, the stream took an
upward tendency and the stage ad-
vanced some six inches since the aft
ernoon record on the guage yesterday.
Twelve feet inches showed On the
Market street bridge this morning and
the stream seemed to show tendency
to still rise although it is not coming
up very fast. 1t has thus far caused
considerable annoyance to farms and
land lying adjacent the stream close
to the city and the creeks emptying
into the river have become rivulets
of some depth at their mouth. No
great damage or loss Is reported from
corn or other crops in the low districts
and no fear for great loss is anticipat-
ed unless the stream reaches
greater height than at present. 1t Is
| still much below the former high
| water here month ago. The Des
Moines Register and Leader this morn
| ing had the following on the condition
there:
| The River At Des Moines.
With the Des Moines river a raging
flood and the government gauge on the
Locust street bridge showing a depth
of IA feet s inches at midnight, fam
| lilies on the southeast bottoms familiar
with the vagaries Of the stream last
night recused to remain In their houses
and removed their furniture to safe
place on higher ground.
Since o'clock last night, when the
gauge showed mean height of IA
feet inch, the river has risen rapidly,
within six hours eclipsing the previous
| high water mark of the year, becom-
ing raging torrent Of water, threat
ening repetition of destructive foods
of former years.
Crowd Watches River.
/ DR.. Chapel, director Of the local
weather bureau, last night predicted
that the river would reach the 15 foot
stage before starting to fall, endanger-
| ing at that height not only the south
east residence portion of Des Moines,
but the farm lands and residences
along the river banks for many miles
above and below the city.
Hundreds of people lined the river
bank last night watching anxiously
every evidence of a rise. Around the
library a crowd was collected with
eyes constantly on the steps leading
from the river bank.
The first step is regarded as the dan
ger point and as the mad water early
In the evening reached and passed that
point many anxious faces were observ-
ed in the crowd. Without a sign of
abatement, however, the flood contin-
ued up the second and third steps
passing the pillars at the base and
closing them from view entirely.
Officers on Lookout.
The department of public safety has
been notified Of the danger to the
levees and officers are on the alert for
the first sign Of break. Assistant
Chief Of Police Day kept in constan,
! touch with an emergency squad
throughout the night for the purpose
of sending them to the point Of dan
ger at the first report.
Conditions Better In Southwest.
Kansas City, July ALL the
streams in Kansas and Missouri to
day are either. falling or have become
stationary There is no indications OF
rain. Train service is improved, but
is still far from being normal. No ad
ditional loss Of life is reported.