Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-08-16

VerlS Delng washed out, and every
where the roads are in frightfu
condition, being literally torn tC
pieces by the rushing water. Bis
bitches are cut in them, roadways or
the hillsides cut away entirely, and
the rocks washed bare of dirt.
About noon on Monday the big
steel Gileese bridge, about six miles
above Decorah, was swept down into
the river by the raging torrent. This
was fine long bridge, which span
ned the river
Scarcely any farm near the path
| of the river, or in fact near any of
the many streams of the county, es-
! capped considerable loss from shocks
of grain being swept down the hill
sides into the streams. For hours a
continuous row of shocks, one after
another, and even part of stacks,
could be seen coming down the
river.
Stationed along the river were
persons with poles and hooks, drag
ging out the logs, posts, etc., which
came down, and several secured a
large supply of wood for the winter
Sunday morning those who were
watching the river saw the carcass
OF fine horse carried down by the
torrent.
1t would be an impossibility to re-
cord all the loss throughout the
county, but we have made an. effort
to find out where the most serious
damage was done.
The residence of Fred ]. Rosen-
thai in West Decorah, was struck
by lightning, stunning Mr.. Rosen-
thai and the family for a few mo-
ments, but doing no damage except
breaking the plaster upstairs.
The residence of Frederick Culm-
see, south of Luther College was
also struck, but no serious damage
was done.
The depot at Mabel, Mimi, was
struck by lightning and partly de-
stroyed by fire.
Lightning struck the church at
Freeport, tearing some boards off
the side, damaging the tower and
knocking off the plaster on the cell
ing.
The blacksmith shop at Hesper,
conducted by Robt. Reid, was struck
by lightning, and We understand was
destroyed.
There was a twister south of De-
corah three or four miles. At Even
Holverson's sheds and part of his
house moved about on the founda-
ton, while the hail stripped the
corn in that vicinity. At A. Molden's
trees were torn up and buildings
twistcd about. and the granary and
buggy shed on the w. A. kennedy
farm, conducted by Will Elliott,
were blown down by the wind
One of the most satisfactory re-
suits of the flood was the splendid
manner in which the big electric
water power dam of the Upper Iowa
Power Company took care of the i'm
mense torrent of water which pass
ed it. No damage at all was done
by the water, in fact the company
says that it really benefited them,
for it cleaned out the tail race and
demonstrated beyond doubt what
the dam is capable of doing. Four
of the five equipped gates were
opened, and with the spill-way, took
care of the surplus water with ease.
Inc great trees and debris which
reached the dam were crushed like
kindling wood when they struck the
big concrete piers and slid through
the gateways without doing any
damage. The spill-way, upon which
gang of men have been at work
for some time, was washed some
| w hnt did 10 RI
remove little earth which would
probably be removed anyway. Had
it not been for the fact that the line
was down in two or three places
current could have been supplied
right along from the dam.
The Rock Island train got as far
as the lower slaughter house, about
mile from the city, Monday noon,
where it was stalled by three or four
| feet of water over the tracks ahead
of it. They stopped the train and
showed a hand car on ahead, but
this was carried away by the water,
and so the train did not try to come
in. but discharged its passengers at
this point, and took on outgoing pas
sengerS there.
Dry run did not cut up capers as
| it usually does, but kept very re-
spectful stage of water. AS con-
sequence the Milwaukee did not suf-
fer much damage, and trains be-
tween here and Calmar ran about
as usual. being delayed only by wait
ing for main line trains.
The twin bridges" across Trout
river near NaSSett were among those
washed out by the food.
l.. l.. Iverson of Canoe lost two
cattle.
Adam Bender of Hesper lost q
stack of grain.
Gideon Seegmiller of Pleasant lost
four cattle.
Henry Frettheim OF Madison lost
five stacks OF grain.
Dick Young of Canoe lost one
horse.
John Hielle, living on the ole
Siewer's farm near Trout Run, los
five stacks of grain.
A barn on the Forde farm below
Satire was struck by lightning ant
consumed by fire.
Adam Bender of Canoe township
lost some stacks OF grain, whicl
were struck by lightning.
Nj. F. Gaul of Plymouth Rock los
two stacks of barley.
Matt Courtney of Bluffton los
.hroo borcac billed nv lightning