Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-31

CONTINUED from First fage.l
to a depth OF about four feet in the
streets.
In many of the homes there was foot
OF water. and it is still rising. Practic-
ally every person in the town is hemmed
IA. and rescue parties are now on their
way to Waterloo.
II. Z. Fredrlckson OF this city. Sc.
cured six boats from the Rod and
Gun club. loaded them on the Union
Pacific train, which was held until $3.50.
and .Oined ir the work of taking the
people from their flooded homes.
Calls for help were sent out by the
people OF Waterloo. who were forced to
all sorts Of schemes in their efforts to
keep dry.
Fredericton Gets Drenching.
II. Z. Fredrickson got thorough duck
ing at Waterloo yesterday morning
while engaged in rescue work.
Fredrickson was rowing toward the de-
pot when he saw another boat, occupied
by John Fulberg and Harrison Morris.
and laden with mail sacks. capsize in the
current. '.....
The Omaha volunteer went to the res
cue. Seeing that Fullberg and Norris
were safe, he turned his attention to the
mail sacks, diving into the water after
them.
He got beyond his depth and was car
ried for fifty feet or more In a swift cur
rent into the town. He saved himself
by climbing up the stairway OF build
ing. part Of which was under water. I.
Fire Increases Excitement,
Waterloo had It's share Of excitement
in addition TO flood fears, Fire broke out
in one of the coal sheds of the Dietz
Lumber company and was gaining hesd-
way before assistance arrived Seeing
that II was impossible TO save the struc-
lures otherwise. the coal sheds were
blown up with dynamite. Thus they
were saved. .s ft sNfr
Some reported by telephone to the out
side they were safely located on the top
Of the kitchen table. while some lads
were perched In treetops.
Distress at Valley. ,
The distress signal was thrown up at
Valley yesterday when an appeal was
made by the citizens to the Douglas
county commissioners for help. The little
village is flood-swept and the people are
marooned in their homes. The residents
are unable to get out to procure pro-
visions and unless assistance is given
soon the suffering will increase. An APP
peal was made for boats by which the
streets could be navigated. Peter Elsasser
is the only member of the board in town,
and as soon as he received word on the
conditions in Valley he set about to pro-
cure relief.
County Commissioner Elsasser con-
ferred with Commissioner J. NJ. Guild OF
the Commercial club. seeking the assist
ance OF club members In furnishing the
boats. Nothing could be done. however.
there being a paucity Of water crafts in
the city.
Reports came in to the Commercial club
rooms yesterday morning that the river is
to break through the 800 feet
Of earth into the slough connecting with
Carter lake.
Men Work All Night.
All night long the hundreds Of men
working along the Platte river in an at
tempt to break up the ice gorges fired
big charges OF dynamite. but made little
progress in relieving the flood situation.
At one point near Ashland the river has
flowed over an area covering about thirty
square miles Of bottom land and many
farmers have been forced to flee to the
hills. -.. a
Several bridges have been either washed
out or been so weakened that they are un-
safe. Railroad trains on three different
lines have been forced to detour many
trains and abandon others entirely. With
the melting Of the snow in the hills and
there is evidence Of an unprecedented
flood condition around the mouth Of the
river. which has its confluence with the
Missouri near this point. All the low
lands In this vicinity already are under
water.
Terrific sweep at Fremont.
A sudden change In the river situation
sent water through North Fremont yes
terday morning.
A great gorge below Ames has thrown
the whole river across the Union Pacific
tracks and It is following through Raw
hide creek bottom. flooding hundreds Of
farms and fifty residences in North FIRE.
mont are flooded for the first time in his
tory. Only five spans Of a mile long
wagon bridge below Fremont remain to-
day. Fremont is on an island and isolated
so far as train service Is concerned.
Tracks Washed Out mt EdgemeHt.
The Burlington track was again washed
out Saturday for distance OF go feet
near Edgemont. S. ID. II is impossible
to move traffic which had already been
on each side Of this distrie.
from previous washouts.
The Cheyenne river. which parallels tAe
Burlington right-of-way. is OVERLOOKING
It's banks and carrying the roadway With
Il. Should the river continue to rise as
RAPIDLY as II has I'm the last twenty-fou- |
hours. the roadbed viii be demolished |
Tor q distance OF twenty miles. Ffvc /
s.