The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-21

ICo- '-ued from Page Ons.i
and intermediate towns of St. Charles,
Batavia and Geneva reported high
water and much damage.
Southeastern Iowa and the extreme
northern and western Missouri were
also in the rain belt which came up
from Texas.
The government forecaster predict
ed severe cold tomorrow night in the
northwest. with probability that the
cold wave would extend to Iowa and
Illinois.
Heavy property damage was
wrought in Chicago by the flood re-
sulting from the torrential rain,
which began last night and continued
today.
night and continued today.
The sewerage system proved made
quate to carry away the surplus of
water caused by the rainfall and melt
ing ice. Easements Were flooded and
miniature lakes formed in the lower
lying sections.
The fire department was called on
in numerous cases to pump out base
ments before serious damage was done
and in one case, where a family lived
in the basement of a tenement build
ing, rescued the members who had
climbed on boxes to escape the water.
Fox River on Tear.
Aurora, ILL.,, Jan. 21.-At 11:15 a.
m. today warning of a probable great
flood which was liable to sweep away
cripple water supplies of cities along
the Fox river was flashed by tele-
phone and telegraph through the Fox
river valley to people living anywhere
near the rivers edge. Already six of
the seven artesian wells which supply
Aurora with its water supply have
been cut off by the river which is run
ming over its banks. One small well,
which is now in operation. can supply
the city for about five hours more.
The main pumping station of the
Aurora water department is Just
north of the city and on the river
bank. The river has poured into the
five artesian wells at this station and
has put out of business a big air COM
pressor which pumps the wells. A
well in South Aurora has been flood
ed and the fires of boilers put out.
There is practically no pressure in
case Of fire.
The river was up eight feet and a
half at 11:15 and still rising.
Fox river overlooked following an all
night downpour. The north end of
the east side of the city-a foreign
residential sections under water.
Several thousand persons live in the
district. The river rose eight feet DUR
| ing the night and is still rising.
/ Lightning Fires Oil Tanks.
| Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 21.-Storm
damage, especially from lightning, is
reported in Fort Worth and vicinity,
! following last nights rain. Two big
storage tanks of the Magnolia Petro-
| leum company, between AIvord and
| Bridgeport, fired last night by light
/ ming, and are still burning today Sew
eral homes in Fort Worth were dam
aged by lightning The rain was one
of the heaviest in the history of the
city.
Flood Threatens Valley.
Los Angeles, Jan. 21.-A gate in
the diversion dam of the Imperial
valley irrigation system went out last
night, and there is serious danger of a
break in the levees, according to adj
vices received here today from Yuma,
Ariz.
Inch Rain in Oklahoma.
! Ardmore Okla, Jan. 21.-A six
inch rain last night demoralized rail-
road traffic through this section of
the state today. At Overlook, near
here. several families were rescued
from their homes by neighbors.