Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-05
WILL 1916 FLOOD
SURPASSOTHERS?
Old Residents Recall Events in Great.
est Inundation In History of
Rock Island.
OCCURRED on MARCH 10, 1868
Property Damaged to Extent of $780,
900. Bridges Partially Moved and
Ice Deposited on Fourth Ave.

property loss and prove greater spec
tacle than the greatest flood in the his
tory Of the city of Rock Island, As
years ago?
This question is being asked by old
settlers in Rock Island who, by reason
of the present high water stage and
damage which may further be caused
by ice Instructions have recalled the
situation in this city on the night of
Tuesday, March 10, 1868. The flood
caused $4,000 damage, destroyed
bridges and placed huge cakes of ice
as far north as Fourth avenue and
Nineteenth street.
The Argus of Wednesday, March II,
1868, gives the following account Of
the greatest flood in the history of this
city:
The oldest inhabitant" has never
witnessed such an alarming flood in
Rock Island, as occurred here Tues
, day night At about o'clock in the
afternoon the ice having previously
broken up and been moving for
while gorged across the whole river,
from a point near Rodman mills and
stopped, forming a pretty close dam
and backing up the water to such an
extent as to run it over the Coal Valley
railroad track at a number of points,
and to overflow the lowlands lying adj
joining the river besides forcing heavy
streams up Madison (Twentieth) street
to Illinois Second avenuel and across
to Orleans (Third avenue) and Rock
River streets Fourth avenue).
/ The situation then remained I'M
| changed until about 9 o'clock in the
| evening, giving no cause for special
alarm. At the hour mentioned the
| gorge seemed to completely dam the
mighty river The heavy tides, check
ed in their course, began to rise with
rapidity, which portended the utmost
peril The bells of our churches peal
ed the alarm, and no doubt by so do
| ing gave a timely warning, without
| which lives might have been lost. AS
ii was many narrow escapes could be
| chronicled. The black waters broke
across the railroad track Immediately
above the tannery and with great vio
lence poured over into the lower lands
adjoining, forming a surging lake Of
greater or less depth. extending from
Huber's brewery to the depot build
ings and by way of the slough to the
distiilery. a half mile below.
Street Submerged.
At the same time the cross streets
/ leading up to Illinois tSecond avenue)
were submerged while headstrong cur
rents rushed up Madison twentieth
street. and Jefferson Nineteenth
street. flooding in every direction.
Sidewalks were lifted from the ground
and dashed to pieces, cellars filled, and
first floors covered, huge boulders car
ried beyond Union park Spencer
square, even into Rock River street
Fourth avenuel; the depot grounds
piled up with ice, number of frame
dwellings moved on their foundations
and every loose object whirled from
its place and fioated off. A heavy
stream also rushed up Elk street Eff
teenth street, by the Jail barely CIV
ing number of families time to es-
cape from dwellings situated on lower
ground than Illinois street Second
avenue) and carrying with it scattered
remains of a portion of Gallup's lum-
Der yard The CONSERVATION at this
point at this particular time was very
great, and many were seriously in
clined to seek the bluffs, oblivious to
the fact that that line of retreat was
cut off. The water having become two
feet deep in the upper portion of Hi
nois street Second avenue) filling the
cellars in the business houses in that
locality and flooding the first floors
affairs certainly wore dubious aspect
Fortunately, however, at this mo-
ment the accumulated mass of water
proved too strong for the dam, and
forced the gorge open. The water
then fell five feet in as many minutes
A vast crowd rushed down to the levee
which had previously been submerged
to view the passing out of the ice. The
velocity of the current in front of the
ferry landing was certainly double its
usual rate, hurrying the grinding foes
onward and in quarter of an hour
the river was apparently clear. A
brass band, on the Davenport side,
gave token of the common joy by dis
pensing lively airs which fioated across
with remarkable clearness. Our own
people recovered from their excite
ment with varied emotions. Loss of
property was for time forgotten and
a general congratulation ensued that
the affair had not been ended more
tragically Never in the history of
The low grounds south of Illinois
street tSecond avenue) are still under
water, leaving many residences sub
merged; a half dozen above the tan
merry are also in the same condition.
Loss to Property Great.
1t would be quite impossible to esti-
mate the loss of our citizens. Whole
streets have been cleared Of sidewalks
which reparation will fall upon the
property holders. We have no data
from which to aggregate the loss OF
private individuals by flooding We
have visited all the business points OF
our city, however, with the following
result:
Skinner & Son met with no loss az
was reported, although half their yard
was submerged Two and a hall
| CT innS Of lnpc halnn uinn To Mrnuar