The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-24
THOUSANDS
FLEE FROM
HOMES IN
ILL. FLOOD
Boats Rescue Hundreds From
Roofs of Houses.
Illinois River Still Rising
Others Out of Banks.
ICE CARRIES OUT BIG DAM
Cold Snap Now Added to Coast
Traffic Troubles.
Floods, Shows, Landslides-6S
Below in Alaska.
Boats Rescue Hundreds FROM
Roofs of Houses.
Illinois River Still Rising
Others Out of Banks.
ICE CARRIES OUT BIG DAM
Cold Snap Now Added to Coast
Traffic Troubles.
Floods, Shows, LandslideS-6S
Below in Alaska.

Peoria. Ill, Jan. 24.-With the Illi-
nois river still rising thousands of res
idents along the lowlands today We're
fleeing to safety. Hundreds have
been rescued from their homes by
boats. In many places dikes have
broken and valuable farm land is in
undated. Reports from points up and
down the Illinois indicate enormous
damage to farm property and live
stock. Scores of dead cattle and
horses are to be seen floating down
stream. E4rly this morning water be-
gan pouring into the plant of the Cen
troll Illinois Light company. Interrupt
tion of light service is feared unless
the rise is soon checked. Hundreds
of cabin boats along the lower river
have broken from their mooring and
either sunk or fIoated away.
Frcm Lewiston and Havana come
reports that the countryside around
these towns is flooded. The Spoon
river at Lewiston is reported out of its
banks covering nearby roadwaYs and
farm property to a depth of four or
five feet The stage of the water IS
at the highest point on record Rail-
road traffic is said to have been en-
tirely discontinued out of Lewiston.
Lc Claire Dam Out.
Davenport iowa. Jan. PA sec
ton of the retaining wall of the gov
ernment dam at LIE Claire was washed
out by the ice during the night and
today the area within the wall is
flooded one of the government
dredEes is submerged. The loss VII
be many thousands of dollars as the
water covering many acres Of grounc
will nave to be pumped out again aft
er the break is mended- The wa /
was constructed as n preliminary step
4 hr1fl a LIE
Claire rapids as an aid to navigation.
The stage of the river at Davenport
has been approaching the danger
point. being 12.4 feet this morning.
No rise was apparent over night and
II is thought that the crest has been
reached.
Grief for Coast Railroads.
San Francisco, Jan. 24.-Flood and
weather conditions throughout the
Pacific coast region today impeded
railroad traffic seriously. Heavy
snowfall, snow and landslides and
washouts caused trouble on state and
transcontinental lines.
sudden cold snap struck the
northwest last night. causing rapid
changes in temperature. At Great
Falls. Mont. the temperature changed
from 80 above to + degrees below zero
in 80 minutes. Unusually cold wealth
er and heavy snow is reported from
British Columbia. Exceedingly low
temperatures were reported from in
terror Alaska. Eagle recording 6S de
grees below zero.
spoon River LeVee Breaks.
Peoria. Jan. 24.-The Spoon river
leVee which protects thousands O.
acres Of farm land below Havana, Ill.
20 miles south of here, broke thi!
morning. A score or more of familie.
fled to higher ground. The towns o
Havana. Lewiston and Duns Mills arr
completely isolated.