Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-04-20
ANOTHER FREAK STORM
HITS CITY DURING
EARLY HOURS
ROCK ISLAND TRAIN NARROWLY
MISSES WRECK IN WAStOUT
NEAR MARQUETTE-lNT ERUR,
BAN CARS PREVENTED FROM
REACHING PRINCETON

Flood precautions were being taken
all along the Illinois and Fox rivers
today, following miniature cloud
burst which last night inundated OF
taWa and territory within radius
of fifty miles Of here This noon both
streams were flooded beyond their
banks, with waters gradually mount.
ing un il they threatened the hiFhe +
stage Of the year The measurements
of the Illinois showed four and halt
feet OF flood WltCrs Assurances
We're given late in the day by tho =
we'll versed in river lore that the crest
probably would he reached before
night and unless there Was "A rccur-
renee of last nights storm further
danger Of higher levels would be past,
The storm, which 'brol,c early this
morning, was accompanied by ligh'-
ming, thunder and IA downfall OF great
vOumes of water. The rain. which
came in torrents, flooded cellars which
heretofore have never been damlf
ened In all parts OF the city water
TILED Easements caused residents end
less trouble
Slide at Pope Home.
A hill slide on the Milton Pope lawn
on the south bun some lime durin"
the night caused a great deal Of I'M
casneSs among residents OF the Sou u
Side today. who wished that the re-
tanning wall along the sidewalk had
been constructed. The sod slid for a
distance Of about thirty fee. at 7
width OF ten or twelve feet. BY sOmr
freak OF fate the slido did not step 1t
at the top Cl the hin or 20 10 the bot
tom
Rail Lines Washed out.
West Of Ottawa great deal Of djf-
tculty was experienced from wash
outs by The railroad companies IN"
Rock Island passenger No. r, due IN
ottawa at II = q. m, was dcrailei
this morning just east Ct the Mar
uuette cement works. by WaShOnt
The train ran into Peru on time. but
was runing SLOW west OF there on aC
count OF the high water At a small
creek just east of Marquette water
was running across the tracks Inc
engine got over the span all right. but
as the baggage car and one paaScngo
coach We're crossing the ties washed
from beneath the rails.
The two cars went off the track
on the right of way, but were not
turned over. Traffic was tied up over
this line until this morning before
the train could be got back on tlC
track and the Washout repaired.
Interurban Service Hit
Interurhan service on the e.. .. &
p. west of Hicks Junction was halteC
last night at 10 o'Clock by two wash
outs west of there No cars were
being operated this morning. althoucl
the line east OF there was intact
At Chilicothe washouts tide up al
traffic over the Peoria branch Of tn,
lloCa Island 1t was stated that this
damage would be repaired before
night
MarselIes Has cIoudbGrst.
sNep through the city early thi
morning. The creeks leading throuS!
the town TO the river washed out o
lnelT DdnkS, bringing up idiS'
amount of debris and dead leave
with them. As soon as the rain stop
ped falling the water in these small
rivulets reccded, before any real dam
age was caused. There werc no wash
outs reported in this vicinity, nor va
any damage caused at the poNc
plants Of factories by the high Watel
This morning the river gauge Shove
that the water Of the Illinois wa
standing just four and one-half fee
above normal.
Many Towns Hit.
Chicago. April 20 Homes wcr
flooded and telephone and electri
light systems We're destroyed when
ClOudbnrst visited the Northwestern
district of Chicago and suburbs mort
of the city today Victims OF the r.
cent tornado were in many case
driven out. La Grange. westor
suburb, experienced terrific hal
storm. which left the streets covero
by an ice blanket several inch,
thick.
a - ~ a,