Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-02-27
FREEP0RT, ILL.,, IS
MENACED BY HIGH
WATERS OF RIVER
GORGE FORMS IN PEcAToNlCA
ABOVE CITY. FEAR Is EXPIRES.
SEQ THAT STREETS WILL BE
UNDATED WHEN JAM LET'S
LOOSE.

Chicago. Feb. 27.--With ice an inch
thick covering water surrounding
homes and the business district of
East Freeport, Ill.,, where the Peca.
tonica river has overlooked its banks,
receding Of the water gave but tenn
porary relief Sunday.
Fear is held for a heavy thaw
which might submerge over half the
city and cause additional loss OF
property. The dynamiting of ice
Jams at Winslow, north of Freeport,
and the avalanche Of water expected
from Wisconsin, where heavy storms
have paralyzed transportation facil-
tiles adds to the anxiety Of the citi.
2cus
At 4 o'clock yesterday morning
the water began to recede and at :
o'clock had gone down seven inches.
Water was slowly seeping out from
under the ice and the river high
water mark was rapidly being low.
erred
Pedestrians were forced tC leave
their homes in East Freeport wear.
ing rubber boots Children were car
r'pd IN arms by their elders. The
flooded area covers a distance Of
about one mile Water is so high
in .ln streets that automobiles. wag-
oGs. trucks and street ears became
stalled and were abandoned.
Men used clubs to break the ice
owe. the water in the streets that
they might use rOwboats TO bring
food and fuel 10 homes where fam
lies We're marooned. In one case a
baby was placed in a washtub and
Lsu.aI across the water filled street
to me home of her grandmother.
The Llsh water and ice has caused
the disgOutinuance of service between
Rockford and Freeport and Freeport
and Belcit on interurban lines and
on the Chicago, Milwaukee e st.
Paul railroad. The railroad station
at the edge of the business district
is an isalnd, with freight cars stand
ing in four and five feet of water.
Six horses, marooned Saturday
nisht in a pasture, were found Sun
day morning standing in four feet
Of water and ice, frozen to death.
Six inches of ice and water cover
The streets in East Freeport, and city
employees yesterday were seeking to
clear clcgeed manholes and sewers.
Tna hirh water, however, prevents
the sewers from emptying into the
rapidly flowing river If the river
reeedas q few inches more the sew
or outlets will be clear and most OF
the water in the flooded area will
quickly pass away.
Electricity is being supplied from
Dixon, as the Freeport electric plant
IS out of commission. Business
houses and hotel are sustaining
beavy loss from water backed into
fhe buildings from clogged sewers.
throughout the entire downtown
business district pumps were kept
in operation Saturday night in
vain attempt to keep ahead of the
rising water.
After q fcrty-eight hour vigil di-
recting the rescue work in the flood
GO territory Mayor A. F. Stephan
returned to his home yesterday
morning He said he believed the
river would continue to recede and
the bulk Of the high water would
pass away.
Weighted freight cars are still be-
ing used on railroad bridges to pro-
tect them from the rushing waters.
Two bridges at Winslow were wash
ed out Saturday
Rock river started rising at Rock
ford Saturday night The river over
flowed its banks at Belteberg, a sum
mcr resort north Of Rockford, and
buried a number of small cottages
reports from there yesterday indicat.
ed. The water was rapidly reced,
ing