The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-10-01
| More Victims
Are Claimed by
Storm in State
Lincoln and York Man Drown
ed in Flood-Two Killed
in Twister Near
Seneca.

Lincoln. Sept. 30.-The Hood In
Lincoln claimed its first victim when
George E. Thompson. garbage
collector, was drowned in the West
Lincoln bottoms. Thompson, S. years
old. mistaking his bearings over
water-covered roadway. drove his
team into deep ditch and was
thrown into the current A son and
daughter saw him struggling but were
unable to help him.
The flood in the bottoms was slow
ly receding tonight and with no more
rain the danger is believed TO be over.
There were many narrow escapes last
night and today while the water was
at it's height. Alfred J. Leatherman,
a tourist, with his wife and four small
children, were rescued from a perilous
position in the tourist section of An
telope park. They were dragged and
carried through torrent seven feet
deep. Glen Preston, former football
star, and Edward Morrow SWAN
through the current and carried the
children TO safety.
Drowned at York.
The damage in the city and suburbs
cannot be measured until the water
recedes. Conditions at the state peni-
tentiary were improved tonight. Water
still fills some of the basement rooms
of the prison but the power plant,
which went out of commission last
night, has been restored.
More complete reports from sec
tions of Nebraska devastated by the
high winds and torrents Of rain In
crease the death list and estimates
of property damage considerably.
Ottoman J. Dudek of York was
drowned In the swollen waters of Lin
coin creek when he slipped into
deep hole as he was returning to his
automobile from a farmhouse. where
he had telephoned for help in extri-
eating his car from the mud.
Rancher Killed.
From Thedford, Neb., came "A de-
layed report that two were killed and
two seriously injured by a tornado
north OF Seneca early Friday.
The dead were James Murray, 40
a rancher, and Mrs. Murray. 30. Their
youngest son, 3, and Bernard. 9. an
other son, were seriously injured. The
four were at their ranch home when
the tornado struck.
These four additional deaths
brought the storms toll In Nebraska
to Is persons. Serious injuries to
other persons which may result in
deaths and the possibility that still
other fatalities may be discovered
may increase the list. however.
Blue River Rising.
ported still rising last night The
city wells at Zimmerman Springs
caved In ss result Of the high
water of the river. making the water
unfit for consumption.
Advices from Crete we're to the
effect that the river had become sta
tionary after rising to a level of rs
inches over the dam there. This is
the highest in the towns history. The
two river bridges at Crete are closed
to traffic.
1t was again raining north and
west of Beatrice up the valley last
night. indicating the possibility OF
still higher water In Beatrice.
At Barneston. rs miles down the
valley from Beatrice, It was reported
at tho Beatrice Power company's
plant there, that the river was still
rising 1t had risen IL feet within
"a hours there.
Reports from Lincoln state that the
bottoms of the capital city are under
four feet OF water over an area OF
five miles by three miles. In some
sections the water in this district rose
so rapidly that many families were
prepared to flee on moments no
In the basement OF the new capitol
building Saturday morning. Engineers
stated II will require two days TO
pump this water out.
Corn Is Damaged.
From Columbus comes the report
that high winds have flattened the
corn. and that rain has washed the
corn In many fields out by the roots.
The report from Columbus continues:
"Windmllls have been blown away.
North of Humphrey n heavy gust Of
wind swept through n section of the
county tearing down wires and
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