SEVEN PEOPLE PERISH IN DUBUQUE FLOOD-1919

FLOOD

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 9/3/2018 at 17:11:22

 
Manchester Democrat, Wednesday, July 16, 1919, Manchester, IA, Page: 1

SEVEN PEOPLE PERISH
IN DUBUQUE FLOOD

One of the severest storms experienced in northeastern Iowa this section last Wednesday shortly before noon. Rain and hail fell thick and fast in Manchester and vicinity for some time, beating grain and corn down, and stream and creek were swelled to overflowing in many places. This section of the country came out with slight damage compared with the section around Dubuque. A veritable cloudburst visited that section, and did damage to property that so far has not even been estimated in dollars. The property loss to Dubuque and vicinity is insignificant compared with the loss in human life. As usual the park was filled with picnickers, enjoying themselves in this beauty spot. The storm came up so quickly that the people had to seek shelter in the buildings in the park, and when the flood waters came down the ravines, buildings, rustic bridges, pavilions, and dance hall was all wrecked by the water. Many people were carried away by the torrent, and five loss their lives in the park.

The city of Dubuque was frightfully damaged, by having paved streets torn up, car lines washed out, and cellars and gardens submerged. In the north part of the city a mother and her little child seven years old were swept from the porch while waiting for help and carried into the large storm sewer, it was several days before the bodies were recovered in the outlet in the south part of the city.

The mayor and council have appealed to the citizens of Dubuque to offer their services to help clear the streets of debris so as to permit traffic to resume.

The Chicago Great Western and Illinois Central railway companies each came in for heavy damages to their tracks and traffic was seriously interfered with for a day or to. Many of the oldest residents in Dubuque County say that never in their lifetime has a storm of such severity visited the city and surrounding country.