"Mill Creek
overflows its banks and carries death and destruction in its wake"
"Greatest Calamity in History of
Louisville"
"Terrific Flood Visits Louisville Last
Friday Night Taking the Lives of 12 People"
"Damage to property is also very
heavy"
"Heroic Work of Rescuers Who Risk
Their Lives in Effort to Save Women and Children Trapped in Their Homes by
Rapidly Rising Waters"
These were the headlines on the October 5th
paper in 1923, when 12 people lost their lives in a flood which came down Mill
Creek at about 7 p.m. on September 28.
The flood came as a culmination of a terrific
rain which had continued throughout the afternoon. The creek had risen gradually
for more than an hour before it reached a danger point, and debris had lodged
against the pile bridge of the Missouri Pacific at the south end of town until a
complete dam was formed, which caused the creek to overflow its banks and spread
out over the town. it was believed by many, who witnessed the flood, and who
viewed the dam at the bridge, that had it not been for the stoppage at that
point the creek would have remained in its banks.
The dead were: Robert McCarver, 31; Mrs.
William McCarver; William McCarver, 29; Pearl Brunkow; Pauline Brunkow; Mrs.
Alfred Laird, 25; Alfred Laird, 32; Herbert Laird, 7; Leonard Laird; Mrs. J. W.
Morgan, 42; Clarence Morgan (was never found); and Mrs. Lou Smith, 48, of Rock
Falls, (never found).
Susie McCarver, (mother of Robert and William
McCarver, and Mrs. Alfred Laird and a sister of Mrs. Smith of Ill.), had been
buried the day of the flood and the family had returned to the home. The
McCarver house was along the creek west of 701 Walnut. Mrs. Morgan lived at 712
Main. The first warning the occupants of the house had was when the waters began
to surround the house and come in through the doors. When the water became knee
deep William McCarver and Alfred Laird took their children to the neighbors, M.
L. Williams, 17 Walnut. Williams saw the men enter the house and tried to follow
them to help, but on account of the rapid rise of the water in a few seconds, he
was unable to walk against the stream. About that time he heard cries and
shrieks for just a few seconds and house began to move off its foundation.
When morning came and everyone could be
reached it was learned that 12 people were lost. The creek banks were lined with
searches and by Saturday afternoon nine bodies were found. The body of Mrs.
William McCarver was found on Tuesday afternoon by the Papillion searches. the
body was in waist deep water and covered with a flood of mud.
J. M. Hoover, the "oldest inhabitant,"
stated, "Last Friday's flood was the greatest since white men came to inhabit
this part of the country. In February, 1865, there was a flood which covered the
present site of Louisville, but the water on September 28 was six feet higher."
Mr. Schoeman was 85 and his wife 75, and they
hardly felt able to tackle and wade in the deep water. Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Shelhorn had reached higher ground and Mr. Shelhorn decided to go back and get
the Schoemans. The water rose higher and higher in the Schoeman home until it
was up to the neck of Mr. Schoeman. Mrs. Schoeman had climbed on the top of the
furniture and had the wonderful presence of mind to take some matches with her
in her climb and she lighted those and waved them at the window to show people
they were in the house until they were rescued. Just as they left, the house
started moving down the stream but was stopped by a large tree.
The worst loser was Mrs. C. G. Clifford whose
home was swept away, leaving not a trace of it (her house was where the tennis
courts are now).
Almost every business house on Main Street
was flooded to a depth of from one to four feet and when the waters subsided it
left a coating of mud of from four inches to a foot in depth.
The storm demonstrated the helplessness of
men against the unconquerable elements of wind and water. At almost the
identical time Louisville being inundated, a tornado and cloudburst at Council
Bluffs was causing a heavy life and property loss, the reports placing the
number of dead at twenty and a property damage fully as heavy as that suffered
here. The hand of man may erect gigantic buildings, towering bridges, etc., but
ever must he reckon with unconquerable elements.
Miss Marjorie Twiss and Miss Lydia Pautsch
were telephone operators, who remained at their posts nearly all night. (The
telephone office was on the north section of River City Antiques - 221 Main).
0 comments:
Post a Comment