Daily Davenport Democrat

The rain began to descend and with it came down as we never saw it before. It seemed to strike the earth in oblique sheets as if a million engines were sending their water from the skies. The creek rose rapidly and even the streets of the city were transformed into temporary river beds under the descending deluge. At about nine o'clock the stream began to threaten the houses situated nearest and lowest upon its banks and the inmates began to remove their furniture. But so rapidly did the water accumulate that many found themselves surrounded by water as the first indication of personal danger. At eleven o'clock the stream had risen full thirty feet. The scene particularly about the Broadway bridge soon became one beyond the powers of description. Houses began to be dislodged from their foundations and the inmates unable to escape were screaming for assistance. The night was one of deep darkness and the wild mingling of supplicating voices with the clash and roar of the waters while hundreds of excited citizens lined the shores eager but unable to render assistance conspired to render the spectacle one of awe and sickening horror. Nothing was to be seen save when the vivid flashes of lightning broke into the surrounding darkness. Then it in mockery showed the extent of the horror and desolation gained by the watery element. One house was soon floating down with a family of foreigners doomed upon it shrieking for assistance. A flash lit up the scene just as the wild torrent swept them beneath the arch of a bridge and they were seen no more. By heroic efforts many of the unfortunate band who were so suddenly deposed rescued from the wreck of houses borne rapidly from their perilous and brought to the shore. The water reached its height at about 11 o'clock and when the rain ceased the flood subsided as rapidly as it had risen.

The number of lives lost is unknown. Several are missing and it is quite probable that many are lost of which no cognizance can at present be taken. The bodies of eight persons so far as we can learn have been recovered. They were taken from the creek gullies between the Broadway and Fifth Street bridges. They were those of Pat Murphy a freight contractor; Mr. Turner an employe of Mr. Ivatt proprietor of the Park Villa House; Mrs. Coles a colored woman and three children and a colored boy. Mr. Turner was drowned while struggling to save the life of Murphy. Mr. Ivatt had taken his wife and child to the Grant House and was returning to save some of his goods when he waded into deep water and was drowned.

The loss of property to the city will probably reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. Second street bridge was washed away and such was the force of the water that not a stone of the structure remained. Fifth street bridge was also swept away and the culverts on Delaware and Shawnee streets were badly damaged. Broadway bridge remains unharmed. The walks and pavements in various parts of the city also yielded to the inroads of the destroying element.

Among those of our citizens who sustained the heaviest losses are Mr. Kunz who owns an extensive brewery situated on the bank of the creek near Fifth street. He lost 3,000 barrels of beer and 300 cords wood. Loss estimated at $20,000.

Mr. Robert Maxwell lost a train of wagons which had just been loaded and taken out to Broadway near the bridge. The water rose above them sweeping two down stream and damaging their contents to the amount of more than $5,000. A wagon loaded with dry goods belonging to Ambrosia Armijos which had been mired the previous day was washed over and the goods borne away and destroyed. Loss $6,000.

The scene yesterday morning beggars all description. The flood had subsided and the little stream was modestly pursuing its way into the Missouri as if unconscious or regardless of the destruction and misery it had created in the night before. Its banks were strewn with the debris of ruined houses broken wagons barrels timbers etc. and here and there the lifeless corpse of some poor unfortunate victim.