It's dry as a bone here in the south of Iowa as May 2023 winds down, but that was distinctly not the case back in late May and early June of 1903 when devastating floods soaked a broad region of the heartland.
Lucas County's towns and villages are built for the most part on high ground and not subject to major flooding, but the headlines above from the Des Moines Register and Leader of June 1, 1903, give some idea of the problems elsewhere.
The report in The Chariton Herald of June 4, below, focused as might be expected on disruptions to rail transportation --- Chariton was a major rail hub at the time. It was published under the headline, "Destruction by Floods: Worst Damage in the History of the West Wrought by High Waters:"
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The rains of the past week have caused the worst floods in the history of Iowa and the west. In this immediate vicinity no great damage has resulted, but at Des Moines, Ottumwa, Kansas City, Topeka and many other points many lives have been lost and millions of dollars worth of property has been destroyed.
In Lucas county, the Chariton river and various creeks have overflowed enough to wash out bridges, drown some stock and block up highways. But that is nothing compared to what has happened around us.
On the main line of the Q at Ottumwa, the Des Moines river rose over the track between the bridge and the city, and no trains have crossed since No. 7 last Friday. It is thought that considerable of the track has been washed away, but the water has not abated sufficiently yet to find out the full extent of the damage. South Ottumwa has been inundated, and several thousand people rendered homeless. One man lost his life in trying to save his family. The water works, the gas plant and the large factories are flooded and are shut down. The city has been shut off from all railroad connection for a week, except a few trains from the east.
The Burlington has abandoned all of its trains except 3 and 4, which run from Creston to Albia, and 9 and 10, which run from Creston to Chillicothe. All other trains have been specials and at very irregular times, running south from Burlington to K.&W. and up to Chariton from Humeston, and also by way to St. Joseph. All telegraph operating for the middle division has been done from the Chariton office. The water is still over the track at Ottumwa, but fell eight inches yesterday. No through traffic can be started before Saturday or Sunday, at the earliest.
At Des Moines, the river rose 23.5 feet, the highest ever recorded. The loss of property was very great, and the city east of the river was flooded. The new Sixth avenue bridge was washed out, and all railroad bridges were damaged so that no trains moved for several days. Six or seven persons lost their lives in the flood. The school houses and churches were thrown open for the homeless people, and an epidemic of fever and pneumonia was feared after the waters subsided, but that danger is lessening today.
A Wabash passenger train from Des Moines to St. Louis was stalled in the water on the Rock Island track north of Indianola, last Friday, and had to wait there with the engine fires out until last Tuesday, when the water subsided and the train proceeded on its way, arriving in Chariton Tuesday on its way south over the Q.
At Kansas City and Topeka the greatest damage is wrought. The railroad bridge across theMissouri went out at Kansas City, carrying down 20 or more engines that were on the bridge to hold it down. Seven feet of water was flowing through the union depot and the loss of life and property is appalling.
At Topeka, 34 people were drowned, and the north half of the city was inundated. In addition to the flood, several fires broke out and destroyed many dwellings and helped to swell the death list.
20,000 people are homeless at Kansas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kans. The river was 35 feet above ordinary level at Kansas City.
The high water was just reaching St. Louis yesterday, and immense damage may be done there and farther down the river.
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