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 A series of newspaper clippings below shared by
Elkhart resident Chris McGee, follow a weather event that occurred
in October 1926. The effects of nearly four inches of rain in 48
hours culminated in loss of utilities and access to Lincoln. While
nearly 100 years have passed, such events still pose problems. Only
the use of horses differs and has gone by the wayside, except in
some search and rescue efforts today.
In the past 25 years there have been numerous rains and snows that
have closed roads and cut off Logan County communities. In the 1990s
there was a five-inch rain that fell in one hour that flooded
Lincoln streets, popped manhole covers and spouted six-foot tall
geysers, parked cars floated and were strewn in the roadways.
Today, power blackouts occur more and often, water boils are
occasionally necessary, flooding and snow disrupt travel, cell
phones lose signal, fibers get cut, communications and power go
down, and its back to a can of beans for candlelight dinner, smoke
signals and carrier pigeon to send messages; or it feels that way.
Things happen, man-made and nature. They always have, they always
will, which man must contend with to stay well and safe.
Being prepared and maintaining situational awareness can make the
difference in more than your comfort and convenience; it could even
mean preserving your life.
If you practice the emergency management motto: "Prepare for the
worst, and hope for the best!" you should come out alright and with
a great story to tell later.
Aloha, Islanders!
Thanks to Chris McGee for the century old story.
[Jan Youngquist]
Flood Extra
Lincoln Evening Courier and Lincoln Herald
Monday, October 3, 1926
City Water and Light Plant flooded
Battling record high water with sand bags
With the city's electrical power shut off when flood waters poured
into the plant of the Lincoln Water and Light Co., over a hundred
workmen were fighting a desperate fight this forenoon to save the
city's water supply.
Their weapons were sand bags and working in water over waist deep,
they were piling tier on tier of bags on top of a coffer dam thrown
up around the plant Saturday night.
The water at 9 o'clock this morning was over two feet higher than
the record high water mark of 1913.
Inside the plant, with two feet of water on the plant floor, doors
and windows were barricaded with planking, clay and straw. C. E.
Steinfort, superintendent, and Ben Hallock, chief engineer, were
working side by side with scores of worn, water soaked men, caulking
up holes as the rising water broke through fresh loop holes. From
time to time water spilled over the coffer dam.
Water will continue in the city's mains as long as the boilers can
be fired. The flood was within inches of the boiler grates this
forenoon. Pumps were by every minute pumping water out of the inside
of the plant, and only the I.T.S. tracks at the east side of the
plant, acting as a dam, prevented another foot of water from
sweeping in on the plant.
The plant's pumps, working submerged, handicapped the steam
pressure.
A score of trucks and teams, the horses wading in water up to
[cannot find the continuance of this story]
---- THE
FLOOD EMERGENCY
Lincoln today faced an extraordinary emergency. Flood has cut off
the electric current and threatened momentarily to stop the water
supply.
The public may rest assured that everything humanly is being done to
keep service open. They are advised to draw off a supply of drinking
water as a precautionary measure.
Beyond this, the public may help by refraining from telephone the
plant of the Lincoln Water and Light Co.
Men, water soaked and fatigued by fighting the flood for 48 hours,
have no time to answer useless calls.
The telephone wires from the plant are needed for official business.
Supplies must be rushed. Orders must be given. One useless phone
inquiry might result in a delay that would bring disaster.
----- BACK
FIFTY YEARS
Today's flood edition of the Courier returned to the days of hand
set type and a hand pumped job press. Printers worked by candle
light.
This little miniature edition will continue so long as the flood
emergency keeps the power shut off.
It will serve to keep the public advised of conditions, and will
convey a brief condensed survey of the day's news.
Through fire, flood and storm the Courier, in seventy years, has
never missed an edition. We stand ready to serve, even though our
daily message must be of necessity brief.
-----
[to top of second column] |
 LINCOLN NOW AN ISLAND, ALL
HIGHWAYS FLOODED
While Lincoln faced a water famine today because of too much water,
the city was an island, completely surrounded by water.
Only one highway was open today out of the city. This was Route 4
north, although water covered the slab at Lawndale.
The Kickapoo bridge two miles west on the Fifth street road was
closed by a washout. This cut off the Mason City detour.
Sugar Creek was over the road at Orendorff bridge.
Salt Creek cut off the Lincoln - Mt. Pulaski road. The Seventeenth
street road was under water at the Rosenthal and Wiwikopf bridges.
The temporary Sangamon bridge, route 4 south, was washed out.
Salt Creek at Clinton went over the I.T.S. bridge.
Service south of here via I.T.S was halted today. Water, lashed into
waves, ate into the fill of the road near Boren Siding for a
distance of 200 yards, undermining the track. Water lapped the ties
and traffic was halted. A freight engine was hauling cars loaded
with sand to ballast the crumbling railway fill.
Two bad washouts which did not wreck the track, but made traffic
dangerous, occurred on the I.C. between here and Mt. Pulaski. Peoria
division traffic was detoured via Clinton and Decatur. Chicago - St.
Louis trains were being detoured via Clinton.
The C. and A. maintained service with the Kansas City trains about
half an hour late. Derailment of four cars at Sherman due to
washout, caused detours temporarily via San Jose.
Order Bridge Timbers
County supervisors ordered car load of bridge timbers and piling to
be ready for repairs on highway bridges damaged by the floods.
State Engineer Here
State water survey engineer arrived today to aid officials in water
supply distribution if water mains fail.
-----
STATE FLOOD BULLETINS
Beardstown, Oct. 4 -- Flood waters of the Illinois river swept over
the entire mile long levee shortly before noon today and filled
south Beardstown to a height level with the flood stream. Five
hundred families forced to abandon homes. Stage of the river is now
24.4 feet, the second highest mark in history and the water is
rising one-half inch an hour.
Decatur, Oct 4--To relieve pressure on the Lake Decatur dam the
flood gates were opened today and a raging torrent was let loose.
This action threatens to wash out the Wabash bridge at Riverton.
----- LATE
FLOOD BULLETIN
At 2:30 this afternoon water at the plant had not risen for two
hours. Inside of the plant steam pumps, hand pumps, and bailing
buckets were holding their own with the flood. At 3:40 the water had
fallen one inch, cheering the tired workers.
Railroad Man Hurt
Chas. Wheeler, 28, I.T.S. section man, on flood flagging duty at
Kickapoo creek bridge Saturday night was struck during a rain storm
by a northbound traction flyer. He had a badly injured arm but was
able to leave Deaconess hospital after x-ray examination and
treatment.
Gas Will Not Fail
City gas supply will not fail even if water is shut off.
Arrangements made to haul tank water for gas plant boilers if
necessary.
Legion Volunteers Aid
The American Legion today rallied to the call of the city's flood
distress. Legionaires will patrol the dark city streets tonight to
aid city police and firemen. Commander Gerard asks that Legion
members report at 8 p.m. at the city hall. The Salvation Army will
serve coffee and doughnuts.
Rescued by Boats
Boats were used today to take off several families marooned on farms
by the Salt Creek flood. Those boating to safety included the Ira
Thompson family, Rocky-Ford; Eimer family, Blue Lake; Gilbert
family, between Mt. Pulaski and Chestnut.
Nearly 4 Inches Rain
Two and a quarter inches of rain fell here Saturday, most of it
after 4:30 p.m., bringing the October rainfall for the 48 hours
ending at 6p.m. Saturday up to 3.78 inches.
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