NEBRASKA'S BURSTING LAKE.

It Causes a Railroad Wreck Which Results in Four Deaths.

CURTIS, Neb., June 4.---The damage by the bursting of Curtis' lake will be very heavy through the Medicine valley. The lake covered an area of a hundred acres, and was constructed as an irrigation reservoir, and, incidentally, to furnish power to the Curtis roller mills. An enormous dam was built across the mouth of Wild canyon where it intercepts the Medicine river at this point, and all the water drained from the territory to the north, some thirty square miles, was confined in the artificial basin.

The lake burst with a roar that could be heard several miles, and a wall of water ten feet high rushed down the valley, destroying everything in its path. Houses, freight cars, stock and a mountain of wreckage were caught up and dashed about like feathers. The fine roller [ineligible] which occupied a part of the great ravine were almost ruined. Damage alone is estimated at $20,000.

Middletown Daily Argus, Middletown, NY 4 Jun 1895

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Flood Damages at Curtis.

CURTIS, Neb., June 4.---The floods in Medicine Valley, which resulted from the bursting of the banks of Curtis lake Sunday, has subsided. The damage is not as extensive as at first indicated. The roller mills were not wholly destroyed, but the damage will aggregate $10,000. The building was undermined.

The Evening News, Lincoln, NE 4 Jun 1895

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WATERS RECEDING.

Damage Done in the Medicine Valley Disclosed----Loss Heavy.

CURTIS, Neb., June 4.----The water in the Medicine valley began to recede yesterday and some idea of the terrific force of the flood and damage incident to Curtis lake bursting its banks can be ascertained. It is even more serious than at first supposed and will reach $100,000. No lives were lost. Most of the damage is to crops where fields were flooded. The enormous flood of water that has passed into the lake during the past five days was to heavy for the dam. The railroad companies loss is about $25,000. Farm products of every description were in the immediate vicinity of the valley the disaster was almost ruinous. Small buildings were washed away or undermined so as to be rendered worthless and in some sections the water rose so rapidly as to seriously menace the lives of families.

Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 3 Jun 1895
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!