The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-03-13

1HE FLOOD.-Ihe Hood OF 1901
will prove an epoch in the history of
the country. 1t surpasses all others
in extent and duration that have
occurred since 1892. The rise in the
river commenced here on the night of
the 9Th of February, more than a
month ago, and was unprecedentedly
rapid. The river being then at a good
stage, it soon reached a high tide and
commenced spreading into the low
bottoms on the 9Th of February, since
which it continued to rise steadily and
rapidly, considering the stage of the
river, until about the 18th or 9th,
when it commenced falling and de-
clined some sixteen or eighteen inches,
when it again commenced rising and
has continued to rise steadily up to
the present writing. At two o'clock
yesterday it was by permanent and
reliable mark half an inch higher
than Immediately before the recent
decline. The flood of 1882 has gen
orally been taken as the basis of all
comparisons as to floods in the
Ohio. In respect to attitude, this is
probably correct, but there is not the
slightest doubt that on several occa-
sions subsequently, the volume of
water pouring down the valley Of the
Ohio has been far larger than in 1882,
as the channel has widened and
deepened vastly since then.
At this time, over all the low lands
on both sides of the river, an illimit-
able waste of water sweeps from near
Newburg to West Franklin, SO deep,
that were it not for the timber, the
largest class of boats could run straight
across all points. At Shawneetown
and Caseyville, the river is now
higher than ever before known.
Shawneetown is perfectly inundated,
and steamboat of medium size, such
as the Armada for instance, could run
down through the main street of the
village From the Wabash to Cairo
the river is higher than in 1882, and
the suffering along the borders is
very considerable, till along the
Lower Mississippi the destruction of
property is unprecedented and the
suffering very great.
Helena, Arkansas, is deeply sub
merged, the inhabitants having been
nearly all driven from their houses.
1t has also been reported that several
lives were lost. Further South the
destruction and suffering is, if posi-
BILE, more dreadful, and we fear the
worst has not yet been reached.
At Louisville, yesterday, the river
was fifteen inches higher than at any
previous period during the present
flood, and at noon it was still rising
there at the rate of an inch an hour.
At Cincinnati it had fallen eleven
inches, up to noon yesterday, but
heavy rains had prevailed all along the
river all the previous night.
At Pomeroy it was again rising yes
terday, and we doubt not it is again
rising at Pittsburg.
Here, at dark last night, it was an
inch and a half or two inches higher
that at any time before this season.
All communications are cut off with
that part of the city below Pigeon
Greek, commonly known as Independ-
ence, except by boats. The water is
over the road this side Che bridge, and
also beyond, and it is up to the floor
of the Pigeon Creek bridge. The
backwater has overlooked Seventh
Avenue, between Brinkmeyer's foun-
dry and the river. and it was barely
possible to cross last evening on the
plank walk. Pearl Street, between
the Gas Works and the river, was
about level with the water, last
evening, and seemed to have been
partly washed away. There is a con-
siderable lake between Pearl Street
and Seventh Avenue.
John Reitz's saw-mill, between
Brinkmeyer's foundry and the River,
is submerged. and the water yesterday
was nearly up to the top of the boil
ers. One engine is under water and
the other is but little above the sur
face of the waves. Alexander Simp-
sons, and Schultz & Reitman's saw
mills, below the creek near Pigeon
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