The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-02-07
AT EVANSVILLE
THE GREAT FLOODS OF 1S75-6-THE RIVAL
lS67-A VAST WASTE OF WATER.

THE GREAT FLOODS OF 1S75-6-THE RIVAL OF
lS67-A VAST WASTE OF WATER.
The Evansville Journal of yesterday says:
The unprecedented flood of last August is
still fresh in the minds of the readers of the
Journal, and was by far the most disastrous
and destructive in the memory of the
Oldest inhabitant. Though not as
high as the flood of 1867, or even as the
present, the da1cage done and the suffering
it entsiled.were far greater. 1t was a sad
and distressing sight then TO see thousand
OF acres of promising corn, just in the ear,
and which had promised to richly repay the
toiling farmers for their summers labor,
being swept away and destroyed by the ris-
ing waters. The water on the 9th of August,
1875, reached within fraction of the AZ
feet mark on the government gauge at the
foot of Main street, and all the small
streams in Southern Indiana, including the
Wabash, White and Patoka rivers, were
flooded, and the whole country within
their vicinity was devastated in 1867,
The water reached 40 and 29-100th feet
above low water mark of 1867, the lowest
that had been known since 1856. The river
rose and fell in 1867 during the months OF
OF March, when high tide was reached, and
the people along the river, having timely
warning, had time to remove their stock
and gathered corn, and the loss was compare
lively light. The rise last August was sud
den and unexpected, and the farmers were
unable TO remove much of their movable
property, and large quantities of stock and
other property were destroyed, besides mill
lions in corn and other products OF the soil.
THE FLOOD OF 1876
has progressed gradually, and farmers have
had sufficient warning to enable them to
ge. their stock aud other movable property
to place of safety, and the warning has
been generally needed. There is, however,
considerable stock still surrounded by
water, but it was being removed yesterday,
and the loss this season will probably not
be nearly as great in this particular as 1t
was last August. Almost the entire penin-
suls opposite the city is already under water
down to the dlsiillery above Henderson,
and below Stanley's, and the water is up TO
the middle of the doors of the farm houses.
On the Indiana side, from just below the
rolling mill, the whole country is submerged
deeply out to the second bank, aud only two
or three houses ere still out of the water.
From the pilot house of the Grey Eagle yes
terday full view of the wide vase of
water could be seen, stretching On either
hand as far as the eye could reach. AS the
Eagle rounded Lockrsrt's point, the Com
monwealth could be plainly seen steaming
up through the chute of Green river tow
head, while the bills at the mouth of Green
river were looming up like mountains. The
Ohio's descent upon the lowlsnds seems
to be matter OF greater interest
here than Blaine's descent upon other por-
tions of the South. Yesterday Is magnificent
weather attracted thousands OF people to
Water street, to observe the extent of the
rise and enjoy the warm rays of the san.
All day long there was an enormous throng
of promenaders along the thoroughfsre, and
| il was difficult to pick way through. Sum-
set Park. the glory of the city, was full of
people, for whom tie usual occupants-the
cows-matie room. The water gauge. at the
foot of Main street, was the objective point
of the majority of the saunterers, who
watched the indications with much interest,".
1t is predicted by all the river prophets that
the rise will not equal that OF 1867, which
was as we have stated, 45 and 3l0tns feet.
AT 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the gauge
| indicated 43 feet and rising slowly.