The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-06-28
THE INUNDATED.
How IL Looks---The Present Estate OF
Affairs and;whatis being done
"a. the Sufferers.

Affairs andswhat liz being done
TO. the Sufferers.
A week ago from yesterday (Sunday1
the water ibroke .through the railroad
track beyond Weyerh @user & Denkman's
saw mill and considerable portion of
the lower part of. Rock Ashland. was put
underwater. The inhabitants of the por-
ton SO afflicted had little time TODD any
thing but save themselves and their fami-
lies. Some few were fortunate enough to
carry with them few trifing household
effects and articles OF wearing apparel, bus
the majority had to go Just as they were,
and glad to 90 at that. The water nas
risen since the first overflow. to an addisio-
nal height of some three feet and the con
sequence is that a! considerable number
who were concentrating themselves upon
an escape from disaster found themselves
in as bad plight as their neighbors. A
visit to the scene yesterday and row
round.the submerged streets and alleys
in the polly" did not reveal any
thing particularly new, though it was in
terestine to note just exactly the state OF
affairs and 1.-The actual condition OF the
property, Some few boats were being
rowed to various points, most OF them con
tanning persons who came to look at their
houses and wanted. If possible, to save
some little treasure. ifit could possibly be
had. A few rudely constructed RATS. have
ing on board one or two families, were being
propelled by the respective heads of the
said families, and they seemed 10 take
pleasure in lowering hear the family nest,
then sailing about and exchanging remarks
with others in q similar fix. A few fowls
sat on the roofs OF what had once been
their residences, and they looked very woe
be gone. aud bad their feathers consider
ably rrffed. A couple Of ducks passed a
short time afterwards presented more
coutented and comfortable appearance.
The household furniture 10 the houses was
just as it had been left. and the beds most
of them as the people bad risen from
them. A number ofthings had been re-
moved such as household utensils for
cooking. and crockery ware, and these
had in numerous instances been obtained
only by diving for them. These kind
offices were performed by the boys, who
deserve great credit. and who also sailed
about on improvised RATS and with rope
and string made fast those articles such
as wooden sidewalks, chicken koops and
hnU
will do almost anything if you let him be-
lieve he is useful, and he can do good
deal. Out houses sidewalks and fences in
many cases are all of a heap and present
q strange mess when oil mixed up. In
cases where these have not been secured
they have been toated away. One humid
red aud twenty five houses were counted
as being submerged or partially SO.
Among those who are sufferers by the
disaster are many who are totally unable
to bear the loss. and even if the water
goes down rapidly it must DO remembered
that some days must necessarily elapse
before their houses will be fit to be in
habited. The view near the railroad
track was not by any means cheering but
looked much worse than it really was, for
though the track is submerged, it does not
cover the rails more than or s inches
In the middle Of the lake which the water
course where there are bitches or undula-
tons the depth varies accordingly. The
clay embapkmsnt on Ninth Street held
out we'll but Ia some parts the water was
beginning TO make al impression but it was
vol watched. Up to Sunday mig ht the
water had fallen two inches and hope
were entertained chat the worst had pass
do.
The appearance Of matters this morning
was much more encouraging, and although
considerable disappointment had been
expressed and fears entertained. at the
rain of last night nothing of g disas rJus
nature had occurred. That the water had
fallen vis:bly, was apparent 1T the first
glance, and it has continued to grow less
all day, so that this afternoon at P. NJ
the actual stsge OF water as shown by the
government gunge at the bridge and by
observation elsewhere, shows o fall of six
inches below :he highest point reached.
Four inches is the fall since last night end
the probabilities are that the fall viii
Increase in q greater proportion from this
time on. The current 10 running out at
the rate of about seven miles an hour.
which is q very rapid rate for current
here. The matter of collecting subscrip-
tions and sffordiDg relief is being promptly
attended to. and no one is allowed to want,
or suffer if it is known. The amount of cash
collected and paid over to Capt. Koehler
city clerk up TO the ppesent writing is
81, 02300. and is composed OF subsorip
tions collected as follows:
Collected at Meeting ......$ l2T 90
a. ByS w McMaster. 4s 90 |
WIN Ripck ....... l24 90 |
- Aug Schmid. -. II rs |
- Hugh Warnock. 66 COL
=" G w Henry. $40 IS |
Mayor Carse SO 90 |