The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-07-22
FLEEING FROM THE FLOODS.
Thousands OF Missouri Farmers Aban-
lOning Their HOmes--A Farm house
Turned into an Al lk--SearchinS for
Missing Family.
!: T.

Cincinnati Enquirer
The scene along the Sny levee this
morning for several miles above this
place was one that impressed itself up
on the beholdcr. 10 say that it resem-
bles the southern exodus would give but
faint idea of it; for the negro did not
leave his old southern home in haste,
but took what time was necessary to
pack his trunks and dispose of what he
did not desire to take with him to the
land of promise. The people in Adams
and Pike Counties, Illinois, though, are
fleeing from what they know will be
certain death if they remain. Many Of
them ten and twelve miles above here
fingered at their homes, thinking that
the waters would begin to recede and
that they would be able to remain, but
this morning when the news reached
them, and It spread like intelligence
conveyed by signal, "that the water
had raised two inches during the night"
all hope was abandoned, and those who
were last to leave started for homes else
where.
At certain places along the cmbank-
ment miscalled the levee, they gather
ed in little crowds, talked over their
troubles, regardless of the rain, which con-
tinued to fall copiously enough almost
to blind them. Many of them are cross
ing over to Missouri. This town was
filled with men to-day hunting places Of
shelter for their families, who await
them ON the other side. Many of them
cannot afford to pay the rentals de-
manded and are compelled to seek
homes elsewhere. A ferry boat and a
small yacht are kept constantly busy
bringing the refugees away. A large
number of skiffs arc also constantly ply
ing
The Chicago and Alton bridge, just be-
low the city, would afford them splen-
did facilities for reaching the Missouri
shore, but no one is permitted to cross
1t unless he is Il passenger on 4 train.
1t is claimed that the ferry companies
charter gives them exclusive transport
tation privileges, but nobody would
complain under existing circumstances
if the charter privileges were forgotten
for the time and the bridge thrown open
to all. Capt. McCane, who has charge
of the ferry boat interests at this point,
says that he is willing to do, and is do
ing all in his power to aid the farmers,
and would be glad to see every one else
do the same.
Capt. J. D. Rupert, capitalist and
heavy land owner in the bottoms, came
this evening from the section where the
water is just beginning to make it's APP
pearance. He is thoroughly acquaint-
ed with the lay Of the land in Adams
and Pike counties, and is, perhaps, bet
ter able to approximate the losses than
any one else. In his opinion the loss
will not fall short Of $1,000,000. He
says the farmers can not possibly get
their grain away, and Il very large por-
ton has been abandoned while yet in
the shock. Many Of them are still try
ing to thresh it and get it on this side
but this cannot be done on account Of
the rapid rise of the water.
Last night there were fifty steam
threshers at work in one township in
Pike county. The water will not reach
that locality until tomorrow, and it is
twenty-one miles below the main break.
Another break occurred last night
seven miles below Louisiana. This
necessitates farmers rushing matters in
that direction, or losing all that they
have. This evening many Of them
came up and crossed to this side. The
exodus will continue until Sunday, there
being certain portions of the ground
higher than the others, and on these
people will remain until they have to
be boated away.
The reporter this morning while pad
ding around in a small portion OF the
flooded section, found a family who
were forced to live in the attic of their
little house. The water was deep
enough to flood the lower floor, but with
no where to go they determined to wait
until the last moment. A small row.
boat was made fast to one Of the front
windows, and if the worst comes to the
worst, they will abandon the little
home and all it contains and start for
the shore.
A further investigation about the
missing family at the first break de-
velops nothing new. They have fled to
the bluffs, or taken to the levee and gone
northward until opportunity was given
them to cross to the Missouri side. The
impression is strong that they were TAX
en- unaware and carried away-no one
can tell where. It is known that there
are eleven in the family, but no one
can be found who knows their names or
where they lived. For miles around
it is nothing but seething expanse of
water. The Freemans, some distance
below, are located OH the dixie and
watching out for selfpreservation.
The First Female Novelist.
Home Journal.
We hardly read Of a single authoress