Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-07-09

with those about him. He did not
sleep wink as usual yesterday, and
in the evening walked to Fourth
avenue and Thirteenth streets, where
he was weighed and his weight was
1474 pounds. decrease of ten
pounds since he began his fast.
Rains in the Northwest.
CHICAGO, July 2.-Frequent and
heavy showers throughout the north
west have already greatly delayed the
harvest of wheat and impeded the cul.
tivation of corn and hay making. In
central Illinois last night there were
heavy rains, which damaged the
grain already cut and made it i'm
possible to get ,ipening fields for
several days. Unless the weather
clears and remains dry, damage
equal to that of two years ago may
result. Unfavorable reports from
Minnesota are received but not veri-
fled as yet.
Mrs. Hayes Tea Service.
WASHINGTON, July, "A new din.
ner and tea service, ordered for the
White House some time ago from
Limoges, France, arrived this after.
noon and was spread out for inspec-
ton by Mrs. Hayes. 1t consists of
over 500 pieces, and cost 50 900. 1t
is ornamental with appropriate
figures and scenes. 1t is set of the
finest porcelain, and is said to sur
pass anything of the kind in Ameri-
ca.
Disastrous Floods.
HASNABEL, ILL.,, July IA break
has occurred in the levee near
Quincy and the water is pouring
through with great velocity. 1t is
now said that the backwater viii not
wash away the wheat, which is
shocked and stacked. That the
levee would break has been appre-
hended several days, and farmers
have driven their live stock to the
bluffs several miles east, also up the
lavee to this city and to other places
of safety. The river is now falling,
and if Il rapid decline follows, near
ly all of the corn and much of the
cut wheat can be saved, but if the
overflow lasts more than three days,
the loss will total. The break is
long and embraces fully quarter of
a million OF acres of highly cultivat-
ed and mos. fertile bottom land in
the State, more than half of which
was in wheat. Many large farms
are owned by citizens of this city,
and should the overflow continue
their losses will be very heavy.
The water is now spreading rap
idly and an area of several miles in
extent is already overlooked. 1t is
impossible to compute the immense
amount of damage that will result
from this flood, but it will aggrega;e
several hundred thousand dollars.
A slight idea of tue damage IN " be
gained from the fac. that an extent
of country forty miles long and from
four to ten miles wide was protected
by the embankment. This is pro-
badly the richest farming land in
the state, and the yield of grain this
year would have been enormous.
The news of the break ut midnight
spread like widfire, but it scarcely
preceded the rushing of the terrible
flood of water, and the excitement
during the night was intense. Fam
lilies were compelled to leave their
homes, in many cases with scarcely
any clio hing on and flee for their
lives. AS the river at the cutoff
where crevasse occurred is forty feet
deep, the water poured through in q
vast volume and with overlooking
force. An entire family believed to
be Mr.. Freemer, his wife and all his
children, were drowned. Nothing
can be found of where the break oc-
Cured. Dir. Freemer was farmer
who had considerable means and
was man who was very highly re-
spected. SO rapid did the water rise
that men, women and children
rushed upon the embankment TO
save themselves, and they did not
have sufficient time to get to high
ground. The East river break had
been anticipated for several days and
hundreds of men have been at work
Strengthening and watching the EN-.
bankment. Greater danger was be-
lieved to be at Cincinnati landing.
Last evening IL large party of men
LETT Louisiana for the landing, being
summoned by n report that II break
was imminent at that point aud re-
spending to an alarm sounded by
the ringing of bells, to get their
wheat threshed, harvested and off.
The wheat harvest was begun about
three weeks ago and threshing com.
menced last Wednesday. Every
team and every machine that could
be secured las been in service night
and day Tor ten days past, including
Sunday; but many have hoped that
the disaster would be averted and