The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-01
Last Nights Dispatches.
The sny Levee Disaster

HANNIBAL, Mo-, June 3O,-What is
known as the Sny levee, an embankmen
which protects the Illinois bottom for
many miles north and south of Quincy
from the overflow of the Mississippi river,
broke at o'clock this morning near Gin
cinnati Landing, about eight miles below
here. The break is about half mile
vide and the water is rushing through and
backing up with great rapidity. The loss
in Illinois bottom will be immense and
many of the farmers will be ruined.
Wheat which was cut and shocked off and
the corn crop will be destroyed. Another
break near the above named junction is
feared, The river is now about stationary
and decline will probably take place at
once, but this will not save many thousand
OF acres.
The water is now spreading rapidly, and
an area of several miles in extent ia
already overfowed. 1t is impossible to
compute the nameless amount of damage
that will result from this food, but it will
aggregate several hundred thousand dol
lars. A slight idea of the damage may be
gained from the fact that an extent of
country forty miles long and from four to
ten miles wide was protected by the en-
bankment. This is probably the richest
farming land in the state, and as conse-
quence the yield of grain this year would
have been enormous.
News of a break at midnight spread like
wildfre. but il scarcely preceded the rush
ing of the terrible food of water, and the
excitement during the night was intense.
Families were compelled TO leave their
homes in many cases with scarcely any
clothing on and fee for their lives. AS
the river at the cut off where the crevasse
occurred is forty feet deep, the water
poured through in vast volumes aud with
force. An entire family,
believed to be Mr.. Freemer. his wife and
all his children were drowned. No trace
can be found of them or of their house.
They lived but few rods below the point
where the break occurred. Mr.. Freemer
was farmer who had considerable means
and was a man who was very highly res
pected. So rapidly did the water raise
that men. women and children rushed up
on the embankmont to save themselves.
as they did not have sufficient time to get
to the high ground east Of the river. The
break had been anticipated for several
days and hundreds Of men have been at
work strengthening and watching the en-
bankment, but the greatest danger was
believed to be at Cincinnati Landing. Last
evening large party of men left Louisi-
ana for the landing. being summoned by q
report that break was imminent at that
point, and responding to an alarm sounded
by the ringing otsbells and the noiso of fite
and drum. It is feared to-day that there
has been other lives lost than those
reported. but as the alarm was
sounded as soon as the disaster occurred
it is hoped that all people reached places
of safety. The loss of stock will be great.
I Yesterday farmers were paying ten cents
a hushel to get their wheat threshed.
The harvesting of the wheat crop was
begun about three weeks ago and thresh,
ing commenced last Wednesday. Every
team and every machine that could be
secured has been in service night and day
days past, including Sunday. bu, many
have hoped that the disaster would be
averted and have delayed moving to pla.
ees of safety. Mile after milo OF fne corn
fields are ruined and thousands OF acres
of wheat in shock aud still unshockcd.
have been submerged. The water has
has not yet reached the railroad embank-
ment, but the track will be flooded by to-
morrow morning, and the damage TO the
chicago. Burlington & Quincy line to
Louisiana will be considerable. The
section hands have been hard at work
TOT seVerat days spast strengthening the
road bed. but the water will undoubtedly
cover the tracks. The water is spreading
very rapidly. and to- dag could be seen
from New Canton, which is seven miles
east Of Cincinnati landing.
By break in the Warsaw lavee. which
occurred yesterday moruiue, over, %, 600
acres of farm lands are submerged and the
crops ruined. The break is increasing.
and the levoe, which cost $2S, ,0CO, will be
seriously damaged. The new levee in
process of construction from Quincy north
is almost ruin and the rich farming lands
are under water. The loss in this country
will be. heavy.