The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-10-21
DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD.
THE MISSISSIPPI DIKEs BROKEN.
The Waters StiIl SWSlllug-Ths River at Quincy,
Illinois, Seven Niles Wide, aud the People
Fleeing for Their Lives, Leaving tho
Animals and Goods to Perish.

CHICAGO, October 20,-A special this
morning from Quincy states that the Sny
levee has broken about two miles above
SCOTS landing. The exact location of the
break cannot be determined up to this
time, because oithealarm prevailing among
the people, whOsGem to be frantic and un-
able to give particulars. SCOTS landing is
due west from lIockport fourmiles, and the
country between the places is almost one
complete slough, which will prove the re-
ccptaclc for Il large body of the water which
is now pouring in through the break.
There was u large quantity OF water in the
Sny long before the break oc-
CURED, and this is now rising with
great mpidty, The levce where the
break occurred is lined with timber on
either side, the soil being sandy and OF
poor material for resistance. As soon us
the alarm was given the people in the
vicinity began to seek places OF safety and
to drive their stock to high ground, The
Creyasse is said to be two hundred feet
wide and constantly increasing. Word has
been sent to all the inhabitants OF the val.
ley to prepare for the worst. The flood at
this time will prove more disastrous than
hcgrCat flood OF last spring. The large
corn crops on the bottom lands had not
been secured, and hundreds OF thousands
OF bushels will be lost, and to add to the
general destruction the rise in the
river has come on the people
50 suddenly and so unexpectedly
that the bottoms are still full OF cat L.,
horses and other live stock. 1t will DO
impossible to save either grain or live
stock and In many Cases the farmers will
loose oven their household effects. The
railroad freight houses and other buildings
along the lCYcG front are entirely surround
ed by water, many Of the floors Nre covered |
and from some Of them everything has
been removed. The island between the |
bay and the river is completely submcrg.
ed with the exception OF small piece OF |
ground in the rear OF the marine ways. |
People living on this island have all been
compelled to leave as the water rose so rap. |
idly Yesterday that il now covers tho floors |
OF all buildings situated there. Across
the river the low lands are all inun-
dated to the bluIls, seven miles from the
river. Almost all the inhabitants have
moved to the bluffs. Many hogs and cat. |
tie have been drowned and many more
killed by milroQd trains, the animals going
on the cmbankmCnt, that being the only |
ground that can be found above water
LOnetree Prairie, commencing about five
miles north on the Missouri side is under
water distance Of twelve miles, the water
being in some portions Of it almost up to
the second stories Of the houses, At the
State fish pond, ten miles south 0f
Quincy, the situation IL most alarming
Commissioner Bartlett has used every
effort to save the fish, but his |
work Is but half completed. The
water is within six inches Of the
top OF the Sny lcvcc, near Stillwcll's |
farm, ut the head Of the lovoe, and it Is
thought that break must occur soon.
Should this take place, Il half Il million ma.
tive fish and II thousand German carp
will be carried away. The Warsaw lcvCG
above Quincy, which reClaims seventeen
thousand acres Of land, broke last even.
ing, and an Immense volume Of water is
now pouring through the crcvasse and rap.
idly spreading over the CUuntry. This Is
the most productive farming land in the
State. A large proportion Of il was sOwn
with winter wheat. This has all
been destroyed, and the damage
done to farmers in this vicinity
can hardly he estimated. Although the
baCkwater from the sloughs and runs had
covered u portion Of this tract, many fami.
lies on higher ground, where the alarm
re0ched them they left everything and
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