The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-02-24
AN IMPROMPTU VENICE.
The Crescent City Hall Submerged in
Water.
New Orleans Democrat, February IL.

NcU OTteu'tS OCHtUCF0@, reofuW liz
The recent heavy rains flooded large
portion Of the city of New Orleans by
the overflow of the Mississippi River,
and the paper above credited, in speak
ing of the circumstance, gives the follow
ing graphic account of the desolation
and ruin:
"No person without personal visit to
the overaowed district can form any esti-
mate of the terrible pictures of desolation
there presented. 1t appears almost as if
pestilence had stricken the section, and
there hangs over it q silence that is op-
pressiye.
SIN portions of the flooded districts
one can row square after square and not
see an Inhabited house, and only the
splashing otsthe boats waves against the
doors and windows disturbs the perfect
quiet. Here and there disconsolate tab
bies have taken refuge on the roofs, and
across the waste of waters once in awhile
the cherry note of the chanticleer drifts,
recalling the existence there once of
gardens and poultry yards. Yesterday
there was no fall in the water, and if
anything an increase outside the canals.
In the canals there was fall OF some
inches, but that did not benefit the dis
trict separated from them by levees.
The overflow of the protection levee
down on the Claiborne Canal, for con-
siderable distance, extending from Elysi.
an Fields street to Poland, for depth of
fifteen inches, allowed the back water
from the lake to flow in, which increased
the height in the lower district.
"The wind during the morning hauled
to the east, where it remained most of
the day and prevented the backwater in
Lake Pontcbartrain from receding, and
the prospects are that there will be rise
by this morning. Ali day the relief boats
were out, manned by willing volunteers,
dispensing food wherever it was required.
Their white flags were welcomed every
where, aud many would ere this have
suffered extreme hunger had it not been
for the prompt avGion taken for their re-
lief.
"As fast as their means will permit
people are leaving the submerged district
until, in some places, it was as gloomy
and lonesome as Goldsmith's Deserted
Village. Those who are not able to move
sit in the windows, silently staring out
upon the food with forlorn expression.
In one tenement house were four or five
little ones seated on bed, with the water
but few inches from the mattress. In
another on St. Peter street, No. 165, the
reporter found Mr.. A. Guerrero, q veteran
of the Mexican war, with his family liv-
ing on the roof of his house. The family
was composed of FIVE, and all were hud-
died on the roof, exposed to the elements.
On the cistern top they had little char.
coal furnace placed, on which they could
do little cooking.
"Tbe water in his rooms were five feet
in depth, and the furniture was floating
about. The reporter at once offered to
take the family to place of safety and
see that all were carefully sheltered, but
the father said that he would prefer to
remain, as be was sick, and if brought to
the city he could do nothing. He would
try and stand it, and no offer could get
him to leave his little domicile. He had
saved few chickens, which were on the
roof, and the relief boat provided them
with ample food.
"Death does not stop from any cause,
and the grim archer daily enters the
house under water just the same as he
invades those which the flood has not
reached.
"a Auttering streaner of white Grape
l1, fol nf q
baby still and white and cold within the
house. The water rippled and splashed
against the gate and rose and fell, climb
ing higher each time il rose, as if trying
to pull away the sign which told that
death had called and entered. 1t is hard
enough, God knows, to leave the dear
dead ones in the silent cities, even when
the flowers are blooming on every hand
and birds are singing in the tree.tops,
and all around is bright, but oh, the
agony of taking the baby from mothers
arms and bearing it all alone in the
dreary, dismal waste within the walls OF
the flood-swept cemetery! The tomb
seems a thousand times darker and far
| more lonely and further away than ever
before, and the water is so cold and black,
and might creep up and up-who knows ?
and wash and splash until it finds its
way through bricks and mortar, and beats
upon the cherished form.
1.-The sight up and down Broad street
was foreboding. Cattle were swimming
about, carcases of dogs, chickens and cats
drifted in and quite collection of steps
| ob.tructed the massage of skiffS, Every