The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-02-24
AN IMPROMPTU VENICE.
Tho Crescent City HALF Submerged In
Water.
.Ncw Orleans Democrat, FcJrumry II.

l.
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 Uf the desolation
| and ruin:
"No person without personal visit to
tho overhowed district can form any esti-
mate of the terrible pictures of desolation
there presented. II appears almost as if
pestilence had stricken the section, and
there hangs over it silence that is op.
pressiYe.
"In portions of the flooded districts
one can row square after square and not
see On inhabited house, and only the
splashing ofthe 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 chan,icleer drifts.
recalling the existence there once O,
gardens and poultry yards. Yesterday
there was no fall In the water, and if
anything an increase outside the canals.
ln the canals there was IL fall OF some
inches, but that did not benefit the dis
lrict. separated from them by levecs.
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 this east, where it remained most of
the day and prevented the backwater in
Lake Pontchartrain from receding, and
the prospects are that there will be a rise
by this morning. All day the relief boats
were out, manned by willing volunteers,
dispensing food wherever it was required.
Their white flags were welcomed every.
where, and many would ere this have
suffered extreme hunger had it not been
for the prompt action taken for their re.
lief
"As fast Us their means will permit
people are leaving the submerged district
until, in some places, it was MS gloomy
and To- .esOme as Goldsmith's Deserted
| Village. Those who are not able to move
sit in the windows, silently staring out
upon the flood with forlorn expression
In one tenement house we're four or five
little ones seated on u bed, with the water
but few inches from the mattress. In
another, on st. Peter street, No. l66, the
reporter found Mr.. a. Guerrero, veteran
of the Mexican war, with his family liv-
ing on the roof of his house. The family
was composed OF five, aud 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 littlo cooking.
"The water in mis- rooms were hve feet
in depth, and the furniture was floating
about. The reporter at aace offered to
take the family to place of safety and
| see that all We're carefully sheltered, but
the father said that he would prefer TO
remain, as dc was sick, aud if brought 10
try and stand it, aud 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 no
invades those which the flood has not
reached
"a fluttering streamer Of white Grape
on gate on downtown street told of O
baby still end white aud cold within the
house. Tho water rippled and splashed
against the gate aud rose and fell. climb.
ing higher each time itrose, as N trying
to pull away abe sign which told that
death had called and entered. It 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 birda are singing in the tree tops,
and ali around is bright, but oh, the
agohysof takibg the baby from mothers
arms and bearing 1t all alone in the
dreary, dismal waste within the walls OF
the flood-awept ,cemeteryl The tomb
seems thouaand times darker and far
more lonely and further away than ever
befpre, and the water isso cold and black,
and might creep up and up--who kDowss
land wash and splash until IL finds its
way through .sieks and mortar, and beats
upon The cheria> !. form.
'srhe sight up aud down Broad street
was foreboding. Cattle were swimming
about, csrcases Of dogs, chickens and cats
driffed ia and quito o. collection Of steps
obstructed the passage Of skis. AsYeTy