Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-02-24
An Improntu Venice.
THE CRESCENT CITY HALF SUBMERGED IN
'uG WATER,

uG WATER.
pr No person without personal visit to tho
overfowed district can form any estimate of
the terrible pictures of desolation there pre-
scoted. 1t appears almost as If pestilenoe
bad stricken the section, and there hangs
over it silence that is oppressive.
In portions of the flooded districts ono
can row square after square and not soc an
Inhabited house, and only tho splashing of
the bouts waves against tho doors and win.
dows dSturbs the perfect quiet. Here and
there disconSolate tabbios havo taken refuge
on tho roofs, and across tho waste of waters
once in awhile tho CHEEKY note of the
chanticleer drifts, recalling the existence
there once Of gardens and poultry yards.
lesterday thero was no fall in tho water, and
if anything on increase outside the canals.
10 the canals there was fall of some inohoe.
but that did not benefit the district separa-
ted from thom by levees. The overflow Of the
| protection evco down on Claiborne Canal
for considerable distance, extending from
| Elysiau Fields street to Poland, for a depth
| of fifteen inches, allowed tho back water
from tho lake to flow in, which increased
tho height in the lower district.
The wind during tho morning hauled to
the lnst, where it remained most of the day
and prevented the back water in Lake Pont.
chartrain from recedng, and the prospects
arc that there will be rise by this morning.
All day tho relief boats were out, manned BY
willing volunteers, dispensing food when
ever 1t was required. Their white flags were
welcomed everywhere, and many would ere
this have suffered extreme hunger had it
not been for the prompt action taken for
their relief.
AS fast as their means will permit people
arc leaving the submerged district until, 10
some places, it was as gloomy and lonesome
as Goldsmith's Deserted Village. These
who arc not abo to move si. 10 tho windows,
silently staring out npon the food with
for!orn expression. In one tenement house
were four or five little ones seated on bed
mattress. In another on St. Peter street,
No. 1865, the reporter found MIR. A. Guer-
rero, q veteran Of tho Mexican war, with
hs fun'ily, living on the roof of his house.
The family was composed of five, and all
were ,huddlcd on thc> roof, exposed to the
elements. % the cstern.top they had
little charcoal furnace placed, OH which
they could do little cooking.
The water in his rooms was five feet in
depth, and the furniture was aoutiug about.
The reporter at once offered to take the fam.
lily toa place of safety and sec that all wcrc
carefully sheltered, bu. the father said that
he would prefer to remain, as he was sick,
and if brought to tho city he could do moth.
ing. t1o would try aud stand it, and no
offer could get him to leave his ltt!o domcle
lie had saved few chickens, which were on
the roof, and tho relief boat provided them
with ample food
Death does not stop from any cause, and
the grim archer daily enters the house un~
der water just the same as he invades
those which the flood has not reached.
A auttering slreulner of white crape on
gate Oh a downtown street told of baby
still and white ard cold within tho honse.
The water rippled and ypashed against tho
gate aud rose and fell, climbing higher each
timo it rose, as if trying to pull away the
sign which told that death had called and
en'ocd. 1t is hard enough, God knows, to
leave the dear dead ones in tho silent cities,
even when tho flowers are blooming on
every hand and birds are singing in the
trec-tops, and all around is bright, but oh,
the agony of taking the baby form from
mohcr's arms and bearing it all alone in the
dreary, dismal waste within tho walls of the
food-swept comotnry! The tomb seems
thousand times darker and far moro lonely
aud further away than ever before, aud the
water is SO cold aud black, and mig ght creep
up and up-who knows-and wash and
splash until it fluids its way through bricks
and mortar, and beats upon the cherished
form.
The sight up and down Broad street was
forebodipg. Cattle are swimming about,
carcpscs OF dogs, chickens aud cats 2riftcd
in quite collection OF steps obstruoted
the passage of skiffs. Every known mako Of
water craft was brought into requistioD,
from wash tubs to coffius, kitchen tables
inverted, with chair for seat was quito
arstocra,ic
In the parish prison the water invaded
the cells, and the prisoners had to be moved
up stairs. Tho Dumaine street cars con
tinued to run yesterday to Broad street.
The mules were hitched to the front as
usual GU going out, but on the return they
were attached to tho rear end Of the car.
It was rather damp riding in them, as for
six squares on the river side of Broad street
tho water covered the bottom Of tho car to
a depth of from three to six inches.
A table with large rock 10 the center to
keep it in position, and sperAd with an after
noon meal, was noted. IN little cottage,
whose floor was covered with foot of water,
there vas found family of aix--a mother
and five children. Three of the little ones
were gazing mournful'y and wearily out
upon the water, but The other two were not
in sight. The woman thankfully received
tho food given hor. but begged for madioina.