The Concordia eagle. [volume] (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890, 1882-04-01
The GREAT FLOOD OF 1892
vidaiia Inundated.
GENERAL EXODUS OF ITS oITI>
zENs TO NATcHEz.
MOST OF THE STORES UNDER
WATER.

For, several days the back
water has been rising in Vida-
liza, but no one though it would
reach to the top of the side
walks. Last Thursday, March
23rd. the water commenced rum
ming over the railroad, travel
on the road was suspended, the
levees around the lake gave
way. and by Friday evening the
water had reached Mr.. Freid,
ler's store, yet no one felt
alarmed, the water rose all
Friday night; Saturday, a gen.
eral exodus took place with the
citizens. by noon Saturday all
the streets were impossible,
and skiffs and fats were brought
in requisition by those who
wished to go about town. By
Saturday night water was over
two feet deep In most of the
stores. /. Freidler's store being
higher than his neighbors was
thought to be out of danger,
but during Sunday the water
kept rising, and by Sunday
night the water was up to his
store floor. During this time
the water had been running
from the river into Vidalia, but
Monday morning brought sad
chang, for during the night the
water commenced pouring over
the levee into the river, and by
Monday night, Mr.. Friedler's
store had several inches of wa
ter on the floors, and three feet
in front Of his store. By strik>
ing a level it was found that
the water was eighteen inches
higher in Vidalia, than it was
in the river, this caused q great
rush of water to pass down
Main street by Mayor Huma-
sons store, so great was the
rush that he thought best to tie
his store to one of those large
china trees in the court house
yard. Capt, Clapp hearing of
the great rise of water in Vida>
liza, advised many of the citi~
zens to move over the river to
a place of safety. Monday was
one of the busiest days ever
witnessed in Vidalia, every
thing was on the qui rice, boats
going to and fro, filed with
bedding, chairs. pots, &c, it
was a sad sight, everyone on
the go, with no place in view,
more than get out of the water.
In the mean time the governs
ment store house. filled with ra-
tions for the destitute was open
ed, this seemed to check the
tide of emigration for a short
time, but soon the rush for the
hills was as great as ever. All
along the levee in front of Sau-
ter's store could be seen movers
with their little all piled mp,
awaiting transportation on the
ferry boat. 1t was a scene long
to be remembered; old men als
most too feeble to be out was
looking to the hills tor protec-
ton. Every trip the Ferry
boat made, it was full of men,
women, children, aud stock, it
was a sorry sight to see the
poor stock almost too feeble to
walk, driven on the boat to be
taken to the Hills. 1t was a
regular exodus, every one left
Vidalia that could get away.
All through Monday, merchants
were moving their goods to
points of safety. 8. NJ. Asher
who occupies the large brick
store--perhaps the largest in
Vidalia invited his brother
merchants to place their goods
in his store, aud told them as
long as be had a dry spot they
were welcome to a part of it.
We visited his store Tuesday
and found goods there from
most Of our merchants, We
make this mention to show
the good feeling extending
among our merchants. In or
der that our readers, and the
community at large may have
an accurate account of the over
dow of Vidalia, we took our
boat and oarsman on Tuesday