Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-02-24
DEVASTATING FLOODS.

WIDE SPREAD RUIN FROM THE OVERFLOW OF THE
OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI RIvERs-wHoLE CoUN-
TIES UNDER wATEB-BUsINEss STOPPED AND
AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY CARRIED
AWAY.
Floods of almost unprecedented severity
have prevailed in the lower Mississippi valley
during the past week carrying widespread
disaster in their path. At Cincinnati last
Saturday night the water was ~ feet above
low water mark and still rising. At Louis
vile all business on streets near the water was
suspended. Arkansas City, Ark, was report
ed inundated and railroad trains were disc on
tinued on account of high water. A despatch
from Helena, Ark, dated on Sunday gives
some idea of the ruin wrought by the floods ::
"There is no abatement of the disasters
that have overtaken the planters of the Mis-
sissppi Valley caused by the overflow Of the
Mississippi river between Memphis and vicks-
burg. For three weeks it has rained almost
daily until now. The destruction to dwell
ings, stock and lands cannot now be properly
estimated. There have been innumerable
breaks in the levees and the outlook for the
present is anything but hopeful Cattle and
hogs have been drowned by the hundre ds
barns have been swept away and their con-
tents wasted, and mules and horses are suf-
fering. This condition of affairs exists to an
alarming extent in Crittenden, Lee and
Phillips counties, Arkansas, and in De Soto
Tunica and Coohoma counties, Mississippi
These are the largest cotton growing counties
in the Mississippi Valley, and what is true of
them is also true Of others that have suff yred
in similar manner. Starvation III threaten
ing many poor people, whose homes line the
banks of the streams that have overlooked
In some instances cabins can be found in
which are negroes hogs and mules all gath
cred under one shelter awaiting the receding
of the river that has in its mad fury driven
them to seek safety by flight to the high
lands"
Dispatches on Monday night represented
the rain as still falling and the river still ris-
ing. The water was above the danger line al
Cincinnati, Cairo, Memphis, Vicksburg,
Shreveport and other points Only one train
east and west left st. Louis Monday on &C
count of wash-outs and wash-outs were re-
ported on all the great routes centreing in
Chicago. All wires were down between Chi
cago and Omaha, and Cleveland and Toledo,
and only one was left between Detroit and
Buffalo and only one direct wire between
Chicago and New York. The St. Charles
bridge on the Wabash road at st Charles, Mo.
was carried away with the food. All traffic
was suspended at Cincinnati on account of
the flood.
The Wednesday morning dispatches said
The Ohio at Cincinnati was higher yesterday
than since lS47 and all freight business was
suspended. High winds and cold weather
prevailed throughout the West and the gen
eral rise will probably be checked. The
Mississippi at st. Louis rose five feet yester-
day and has risen II since Sunday. All rail
road travel and traffic were at a stand-still.
At Vandalia, ILL.,, four miles square is flooded
and at Oarlinville, ILL.,, bridges and houses
have been destroyed. Every boat arriving at
Helena, Ark, from above or below brings
news of widespread devastation everywhere.
In the bottoms contiguous to the Mississippi
river thousands of horses, mules and cattle
have been drowned, miles of fencing swept
away, houses destroyed and corn cribs fioated
of with their contents, in many instances
leaving the people without actual neoessaries.
What the end win be none can tell, but il is
evident that relief must be given or many
persons will die of starvation. The damage
to plantations in the valley will be immense
The river at Cincinnati began 10 fall Tues
day night and was falling rapidly Wednesday.
The damage in Sangamon county, ILL.,, is
placed at $500, 000 At Evansville, Ind, a
boat containing family was wrecked
Wednesday and two women and a child were
drowned, and three men were washed off a
raft and drowned at Catlettsburg, Ky. A
boat in which Mr.. Jamison, his wife and six
children, were trying to escape the food, on
the Tyronza bayou which empties into the
st. Francis river 20 miles above Madison,
Ark, capsized and the children were drown
ed, Arkansas City, Ark, is completely sub
merged. The inhabitants of a vast area of
country along the Mississippi river between
Memphis and Vicksburg are in great distress,
many people living on RATS or on knobs or
parts of old levees. The destruction of live
stock aud the damage to other property can
not be computed The river is gradually fall
ing at Helena, Ark, but the Mississippi side
is yet overlooked for GO miles back from the
banks.