New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-25

opposite side people in several villages nave
been driven IN haste from their homes. many
houses are in danger OF destruc-
ton and thousands OF acres OF grow
ing crops are submerged. The wheat, almost
ready for the sickle, will be total loss ana
many persons will be utterly ruined.
further rise of the waters is expected ana stlli
further suffering is feared.
NIGHT AND DAY OF EXCITEMENT.
MAKING A SPECTACLE OF cALAMITY-EFFoRrs TO
SAVE PRoPERTY-HUNGRY CREDITORS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
ST. LOUIS, June 24-The great bridge has been
crowded all day with people bent on seeing
the flood. From the middle pier blrdseye view
of the terrible Iavages by the food is obtained.
Upon this side the water covers the levee and
reaches into the first story of the buildings; the
cellars have long ago been covered with water but
it is upon the other side that the damage 10 easiest
seen.
In Venice, Just above East st. Louis, forty-hve
dwellings. two elevators and five shops are
surrounded by water; twenty dwellings
are go deep IN the water as to he
uninhabitable, and the families have to take
shelter in empty treight-cars on side track above
the water. Several of the bu ildings are in waite
up tothe caves and appear to no gradually canting
of the waves surging against them. The water has
reached to the west side of Man-st in the centre of
the village and has crossed over the street In three
narrow channels hundred yards apart At both
ends and in two places of Main-st. small earthwork
dams two feet high and three feet broad were hur-
redly constructed, and gang OF men
are now busy strengthening these dams, to
prevent if possible the water from surrounding the
buildings on the east side of Main-st where most
of the prin cipal stores and largest dwellings are
East of Main-st. the high embankment Of the Chi
cago and Alton Railroad. and between this en-
bankment and the street are fifty buildings
which would be greatly damaged if the water gets
across Man-st If the river at this point should rise
ten inches more all Of Venice west of the Chicago
and Alton main track would be flooded, and in this
portion are located all the stores hotels and facto
ries
DRIVEN FROM HOME AT MIDNIGHT.
AT Brooklyn at midnight the peo-
pie were forced to leave their homes.
at that time in fact general heglra occurred; bed
clothing and cooking utensils were bundled up and
broad shoulders were soon burdened with every de-
scrption of household traps Many of the articles
were of no service, but In the first panic needed
goods were forgotten, and in the exodus lot OF
useless rubbish was removed to q place of safety.
The refu gees took shelter in train of empty box
standing q
and Quincy Railroad, and after taking in the situ-
alton they settled down to enjoy themselves.
Twelve families of religious inclination turned to
the church and organized their households on the
community plan. The schOol-house was occupied
by twenty families After their agitation
subsidized they selected the safest spots
on the unyleldng plank floor and arranged
their beds with supply of mattresses
and quilts that were snatched up in the hurry.
These extemporized couches also did duty upon
chairs and tables, until stray pieces OF furniture
were rescued from the food. In Brooklyn by noon
to-day some seventy houses were buried roof-deep
in water.
The situation at East CarOndelet is deplorable IN
the extreme. More than three-feurths OF the fami-
lies in the town have taken refuge upon high
ridge along the ST. Louis and Cairo Railroad. The
three school-hou are occupied by fugitiVes from
the swelling waters which cover the entire village,
except an elevated point on which are the resi-
dences of Victor Sherman johnson Sinclair and
half dozen colored families. and on another strip
one block west of the Narrow Gauge track. con-
tanning about ten houses, INTO which the people
have crowded for shelter
GREAT DESTRUCTION OF CROPS.
Nearly all the inhabitants we're depending upon
their gardens for a living and the destruction of
these has left them destitute Unless assistance Is
the poor who comprise the majority of the popula-
ton. The destruction of wheat and other crops 10
the country surrounding is complete. At the lowest
estimate 10 600 acres of wheat alone now stand |
from one to six feet under water, while the acreage
of flooded corn and potatoes IS about equal 10 that
OF wheat making all not less than 10000 acres |
of promising crops utterly destroyed, rendering inc
owners absolutely penness. From East Carondelet |
u the bufsa mean distance OF three mllesand from
East ST. Louis to a distance of ten miles below the
CarOndeet and Columbia turnpike. The whoe lace
of the country presents one cOntiLu us scene OF |
desolation and ruin. Had tho waters held of Tor
two weeks longer, the farmers could have saved a
large percentage of their wheat and early potatoes
the wheat at the time of the lnundaton oeing al
most ready for the reaper NInc-t nths OF the SUI
ferers are badly in debt and the loss OF their crops
upon which they depended to pay for their teams
and the provisions they have purchased on credit
while making their crops, VIII ledYe these people III
q Dltlabe condition.
CREDITORS STRIPPING THE POOR.
To add to their immediate distress, their creditors
from Belleyie. learning Of the mlsf0runes OF these
poor fellows, rushing in with cut-throat mort
cages and wrestling from them their horses and
mules leaving them without cent IN the world 70
20 upon. At Cahokia the water covers
the entire town, the people spending their
leisure hours III boating along the streets Cahokia
Island is several feet under water. The new grade
of the St. Louis and Cairo Railroad running from
East ST. Louif to South Junction, distance of five
miles is threatened There are several serious
washouts and 1t is more than probable that the rls
Ing floods which surge against IL VIII destroy at
least half of it, in spite of the efforts of the com
pany 10 saveit Tonight the riyerl still ri slDg
and further rise of three feet Is predicted.
RAILROAD COMMUNICATION LOST.
PASSENGERS COMPELLED 70 GO FROM ST. LOUIS BY