Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-14
RUSH OF MIGHTY WATERS
TREMENDOUS FLOODS AT LOU
ISNILLE.

Sixteen Squares Under Water-The Low
lands Covered = Driven from Their
Beds Great Distress Prevailing
Freight Depot observation-disclosures
Heavy Loss of Life.
CINCINNATI, Feb. ia special from
Louisville, Ky, to the Itmes-Star, says
''The dam protecting the low lands in the
eastern part Of the city broke about mid
night, letting sixty feet of water upon a
number Of blocks of dwellings. The scene
which followed is undescribable. 1t is
reported that thirty lives were lost, but
the fact cannot be verified at present. The
houses inundated are, as rule, small and
mainly occupied by poor people"
A shocking disaster is reported by tele-
phone from the western part Of the City.
Both freight and passenger depots of the
Cincinnati Southern Railroad were un-
dermined, and fell into the surrounding
water, carrying with them hundred
or more people. The depots We're one
story frame structures, resting on Mclean
avenue, which was almost covered by
water Both sides fell into water thirty
to fifty feet deep. The earth has become
so soaked as to melt, and the catastrophe
was further FASTENED by the breaking OF
sewer, which sent current along the
bank. Crowds of people have been in
that vicinity looking at the floods. 1t is
supposed those are victims.
1t is impossible this afternoon to tell
the extent of the disaster to the Southern
Railway depot. Only the freight depot
collapsed. 4 great crowd of people were
there looking at the food when Ryan's
restaurant, a small building near by,
sunk. The crowd rushed over on the
platform of the depot to see what was the
matter, when suddenly the whole depot
sank in water. The track was at the
same time depressed, and the
cars standing close, ran into
who had gone down with the falling struc-
ture. Not one body had been recovered
up to l o'clock, nor could the bystanders
give any one an intelligent account as to
how many escaped. The work of recoY-
ering the drowned Will be exceedingly
difficult, as the place is dangerous. 1t IS
possible, however, that break IN the
great sewer in Mclean avenue caused the
depot TO sink
The Common Council to-day voted to
recommend an appropriation of $4,000,
and to ask the aid of the Legislature to as
sist the sufferers by the flood.
At II O'Clock a. m. the river had reached
siNty-four feet eleven inches, and was
rising slowly; 1t will certainly
begins to fall. The weather is cloudy and
warm. The water works engines are all
idle. and the water in the reservoir will
last only six days. The police report no
increase of crime consequent on the lack
of gas last night. Much distress is found
among the imprisoned people in tenement
houses. Relief boats are busy visiting
all such places, and ample means are at
hand to prevent suffering.
WASHINGTON, Feb. I3.-A dispatch
from Louisville, dated last night, says
The highest point of the flood of Februa-
ry. 1882, was reached this afternoon and
is passed now. There is more than 6G
feet of water OH the falls. 64 feet in the
channel at the foot of the falls, which is
but two feet below the great December
food of 1S41.
The water is rising slowly, and Il great
tide from the Kentucky river IS to be
added. The houses along the river front
are vacated, and the drift is damaging
them seriously. Fourth street is closed
from Main to the river. Every building
in the shipping part has from
three to eight feet of water ON the floor.
The cement mills, the principal industry
there. are submerged. Nine squares in
Portland are at the mercy of the water
and business is ut an end. The houses on
the river front will have water on the sec
Ond floor before morning. 1t is estimated
persons are homeless. In the city proper
heavy damage has been done by the stop
page of work in the factories, and 1000
men have been thrown out of employ
ment.
A dispatch from Cincinnati says: At 10
O'Clock last night the flood had reached
height of siXty-four feet two and three
fourth inches. and was still rising. The
National Guards are patrolling the streets
assisting the police. The electric lights
are out, and at midnight it is very dark.
There is no gas, and the people are obliged
to use oil and candles.
The situation at Lawrenceburg, Ind, is
alarming. The town is entirely cut OF
from communication except by boats, and
is half submerged. 1t is considered certain
that there is suffering for food and fire
among the imprisoned people.
NEW ALBANY, IND, Feb. 13.-The
river rose eighteen inches last night and
is still rising. All the houses and factO-
ries along the river front have been
abandoned. The water got into the glass
works furnaces last night, and the fires
are all out. They viii lose at least
100000. About 5000 persons are thrown
out of employment. From 800 to 500
families had to move, and all the avail
able room on the high ground has been
filled. The railroad track, between here
and Jacksonville, has been abandoned.
Inc Terry DOaIS are milking OCcdSlOndi
trips to the Kentucky side of the river.
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. Is, II A. M.-The
following dispatch has just been received
from railroad station near Lawrence
burg. in regard to the condition of affairs
in that town:
"HARDENTowN, IND, Feb. 13.-There
has been no loss of life so far rs we can
learn. The damage viii be very large, but
it cannot be estimated until the water
- no a
feet higher than it was last February, and
up to this morning has risen about one
inch per hour. Lawrenceburg is entirely
covered. The entire village of Harden
town is covered with water. Some peO-
pie had to abandon their houses entirely"
LOUISVILLE, Feb. 13.-Business is al
most at q stand-still, owing to the
flood. The Mayor is distributing
food TO the sufferers with a liberal
hand. The Board of Trade has turned
over $500 to the sustenance fund, and
more is to follow. The German flood
sufferers fund has been diverted to
home use. 1t amounts to SIG. The
of Saturdays performance. The greatest
disaster that ever befell Louisville is now
upon us. The floods crisis came about
midnight, and to-day nearly square mile
of territory is under water within the
limits of the city, From 5000 to 5000 peo-
pie are driven from Jnelr MONIES. 10 cap
the climax there has been loss of life, how
great it is impossible to say. This morn
ing the entire section of the city from
Preston street east is cut Off Allnorta off
the Short Line embankment is in the riNA,.
The people living there had plenty m
warning.
The river all day yesterday just Tapped
the top of Fulton street cutoff embank-
ment, and in places the water trIckled
over. At O'Clock a considerable break
occurred at Adams street, and a hundred
men worked vigorously to stop the waves,
but in spite of this fact the inhabitants of
the bottoms of old Bear Grass creek re-
mained in their houses, and most of them
went to bed as usual. About IL O'Clock
last night the break came. The cut
off dam, overcome by the terrific weight
of water from above, gave way, and in
stantly, with a loud roar, the flood rushed
over. 1t had fall of from fifteen to
eighteen feet to the lowground beneath.
The unfortunate people were surprised in
their houses. The water, swept from square
to square, rapidly rising in the houses
and swerying many of them from their
foundations. The scene was awful. The
roar of the waters could not drown the
coroopc af tho tnrrifipd npOnlp pSCaDiuG