The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-17
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pie and the outlook, exaggeraton is next to
impossible, and an adequate account could
not be contained in the columns of an ordi-
nary newspaper. By personal inspection
alone can the magnitude of the calamity here
be Appropriated A general statement of
the present condition of Jacksonville would
be that fully four-ffths of the city is
under water, varying in depth from
three to twenty feet. At least 5000
men, women and children are without
homes and personal effects further than the
clothes they wear, and over one-half of the
leading business men are financially ruined.
The population of the city al the last census
was 10, 400, the majority of whom are people
dependent upon their daily bread. The car
works, when running, employs 1,5o0 the
glass-works 200, the ship-yards 800, and the
government depot has on its rolls and de-
pendent upon it for support, nearly 1000
women mostly soldiers widows. The car
works have not been running regularly for
many weeks, and many have suffered from
not being able to get employment. The
glass-works have been running regularly, but
they are totally submerged, the fires put
out, machinery destroyed, and cannot get
under way again for at least six weeks.
Everything is floating in the shipyards, and
they cannot be restored to working orderfor
long time after the waters subside The
only work that can be done is in repairing as
far as possible The damage done, and for this
there will be necessarily but little compensa-
ton. The outlook for the working men is
most discouragiDg. Their modest homes
and household possessions have either been
swept away entirely or so damaged as to be
almost useless. They are dependent upon
public charity for the necessaries of life and
there is little prospect of work for many
months One thing is most apparent
it will exhaust every possible re-
source of the city and surrounding
country to prevent absolute starvation,
and no matter how great aid may be sent in
from other cities, it will appear almost in
significant when compared with the demand.
THE BEGINNING OF THE OVERFLOW
South OF the city toward New Albany are
safety gates to prevent the "back-water''
from the Ohio from overlooking. Noserious
apprehensions were felt until Tuesday when
the river began rising rapidly. About
o'clock Wednesday morning the ringing OF
the fire bells announced that the gates had
given away and that the residents of the low
districts must leave their homes and at
once. The summons came so Unexpectedly
that its full purport was not under
stood. Men delayed active measures
until the water began rising so rapidly
that delay was dangerous The night was
dark and it was raining dismally. But few
boats were to be obtained, but they were
managed admirably by the citizens and
before daylight all the occupants of single
story houses were removed to places OF safety.
In other houses the people moved into the
upper stories, but had no time to save any
thing from below. This was in that portion
of the city between Prison Hill" and the
government buildings, and probably $50
houses belonging to employees of manu-
factories were submerged to a depth OF
from three to five feet. The transfer
of women and children in cranky
boats in the darkness was attended
with much danger and it is most
surprising that no lives were lost When
morning came the apprehensions of the oti-
zens were somewhat relieved, aud many be-
gan making preparations to rescue as much
of their personal property as possible. All
the damage. thus far had been done by the
backwater, but the idea had not occurred to
many that there was the least danger of the
Ohio getting out of the banks, which were
fifty feet higher than the low-water mark in
front of the CITY, But the river was rising
inch by inch and hour by hour, and it soon
became evident that the whole city was i'm.
perilled, Then active measures were re-
sorted to- Boats were flying about taking
people from their homes to places of safety.
Wagons and all sorts Of vehicles were hurry.
ing about the streets, loaded with women
and children and a few household effects.
The fugitives were put in the upper stories
of high bulldings-par the school
houses, hotels and business housewife no
time for arrangements or preparation. The
citizens committee, under direction of Mayor
Warder, A. ]. Howard and others, worked
admirably. An effective system was impro.
vised and hastily put in execution, and the
result was that no lives were lost
MEETING OF THE WATERS.
Wednesday morning the Ohio was no
longer to be confined within its banks II
got higher and higher and finally when it
reached the brow of Front street, nearly
sixty feet above the ordinary level, it swept
over the city and mingled with the heavy
backwater which was gradually approaching.
Then there was no longer any doubt as to
what would result, and the only question
was to what height it would rise. The
flooded district extends from the river bank
to the government buildings, distance OF
one mile, and up and down the bank like
distance, so that the submerged region i.
about one square mile in extent, and covers