Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1883-02-16
DEATHS DELUGE,
The Mad Waters Cause Great Loss OF
Life and Property mt Louisville
and other Points.
Nearly One Thousand Factories Closed
and Forty thousand Men cut Of
Work in Cincinnati.
More OF the Floods.

LOUISVILLE, Feb. l3-The greatest dis
aster hat ever befcll this city is now upor
us. The flood crisis came about mid
night and to-day nearly square mile Is
under water within the limits of the city
From 5000 to 5000 people are driven
from their homes. TO cap the climax
there has been loss Of life, but how
great it is impossible to say. The entire
section Of the city from Preston street
cas-: to the cut-otf and north of the short
inc fill is in lhc river. The people living
there had plenty of warning, as stated
yesterday. The river all day just Tapped
the top Of Fulton street and cut Off the
cmbankmcnt, and in places the water
was trickling over. AT 3 O'Clock con :
siderable break occurred at Adams street
and hundred men worked vigorously to
stop the water, hut in the face of all this
the infatuated inhabitants of the bottom
Of the old Bear Grass creek remained IN
their houses and most OF them went to
bed as usual. At IL O'Clock last night
the break came The cutoff dam, over
come ty the terrific weight Of the water
from above, gave way with loud roar,
aud the flood rushed over. 1t may be
imagined with what force the waters
came wncn they h ID fall of from Is to
Is feet to low ground. In less time than
it takes to tell 1t the food was sweeping
in all directions and the unfortunate PCT O.
PIE were surprised III their houses with a
mighty rush Of water which swept from
the square to the houses, sweeping many
from their foundations. The scene was
awful The roar Of the waters could not
drown the screams of the people who
were escaping from their doomed dwell
1ngs. Women and children waded
through the advancing water, each with
what household goods they could lay
hands on. Bontires glimmered from the
higher ground which the poor outcasls
had gained Hundreds Of people shiv-
cred in night clothing about the smoky
fires
LOUISVILLE, Feb. 13- The river contln-
ued to rise slowly all day and is now
about G6la in the canal and 81 feet at the
head of the falls. The weather is warm
er, with light RAIN falling, with indica-
cations of an increase during the night.
The rise is now an inch above the Hood
of AT, and inches below that of 49, On
the point where the disaster occurred
last night the flood extends over space
quarter Of a, mile wide, and more than
mile in length. Over 25 houses are en-
tirely under water or floating about. The
fact that the water is comparatively still
prevents the houses from floating away,
while many are.tied with heavy cables.
A gratifying feature of the flood is that
comparatively few lives have been lost.
Many occupants Of houses in the SUBJ
merged districts had removed and thus
escaped The fact that survivors are
scattered over the city renders it lmpossi
are lost or vino are saved, and 1t is sutfic-
1ent that the death roll is small. Circum.
stances indicate that those known to be
lost are: Jno. Finch and son, a small
hoy; Geo. Lynch, Edward Harris, Geo,
Bell, Harry Brewing, Lieut.. Pierce, wife
and three children are missing, but hopes
are entertained that they had moved out
These names are all that could be learned
by an active search Of reporters all day
but it is feared that when the waters
subside ghas,y scenes will be found in
probable that so small number as this
will close the death roll. So far as heard
from all alive hare been removed from
the houses. A man whose name was moi
learned was seen frantically calling fol
help from the door of house floating
down the river past First street this after
noon. He was rescued by some parties
in a skiif. He had been in the house al
night and day.
To-day Mayor Jacobs chartered the
steamer Matte Hayes and with corp.
of men traversed the submerged district
taking OFF a number of persous, and by
means OF boats supplying food to those
who remained in houses above water
Many IN this way were succored, as som,
of the houses were not submerged. TIL,
upper stories OF some are still habitable
the owners remaining. Some singular In
cidents occurred during the trip. On,
man was found cl:nglng to a tree, and a
the boat approached he cried out, "g'
over to that house, there is a women ant
several children over there, will holt
here until you save them" The hous
was so yards away, and the men started
but before reaching it the house turne,
over and was carried away IN the rush o
water No noise was heard from til
house aud nothing IS known as to wheth
cr the people had been rescued or not, in
formation was that the family were sti
in the house. The man who was In til
the tree was afterwards rescued. He de
clared that woman and several childre
were in the house when it tumbled dowr
Families are scattered and the waite
hides the ghastly results of last night
work. There are anxious ones who de
mand the names Of the dead, but mus
walt, as must we, who are not lntel
ested, until the flood has gone aud mil.
Of hidden land and hundreds of sunke
houses once more come 10 view Not Il
then can the story be told.
CNcNxATy, Feb. 13-Theye u strou