Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-07-14
viewing the Flood from a Hand-Cnr.

VI AA "a
1000 acres and the entire loss is placed at
near 100000.
Viewing the Flood from a Hand-Car.
~STAUNTON, ILL.,, June 20.
A newspaper correspondent with a crew
of seven started from here at w O'Clock
this afternoon for the flooded regions, and
ran to the water's edge, thirty-three and a
half miles OH a hand-car. At Mitchell the
water has subsidized three and a half inches
since seven o'clock this morning, with four
feet as an average. At Nameoki, two miles
south, the water has fallen two inches.
From Nameoki the party proceeded to Kin.
der, two miles south, and thence
to the water eleven and . half
miles further on. Here the water
has been measured repeatedly by
the inhabitants, and they claimed at noon
the water had risen half an inch, but at
four O'Clock they say it had fallen two and
one-fourth inches. From the edge of the
water East st. Louis and st. Louis are
plainly seen above this mighty lake of
water. Wheat that could not be seen yes.
terday is o above the water half an inch.
At Kinder flatboats and skiffs are busy
carrying people to a place of safety, the
stock being left to perish. Hundreds of
rabbits, coons n fowls are seen crossing
the track at Nameoki. The Chicago &
Alton and indianapolis & st. Louis Rail-
way dixie at Mitchell is all that saves the
water from flooding the eastern part of
the American Bottom.
The Rise It Chester.
CHESTER, ILL.,, June "a.
Both the Mississippi n Okaw Rivers
continue to rise, and each additional inch
of water is doing hundreds of dollars worth
of damage, swelling the grand total high
up into the thousands. The water is sew
eral feet deep in the Easements of ware
houses and stores IN Water street, and sew
eral houses in Bots Brule Bottom, opposite
Chester, are partly under water. Hun
dreds of acres of fine wheat lands, on which
the grain was ready for harvesting, are
submerged, and the crop will be a
total loss. The water extends from
the Chester bluffs to the bluffs in
Missouri, a distance Of about five
miles. Only here and there lane can be
seen. A rise of six inches more will make
the space between the bluff an unbroken
sheet of water. Families living in Bots
Brule Bottom are seeking safety in places
far from their homes. Flatboats and other
water craft are rescuing families from the
wv OASoOSA IL oAu Vo"A ~
Kaskaskia, eight miles above here, is en-
:tirely submerged, and is in danger Of be-
ing swept from existence. The town is in
undated, from n to six feet of water COW
ering the place. ALI day yesterday boats
were transporting the inhabitants from
their overlowed homes to places of safety on
the hills onthe east side of the Okaw River.
These people, in most cases, will lose near.
ly all of their property.
A Bad Break in the Levee.
CAIRO, ILL.,, June 20.
While the John A. Scudder was lying at
Prices Landing, NO., last night, twenty
five miles above here, inc during+ the heavy
storm which prevailed, about $50 yards of
the levee was washed away bv the high
waves, and an immense body of water is
now devastating q large area of grain coun-
try. An outlet is found at James, Bayou,
forty miles below Cairo. The storm was
very severe, accompanied by high winds
n the widest of thunder and lightning.
Some few trees were blown down, and the
Sherlock, moored at the wharfboat, sus.
tanned considerable damage. 1t lasted
about an hour, during which nearly m incl
of rain fell. The river raised three inches
in the last twenty-four hours, the gauge
reading thirty-nine feet three inches, thir-
teen feet below the ~high-water mark of
February, 1883. At Birds Point, opposite
Cairo the wind last night assumed the pro-
| portions of a tornado, the heaviest oaks
and cottonwoods being twisted and torn
down as though they were pipe stems, but
no lives are reported lost.
The Missouri at Atchison.
ATCH1soN, KAN, June 20.
Since last night the river has risen two
and a half inches. At this hour it is sta
tionary, with every indication thai it will
recede unless severe local rains fall in the
next twenty-four hours. All advices from
points further ~north-Sioux City, Nebraska
City and Omaha-are to the effect that the
river is on a decline. Such streams as the
Nemaha and Platte, which have poured most
of the water into the mainriver, owing to ex-
cessive rains, are also subsiding, as the
former has lowered four feet in the past
t~wenty-four hours. Old rivermen here in
cline to the opinion chat while the present
waters may recede two feet, still the June
freshet may catch the then high water and
cause disastrous results. This is partially
confirmed by reports to the Government
Engineer that the Yellowstone and Upper
Missouri are rising. How much or how
rapidly is not given, but it proves the
theory that high water may yet be antici-
Pated and that all danger is not passed.
The high water has at last affected the bot
toms and low lands opposite here in Mis-.
souri,, as it has cut through what is denomi.
mated the ~Sand-Cut, near Rushville, mum
dating that section.