The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-16
LOUISVILLE,
The Danger Not Yet Passed-Enormous
Losses of the City.

Losses of the City.
LOUISVILLE, Feb 15.-The flood is una
bated. The United States sienal-service
gauge at the head of the canal shows forty
three feet and nine inches, and rising half an
inch an hour. 1t is believed the river will
come to stand by nightfall No additional
loss of life is reported, but probably 100 ad-
ditional dwellings and business houses are
overlooked. All manufactures near the
river are closed, and thousands of workmen
are out of employment Almost the entire
populace is on the streets. No business is
being done, owing to the irregularity of
freight trains and the almost COM
plete cessation of river navigation.
Transfer and express wagons traverse
every street, stopping at all houses, the citi-
zens filling them with contributions for the
sufferers. The response, so far, has been a
noble one.
The water-works, in the extreme eastern
limit beyond the Point and Cutoff, held out
bravely against the flood, but succumbed
this morning; the machinery stopped Two
large basins are filled with millions of gal
Ions of water, and it is not thought there is
much danger OF scarcity. The gas-works yet
hold out, but o few more inches rise will
bring the tallow dip and coal-oil lamp to the
front
A little love romance has developed amid
all the want and suffering. About two
weeks ago Ben Knappesen was married
When the water came over the fill, Ben was
absent working at mill. His young wife
was rescued by the firemen and furnished
| quarters at school building 1t was thought
that her husband had been drowned The
wife was ia sore diseless Last night Ben
made his appearance at the school-house. 1t
was the first time he had seen his bride of
only few weeks since their home was swept
away by the water Each thought the other
lost and in this moment of joyous meeting
they could not restrain their love, and in
each others arms kissed away their doubts
and fears
The backwater at Washington street has
flooded the basement of the Gait House, and
the Sub-cellar and rear rooms of the basement
are submerged, Everything, however, has been
| removed from the apartments, and the DAM
age will be light.
The water is several feet deep in the new
Short Line passenger depot, and much dam
age is feared from heavy drift. The situa-
tion tonight is probably more dangerous
| than ct any other time. The backwater is
coming through the sewers in many places,
and rising at the rate of over one foot an
hour and every hour is adding to the
destruction of property in the back districts
south of Story avenue. The river will no
| doubt be falling here by morning.
Too much credit cannot be given Mayor
| Jacob for his courageous devotion to duty
| during the present emergency. He has been
sleepless and untiringly faithfully to the suf-
fering people of the city. By his side has
| stood bravely William Devan, the life-saver
hero, every inch of him. AS captain of the
| United States Life-saving Corps he and his
| men have been almost constantly on duty
! for three days, and the brave fellows of that
corps deserve all and more praise than can
be given them. City Engineer Scowden,
Fire Chief Ed Hughes, John Whallen, who
proposed to stop the performances at his
theater and throw it open to lodge the suf-
ferers; his brother, James Whallen, these all
| have stood by Mayor Jacob faithfully 9th
ers could be added, but these were SO promi-
nently faithful i'll their devotion to the suf-
ferers that they are entitled to have their
names sent throughout the land.
| The contributions have been generous
Great quantities of clothing and food were
collected to-day by the wagons of the express
| and transfer companies, which traversed the
| city bearing the legend "Flood Contrlbu-
tons" Nobody has been asked to subscribe
or give, but the depots for reception of sup
plies show how generously the people are
Board of Trade grows rapidly, and the COM
mittees will be able to afford much comfort
to the sufferers.
1t is no use to attempt to estimate the ex-
tent of the damages The city will lose an
immense sum from damages to streets, fills
and sewers. The western outfall sewer break
cannot be repaired for less than $200,000
The flood has stopped the machinery of
the water-works pumping station a mile
above the cutoff. This morning at o'clock
the water rose so high that the fires under
the boilers were put out, ard the engines
stopped. There is, however, no danger of a
water famine. as there is a twenty-days' sup
ply in Crescent Hill reservoir. At one time
to-day it seemed impossible for the gas
works to escape.
THE UPPER OHIO