The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-31
v.. ,,.o,,. NJ Mannheim and worms,
u,ondon s,anaardI

fairly say: for, though the rain had almost
ceased, the wind was very strong, ana the
WAVES could be seen, even from the heigh'
where I stood. beating on the dams. The
great Rhine dam. which protects the fur.
Their bank of the river, was broken, ana
Ludwigshafen, the Southwark OF
Mannheim. was an island connected
with Mannheim only by The great snspen-
sion bridge which carries road ana rail-
way. Dotted over this huge sheet OF Wa'er
were the villages whose names have occu-
nied my teIegrams--on the right, near
rr,esenheim. further off Oppau, on the LETT
Fdiybeim. and i'm the far distance Frank
cntbal-or rather the remains OF villages,
LITTLE clusters OF roofs, with church-tower
Nominating each. Looking through u telc-
scone one made out that everything was
tottering and ready TO fall-not roof
straiybt. not wall unbroken. Hundreds
OF houses have disappeared beneath the
flood now. IL is no shallow lake,
but really deep sea. Few homes
stand more than roof upward out OF
Il. Few tree-trunks are TO be seen. Only
consider what this scene means to those
who a few DAYS ago called these shells
their home--fo a population OF poor labor
ing folk. living on black bread, potatoes,
and milk. Their cattle Lie under those
ruins. dead; their stores of potatoes, heaped
together against winter-time, are rottiug
beneath the water; and their homes are
washed away and destroyed by the waves
Truly il Is picture which would sadden
the most careless Of on-lookers. The point
of vantage which / had assembled was
crowded with no mere sight-seers. Many
of them were once the occupiers Of those
snH
\ fear. heart broken gaze that was bent
upon them.
wigshafen, and walked along the great dam
nearly rs far as the breach which was made
where the Neckar and Rhine join. The
chemical and soda-works which are built
along il were quite still and sln0KelesS.
Tbey stand deep IN water themselves. On
,eaving their shelter the strength of
the waves which are raised under
the action Of the fierce wind blowing
TODAY was evident. They beat almost
over the embankment, and ii the breach
further on did not ease the pressure, |
doubt if any part OF it would stand long.
I next went 10 one OF The School-houSes.
where the sufferers are now sheltered, TO
see something OF their state. Pitlable. in
deed. il was, even il they had not the con-
seriousness OF their loss OF everything. Chill
dren. old men and women, sick, all crowd
ed together, making the tables and desks
into beds, scarcely realizing their posi-
tion, except that they are without every
thing that makes life endurable- hungry,
wanting every comfort, they eyed me
eagerly as entered, as il they thought the
stranger might perchance have some help
to bring them. Without the same sadden-
ing sight--a Young girl carrying in baS-
ket all she had saved from the wreck:
Young man making his way to some depot
with the best piece Of family furniture, no
doubt; or. still saddeI, a mother feeding
her little children with some coarse black
bread, all she had to give them.
On arriving at Worms found the weather
much improved, and made an expedition
TO some of the near-lyiDg villages by car
rage and boat, in order to see more closely
the harm done. The first, Bohenhein, APP
peared not much damaged, as IL stood on
the edge OF the great mere, over which
already many water-birds were wheeling
around. On approaching one saw, how
ever, how great the force Of the water
had been-in the lower part OF the
village scarcely house still straight,
and many houses were absolute
heaps Of ruins. Further on one
comes to Roxheim, one Of the places which
has suffered most. Passing along the mid
die street, which was dry, / came to the
church. and entering found that il had
been used as a depot for every conceivable
kind OF saved property. On the font stood
a great basket OF potatoes; across the seats
were thrown beds and bedding; while |
noticed number Of unbaked rolls lying
together in a bag just as they had been
made for baking on Newly ears night.
Coniessionals. side affairs, organ loft
every conceivable nook and corner
was employed by some one to
store something especially valued; and
over all streamed the sun through the
painted windows and lit up the heteroge-
neous accumulation with n1any-colored
rays. In the street opposite people were
still saving things b. ladders through the
windows, and pioneers and firemen passed
TO and fro with boats. Being deslrOus OF
going through the worst parts myself, |
addressed band OF men smoking pipes
stolidly and inquired if could get a boat.
"What do you want it fort" asked one.
"To go round the village little" "And
steal something, expect" added another.
On my explaining. however, that my OBJ
ject was merely to Obtain Il view OF the
place for purposes OF description. he as
sisted me in finding the village ferryman,
who rowed slowly round, entertaining me
the while with varied converse. One hun
dred and eleven houses had fallen, not
counting barns and sheds, and the dam
broke on New-Year's night. One could
hardly realize the disaster. Houses were
to be seen twisted about in every conceiya-
bic way. Here was one with It's end torn
out, so that one could see the Wallpapers
in the rooms within; in another case the
roof had opened out like q great umbrella.
and lay on the water, with one chimney
projecting slantingly from its middle point.
questioned the old ferryman how il had
come about: '|In New-Year's night the
village was aroused about in the evening
by fearful roaring, and then the waller
began to rise on the floor. At once there
began general flight to the church;
sick people. bed-ridden children, all
carried off in the dark, there TO wait
till dawn. And what situation
when dawn came! Some fifty houses
already fallen, water cutting of the way on
every side and no one knowing whether
the building in which they had taken re-
fuge might not soon become victim. too,
10 tht utNOuIinE NaNcs. nun l. YOU
expect IL; all the neighboring places were
inundatcd:" "No; il was complete
surprise. No preparations made, no means
OF salvage ready. We thought the dam
would hold"
And so believe II is, when the dam is
not actually breaking before his ewes: the
peasant sits In the wirthshaus," drinks
his glass OF beer, and discusses the misfor-
tunes OF his nelghbors until the night-cry
comes. and then-confusion and hasty
flight. The state OF unpreparation may be
Imagined from story Young officer.