New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-14

Meath In less time than it takes to tell the yellow
tide was sweeping IN from all points. The unior'u-
nate people were surprised in their houses
With mighty rush the water swept
from square to square, rapidly rising in the houses
and sweeping many of them from their fou' da-
| TONS The scene was awful. The roar OF the wa
ters could not drown the screams OF the termed
| ones escaping from the doomed dwellings Skiiis
shot from window to window, men, women
and children waded through the advancing
waters each with whatever household goods they
| could lay hands on. Bnnfres glinlnered from the
highest ground which the poor outcasts had gained.
Hundreds If people shivered in wet clothing about
| the smoky fires 1t Is impossible to understand
why the loss of life was not larger. The scene
last night beggars description. People who were
blissfully sleeping in the foolish confidence that
the emb,nkments would shelter them, were rudely
awakened by the food coming into their houses.
Some were even surprised bed. When the
stroke came it like lightning.
In the darkness and cold the peo-
pie fled from the watcry death nan
clothed and carrying nothing with them save their
children and helpless ones. No scene OF broken
dixie in Holland could be more terrible or more
thrilling The panic was ndcscribable, coupled
with the awful roar of the waters and the shrleks
of the terror-stricken people as thev hurried to
higher ground, leaving their furniture and homes
and everything to the mercy of the water.
The entire northeastern part of the city is pic
ture of utter destruction. Thrty-ive squares are
inundated. The situation may be briefly summed
IN as follows: All the Point is under water, and
tho country beyond the Cutoff comprising 100
houses and known as B0wlevie, is flo bded. Half
of Por land and all of Shippngport are in the waves
All day long n stream of peOp passed mp and down
the Shore line track TO look at the ruin wrought bv
the swollen river. The out look l. appalling Houses
are overturned, some their 81 les and some almost
on their roofs. Other buildlugs are c u-hed 10
plecns Mos of the bOuses are small COTTAGES or
frai construction and perhaps onc-hlrd OF those IN
the flooded locality have been swept from thelr
foundations.
water is within foot or two OF the roofs of the
houses The entire neghborhOod is doing all II can
for the OF he sufferers. Several persons were
rescued along the wharf. The rver Is stll rising an
inch per hour wlth few inches over thlrtv-ulne
feet IN the canal, thirty-sx feet eight inches in the
chute on the fails and thirty-two feet four inches
th~ rocks
The river continued to rise slowly all day and
now marks about 662 feet at tn" foot OF the canal
and Al feet at the head The weather is warmer
and hight rain falling. with indications of an
increase during the night. The water i now an
inch above the food OF ls47 and eight inches
below that of s32. At the point wherethe disas-
ter occurred last night the flood extends over
more th N quarter OF mile IN lehgih.
or floating about. The Tact that me
water is compare v'ly still has prevented most OF
the houses from floating away, While many Ot them
are tied with heavy cables.
gratifying feature of the flood ia that compare
lively few, is thought, have lost their lives. Many
of the occupants OF the houses in the submerged
districts had removed, aud thus escaped. The fact
that the survivors are scattered over the city
renders Il impossible to make definite
statement as 10 who lost or saved
aud il Is sufficient TO that the drath-rats
Is smaller than The circum tances indicate. hose
known 10 be lost ne John Finch and son. George
Lynch. Eiwa. Harris aud George Bell. Henry
Browning a lieutenant OF police. and his wife aud
three children missing, but IL j. hoped They had
moved out. These names are all that could he
le rned by the reporters in an active
search all day. but 10 IL feared
that when the waters subsde CHASTITY scenes will be
found in houses now under water. So far as known
ali no are yet alive have been removed ron the
houses. A man whose name was not learned was
seen frantcaly calling fOr help from the door OF
house floating down the river at the foot OF tirst-
~. this afternoon. lie was rescued by men IN
sklff He had been in the house all night and day.