Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-02-28

tistic in contrast with its grotesqu,
neighbors.
The scene was as picturesque rs i
was pitiful. 1t was the latter in tn,
strongest sense of the word. Tn,
poor people, white and black, gather
ed around the train and there wa
upon their faces that pathetic anC
weary look that told us in language
more eloquent than any words could
be, the story of their griefs. Many
of the people carried baskets, for the
news of the coming of the committee
had preceded us. The impression had
gone out, especially among the color
ed people, that the committee had
brought supplies for distribution, and
that is why so many Of them were
there with baskets. They stood in
mute disappointment.
Without any delay our party enter.
ed the boats that had been provided
and started on a cruise through the
streets of the sunken city.
Where we started was evidently
where the poorer people lived, and
only the peaks of their one-story hous
es rose above the water. Rises or de
pressions of the ground could be esti
mated by the way objects showed
above water.
In some places the lamp-posts were
deep under the flood, in others only
the lanterns were above, and in near.
ly every case the glass had been
smashed out by boats and oars strik-
ing against them. But where the
lamp-posts did not show the line of
the streets the telegraph poles did.
After proceeding perhaps half a
mile, we struck the main street. There
the full desolation of the scene press
ed upon us. There was the long line
of stores with the ripping waters
touching the second stories. There
was the leading hotel of the place in
that position, and melancholy looking
churches half buried. The countless
aspects of the scene cannot be describ-
ed.
We sailed along even with the tops
of the street lamps, filled with amaze
ment at the extent of the ruin. The
one-story houses were all deserted and
so were many of those Of two stories.
We could look into the windows as
we passed, and in many cases sec the
sad occupants in their deso!ate homes.
The water was falling when we came
and along some of the higher streets
it had receded from some of the lower
floors. AT one place little scow was
backed to an open door and the peo-
pie were unloading coal and provi-
sions. There were numerous relief
boats supplying the necessities of the
sufferers. The ruin is so general that
it has overwhelmed rich and poor
alike, and people who had never
dreamed of it were obliged to accept
of charity.
The flying snow and cold wind add
ed to the desolate of the scene. And
when we were told that the supply of
coal was very scanty and many fami-
lies were suffering for food, the situa-
ton seemed to be in every feature
full of sorrow. At least 100000
worth of property had been lost by
people who, in losing it, had lost all
they had in the world.
Jacksonville is city of 10, 400 in
habitants, according to the last census.
OF these at least 5000 men, women
and children are without homes and
personal effects further than the
clothes they wear, and over half of
the leading business men are financial
ly ruined. The water came in so sud-
denly from the breaking Of an en-
bankment that there was no time to
remove goods from stores or furniture
from the houses. 1t was only by the
most energetic efforts that they saved
themselves. There are car works,
ship yards and glass works there, all
ruined by the floods. Nearly the en-
tire population were dependent upon
these institutions.
Through street after street of this
sorrowful Venice we pursued our silent
course. At every corner we would
meet swift currents and eddies from
intersecting streets that would some
times throw our boat against fence,
telegraph pole, lamp-post or even
q side of a house, making our journey
one of constant adventure. Other
boats and floating debris had to be
lodged by our awkward craft, and at
one street corner, where the current
was swift a mass of foatage lodged
under the bow of our boat and before
we could free ourselves we were car
ried several hundred feet down the
stream, narrowly escaping a ducking
that would have been anything but
amusing under the circumstances.
Finally we reached the City Hall,
which stands on a knoll a few hundred
feet from the bank of the river. The
water had been up to the door hut no
further, and as it had fallen couple
of feet it left considerable dry land
in the neighborhood. Comfortable
fires blazed in the City Hall, and after
time a few of us made our way
through back yards to the river front.
Remaining short time at the City
Hall, our party entered yawl to
cross the city to the State Prison,
which stands on the high bank of the
river, in the only part of the city that
was not touched by the floods.
Leaving the prison we walked across
to the Kentucky shore on the splendid
iron bridge that spans the river. 1t
is eight feet more than a mile in length
and cost nearly 100000. 1t is
elevated so far above the water that
when the water is anywhere within
reasonable bounds the largest steamers
can pass under without touching their
smokestacks. We found the whole