The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-26
THE MISSISSIPPI FLOODS.
The Situation in and About st. Louis
Not Materially Changed,
The Farmers on the Illinois Bottoms APP
peal for Assistance-Brief Account of
Previous Floods in the River.
THE MISSISSIPPI FLOOD.



slowly but the situation, both here and in
East St. Louis, is practically unchanged. The
Bowman dixie still stands the pressure, and
that and other weak points are constantly
being strengthened Threats were made last
evening to cut what is known as the Madison
county dixie, which is a high embankment
running east from the river mile and half,
and midway between Brooklyn and Venice,
but after long and angry wrangle between
a number of inhabitants of the former place
and some people living north of the dixie it
was decided that nothing should be done till
to-day, as the cutting of the dixie would
let more water into Brooklyn and inundate
all the part of town not already
submerged. The people were very de-
termined, and guarded the levee all night
with shot-guns and other weapons but so
far as known no attempt was made to inter
fere with it. A large volume of water still
flows through the breaks made Yesterday In
the Chicago & Alton and other railroad
tracks, and is spreading out and covering
more and more of the bottom toward the
bluffs and along the Vandalia railway, but
no damage to the latter is yet reported.
The river rose another three inches to-day,
and is still coming up slowly There is no
side of the river. The whole of the levee is
now submerged, and in the lowest places in
the First ward the stores are flooded from
a few inches to couple OF feet deep. Bust
ness in houses on the rivers front is sus-
pended, except in two or three doggeries,
where scaffolds have been built and whisky
is still dispensed for five cents drink.
A little excitement was occasioned at East
st. Louis this afternoon by the threatened
overflow of the Cairo Short-line track by the
backwater, but dam OF earth and sandbags
was hastily thrown up on the water side of
the track, which checked the flow of water and
averted the danger. The Chicago Il Alton,
in connection with the Indianapolis s. st.
Louis and the Wabash, are driving piles in
the break in their track above Venice, and it
is expected they will have a good trestle
across the gap by Wednesday, and their
trains be running again.
A large number of farmers and land own
ers on the American bottom, and residents
of Venice and other towns between East
st. Louis and Mitchell, held meeting at
Venice this afternoon. After exchanging
views on the situation, they adopted the fol-
lowing;
"Resolved, That inasmuch as many of our pe0-
pie have been sufferers by floods for the past
three years, and the present general overflow
has rendered destitute large number who,
without assistance will be unable to put in
crops during the coming year, we deem IL our
duty TO appeal to all who are able TO assist those
thus situated; that a description of the misery
entailed upon our section of country would seem
like eXaggeratiOn, fearful in its nature, is the
truth, and that it will be at least thirteen months
before another crop will be raised. and in the
meantime restitution in its worst form confronts
the sufferers. In view of these facts, we feel
justified in appealing for assistance, and re-
guest that all contributions be sent to Henry
Robinson, president of the board of trustees of
Venice ILL.,, for distribution"
A large number of the sufferers referred to
In this resolution are either camped in tents
on the ridges surrounded by water, or are in
the open air on the bluffs beyond Many are
also housed in box-cars en- the railroad
tracks, and good many of them will be
obliged to be fed. Their crops are totally de-
stroyed, and they are destitute OF money or
any of the necessaries of life.
The National Stockyards at East St. Louis
are i'll no danger of being flooded,
as has been reported. They can easily
stand a rise of three feet, an Il
The Union yards on this side of the river
are also well protected and in no danger
The situation in East Carondelet and Ca
hokia grows worse daily. The water covers
that whole section of country, and some of
the flooded-out families begin to suffer. Their
wants will probably be supplied tomorrow.
The railroads which have lost their tracks
have abandoned the ferriage system
between here and Alton, and have
arranged with the Vandalia road to
run their passenger trains. The Indianapo-
lis & st. Louis will send their trains to
bingham, thence to Nation. The Wabash
will use the Vandalia to Altamont where it
will take its own track and the Chicago &
Alton and Chicago Burlington & Quincy will
run to Smithboro, where they will connect
with their own roads. All other Eastern
lines are using their own tracks, and all
Western roads are getting their trains
through in pretty good shape. The Wanda
Lin track ahOnt W hioh tbnra ypaC
hension yesterday, is still two feet above
water, and can readily be made to resist four
or five feet.
Reports from points along the Missouri
vary considerably. At some places the water
is still rising, while at others it has fallen
from few inches to two feet 1t is safe to say,
however, that there is considerable more
water to come down from the region this
side of st. Joseph and the rise here may be
foot higher.
A dispatch from Bismarck says the Vel
lowstone river is already as high as last year,
and the Missouri river is rising at that place.
kilograms from other places higher up the
Missouri indicate that the usual June rise
has commenced, and i'll all likelihood some
part of it will reach here before the present
flood recedes to any extent. Should this be
the case the situation will become alarming
and the destruction of property along both
the upper and lower rivers will be appalling
The Situation near Alton.
CHICAGO, June 25.-The Journals Alton
ILL.,, special says THE magnitude of the
disaster from the floods below this city is
just beginning to be disclosed. The break of
the dixie below this city has caused destruc-
ton covering a wide area. The Sny and
Carte bottoms are ruined for the year.
Thousands of families between Louisiana
and Grafton are homeless and fleeing before
the floods. Stock to the number of 5000
head are already drowned in the American
bottoms. Telegraph communication is Sc
riously interrupted"
Previous Great Floods in the Mississippi
st. Louis Globe Democrat.
The present is the eighth great food in the