The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-19
LAWRENCEBURG.


by the Slowly Receding Waters.
Special Dispatch from staff Correspondent Of the
Journal
AURORA, Ind, Feb. 1s.-The fall of four
feet which has taken place in the river
has afforded little or no relief to the flood
sufferers in Lawrenceburg. An additional
fall of at least ten feet must occur be-
fore even the highest portion of the town
will be free from water, and it will be sever
al days, provided the water subsidies steadily,
before any part of the city will be again in
habitable. As yet, even the roofs of the
wrecked and ruined houses in the lower sec
tons of Oldtown are beneath the surface,
and are making their appearance slowly as
the waters decline. 1t will be utterly i'm
possible to ascertain to what extent Law
renceburg has suffered until days have
passed, and the buildings are again brought
to view. Block after block has scarcely
house left standing in anything approximate
ing perfect condition, and it is feared chat
as the support afforded by the water is
withdrawn, scores of buildings, that have
thus far been proof against the press ure
upon them, will collapse and go down with
the village is beyond all estimation. Few,
If any of them, will ever be worth reoccupy-
ing, and are to all intents and purposes
practically destroyed. The town in its en-
tirety is almost literally wiped out-swept
from the face of the earth, and no amount of
time or money will suffice to restore things
to the condition in which the rising waters
found them.
APPALLING CONDITION OF THE CITY.
AS the river falls a most appalling and
inconceivable condition of affairs is revealed
Houses rest one upon another in a
wrecked and shattered state tree tops along
the streets serve as anchoring places
for outbuildings, sheds, haystacks furniture,
and almost every imaginable article that will
float. Church-spires have INSTRUCTED the on
ward course of lumber piles from up the
river, and almost every roof that has not
been so far beneath the surface of the water
as to allow the passage of obstacles over
it has something resting upon it. Every
thing is a state of chaos and ruin indescriba-
T'olc, ana beyond the imagination of those
who are not here to see it. Overturned
houses by the scores have been washed from
their foundations and rolled over and over.
to lodge finally in the streets and about the
corners until it will be next to impossible to
distinguish where the thoroughfares were
when the waters reach their level, whenever
that may be. Comparatively nothing has
been saved from the general wreck
and all have suffered alike. Among the
merchants, scarce one will have remaining
dollars worth of marketable wares. So
swift and sudden was the rising of the stream
that no time was allowed for the removal of
goods, all available boats being pressed
into the more important service of saving
human lives. AS the flood crept rapidly up
through the town, claiming block after
block for its wholesale ravages, stocks were
carried TO the upper stories in the vain be-
lief that they would be out of harms way.
Such stocks as hardware dry goods and
heavy stuffs could not be handled, and even
where they have not been carried away bodi-
ly by the current, they have been completely
ruined and will be worth only
what they may bring as old
metals and rags. The losses
of the merchants are beyond repair For
tunes, the accumulation of lifetimes OF care
full application and untiring efforts, have
been swept away, as it were, in a moment,
and ruin and disaster stares them in the face.
IRREPARABLE LOSSES.
But the greatest and most irreparable loss
falls on the handwriting mechanics and
working men, of whom the population is
largely composed. OF the 800 employees of
the factories, distllleries, ETC., 600 owned
their own homes, and were fortunate to es-
cape with their lives. The results of inces-
SAINT toll and scrupulous econ omy is meas
ured by inundated homes, ruined effects and
worthless chattels. These people were of a
class much more fortunately situated than
those in the same sphere elsewhere, as a
rule, and their homes were pos
sessed of most of the comforts
and even luxuries of life. But
the most devastating flood ever recorded in
the history of the great river has brought
ruin and disaster to all alike, and Lawrence
burg, which brief fortnight ago was
thriving, prosperous village, whose people
dwelt together in peace and happiness, is to-
day stricken, ruined city, whose once happy
and contented population have lost all but
life itself. In scarcely an instance have they
saved even q blanket or extra wrap of any
kind, and, poorly sheltered as they necessa-
rily are, actual suffering cannot be avoided
CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE
Wherever the floors of second stories are
nai.anoded they serve as refuge to the home
less, while the courthouse and other pub !
lie buildings are crowded to their utmost
capacity by the luckless ones. Fortunately,
there is little sickness among the
refugees. The generous people of Greendale
and neighborhood have thrown their houses
open, and everything possible is being done