St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-02-23

The Homeless Thousands at the Inun-
dated Points Appeal for succor-The
People of the Nation Awakening to the
Urgency of the Situation-NatfonaI,S tates
municipal and Private Measures for Re-
lief.
CINCINNATI, o., Feb. 12-G P N.
The situation has been more gloomy than
eyer. Tne river rose almost constantly to.
day from half an inch to an inch an hour,
an! was growing from two to three feet
tbave the highest stage last year. This is
q act Of great significance, and loses no
weight by the uncertainty when the risa
viii end It is significant because of the
vastly increased territory flooded and be-
cause Of the greatly increased danger to
bu ldings by increased leverage the sway
ing writer has en- them as well as injury to
foundations. One two-story brick business
house. occupied by Charles A. Maish 65 Co.,
on Sixth street, near Freeman, fell with a
great crash, owing to weakened founda-
tions. The building was weighted with a
quantity of hemp which aided in causing
its destruction. This is only the beginning.
Much apprehension is felt on this account
in Coyington and Newport, where the ma
ture 0 the soil makes. the danger greater
As the water creeps up on the houses it has
been found necessary to remove families to
other places. The relief committee in
charge of this work has to act arbitrarily
in some cases and compel people to leave
their houses. In two or three of these cases
the houses are now of their foundations
or washed away. There undoubtedly would
have been loss of life il the people had
been left to act in their own behalf, so
tenaciousIy do they cling to their little all
of property.
Tonight had frightsul beginning. by
reason of high wind, which threatened for
a time to be q severe gale, but though strong
it was not steady enough to start the waves
SO as to do any great damage so far as
known now. There is great danger, how
ever, that the agitation CT the water by the
wind VIII loosen the houses from their
foundations. Several more housesin New
port have left their foundations and some
have tumbled over. Fortunately all were
deserted beforehand. The occupants of
water-bound houses, some with no lights to !
break the gloom, must have heard the howl |
ing wind and beating rain tonight with a |
feeling Of almost hopeless helplessness.
News from more exposed places like New
Richmond, o., and Lawfenceburg, Ind, is |
awaited with dread. Reports received to- |
night from Newport on this point are reas-
surfing.
The river at 10 p. m. was 6S feet 1Ok |
inches and rising half an inch an hour. |
Raining hard.
Al midnight the water reached go feet. a |
rise OF an inch and three-quarters in two |
hours.
Owing to the general impression here
that the flood would not exceed last wear I
am hal tNce LoT
less. contributions are much slower coming I
II. They have now reached about 100, /
exclusive of the 10, $50 appropriated by the /
council. This has been anticipated already, /
and drafts will have to BIZ made soon on /
the appropriation unless funds come in /
faster. The representative here of the Co
1umbus Baggy CO., Columbus, o., has re-
eeLyed tea egram that the employees have /
given days wages, amounting to $1,000, 7
and many were doubling their subscrip-
tons. Among the people from abroad who
have contributed. are Geo. w, Childs. Phil
adelpaia, 500; Henry Irving, $3.50. The
will persist in the determination
to disburse all contributions from abroad
sufferers outside of Cincinnati.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Feb. 12--Io p. m.
The river continues to rise. From the in.
dlca6ions from above it will continue to |
rise. till all previous records have been
passed. The water has been rising all day
half an inch an hour. The canal gauge
now registers ~ feet Ii inches The Ken
lucky River is still rising at Frankfort and
above. The weather is still warm and has
been showCring since noon. There is but
little suffering here but considerable at
Jeffersonville and New Albany. AT JEFF
fel'sonville the stores are all closed and
great many failed to Law ia a supply of
provisions. Business is entirely suspended.
u Is estimated that 1000 people have been
driven to the second stories or out of their
homes entirely, temporarily. The Cincin-
natl Short Line track through East Louis
vile IS under water tonight; trains only
come as lar as the eastern city limits. IT
was as this hour just year ago that the
lll above che city gave way suddenly and
the point" with great loss Of
property and several lives
Iu:3o r. ln,--The river continues to rise.
P1TTsBURG, PA, Feb. IL.
The river is swelling again at the rate Of
Iwo inches an hour, with Is feet 8 inches
N the Monongahela marks and IS feet on
Dispatches from points above j
ePOrt continued rams and the water ris-
ms. The people living in the bottom lands
Lre tiled with apprehensions OF another i
lood. Many have not yet recovered from
he late deluge, and the discouraging out
ook tends to increase an uncomfortable
ceiling with nineteen feet of water sub
merging the lower districts of the two |
tiles. 1t is quite probable the situation Of j
fairs among the sufferers of Allegheny
8 worse, if possible, than any day since
he flood abated and numerous other cases !
4 destitution are reported. Many of the !
ictims, in addition TO having been sys. Y
ematically plundered by the waters, were {
brown out of employment by the work
hops being devastated and, under any
this fact alone would be !
Productive OF more or less want among the I
oorer classes. At least $500 people were s
upplied with food yesterday, an increase =
yer any previous day. l
Midnight-The rHers rising slowly, with
feet inches on the Monongahe1a mark. '
ne water is falling at the headwaters and E
Q serious inundation is apprehended. t