The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-23
Scenes of Ruin and Devastation Along the
River Banks for Distance Of Two
Hundred and Fifty Miles.
Abundant Supplies of Provisions Left
by the Relief Boat at All Points.
Thousands of People Driven from Their
Homes by the Water, but All Manage
to Find Shelter of Some Sort.
THE CITY OF FRANKFORT.
Notes and Incidents of the Trip from Madison
to Evansville.

Notes and Incidents of the Trip from Madison
to Evansville.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
RELIEF STEAMER CITY OF FRANKFORT Feb
22.-From New Albany down to Evansville, the
distance covered by the indianapolis relief ex
pedition, the Ohio river spreads out into a will
derness Of water. Those who have viewed the
food, in the despair Of their attempts to give the
public anything like real idea of the awful
devastation, have summed it up as 'indescriba
BILE" The word is freighted with
more than can be conceived by
the most vivid imagination. Even
when looking out upon the broad expanse of
water, which has climbed up over banks meas
uring height of from fifty to sixty feet, and
in an ocean-like volume is now sweeping over
farm houses and through tree-tops it is difficult
to bring the mind to a realization of the situa-
ton. In travelling down over the course of the
flood from New Albany there are few farm
houses within view that are above water. OF the
hundreds that are submerged only the chimneys
and roofs of many are visible. The smaller
frame buildings have all been carried from their
foundations and are moored in the tree-tops
Although countless numbers of large twostory
houses are flooded to the caves there are hun
dreds of persons sheltered in those where the
second floor is but few inches above the tide
and so closely has the water crept up about
many that the people living in them can easily
dip it from their windows. There are 200
farm houses between New Albany and Evans
vile which appear to be standing out in the
middle of the river. The roofs of those which
still hold to their foundations are covered with
rocks to weight them down, and are moored with
ropes to prevent them being carried down in the
current The strips of forest which skirt the
river banks now show only their top branches
above water and for great part of the distance
the food is miles in width. sweeping out over
thousands of acres of rich fam lands. Hun
dreds of farms and thousands of miles of fencing
have been carried down stream, and the waves
of devastation have borne away in the go miles
over which the relief boat has travelled, not less
than $20OO 900 worth of property, besides doing
more than twice as much damage to the wrecked
houses which have been left to mark the foods
desolation. The farmers driven from their homes
by the rise of the water are living up on the
hills, but all under shelter, the people
in the surrounding country sharing their
houses with their unfortunate neighbors
whistle at any point along the river drew
skiffs about the boat from all directions, and
stops were made wherever any person could be
seen on the water. Rations for ten days were
dealt out to all, and IN no case where there was
even probability of actual need was any one
turned away without being given aid The be
lief however that the ''flood sufferers with
out food and are in danger of starving is a mis-
take The farmers along the river have all
of and
the food has caused no greater immediate need
of food than there is at any time. In the towns
and cities however, where the people depend
ent upon their daily wages, are thrown out Of
employment, there would be suffering without
public aid, and they deserve all that
they are receiving; but the generous
charity of those who have contributed they
supposed for the relief of starving fellow beings
is being abused. Many persons whose homes
have not been touched by the flood are living
upon the supplies distributed along the river
and many persons who are receiving rations are
not deserving the food of charity The lndianapo-
lis Board of Trade however are not disposed to be
parsimonious in dealing out food for the suffer
ing and during the expedition the distributing
committee has repeated many times over in
cases where a doubt would arise, better that
a dozen unworthy should be given supplies than
that a single person in need should
be allowed to starye," and this is
the rule by which they have been
guided. Their work has been thorough and
conscientious Many who suffered as greatly
from the devastation of the flood as any were
scupulously conscientious, and refused
to receive provisions because they were
not in need OF that kind of aid. Their suffering
is from loss of homes, and the aid which they
most need is in the rebuilding of their houses.
An incident fairly illustrative of some of the
abuses of charity occurred few miles below
New Albany, where sufferer came out to the
boat TO get aid.
"Have you any sickness among your asked
the relief physician
mo, was the answer.
"Dont you want medicine of any kiud7" was
asked by another member of the relief party.
'Well if you've got some good pills, replied
the farmer I'D like to have a few
In the villages and towns where the people are
mostly of the class that lives from hand TO mouth
there is an actual need Of aid, because they are
not only homeless, but there is no employment
for those who depend upon their daily wages for
their subsistence, and such provisions as have
been saved from the flooded stores have been
consumed. The aid given at these places was
timely, and had it not been for the Indianapolis
relief boat there would have been suffering at
many of these towns. Distress prevails every
where but it is caused by the loss of homes and
destruction Of property.
NOTES ABOUT THE FLOOD.