The Indianapolis journal., 1884-02-13
Rising Sun is still above water. The people
have made no appeal for outside help yet.
THE FLOOD AT THE FALLS.
a Continuation of the Story of Distress at
New ALBANY,

THE FLOOD AT THE FALLS.
a Continuation of the Story of Distress at
New ALBANY.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
New ALBANY, Feb. l2.-The river is still
rising at the rate of three-fourths of an inch an
hour, and it is raining again, with good deal of
wind, The channel depth here tonight is sixty
nine feet nine inches, against sixty-nine feet in
February, 1892 and seventy-two feet in Feb
ruary, 1888 The high winds this afternoon did
good deal of damage to out houses and fences
in the flooded districts. A great many more
families were compelled to move to more secure
quarters to-day. The exemption of the city from
serious damage, so far, is marvellous, when the
vast volume of the flood is considered. The
manufacturers are beginning to complain, how
ever, and some hundreds of thousands of dol
lars worth of valuable machinery in the facto-
ries is submerged, the damage to
which must certainly be great; some
of it will be almost ruined. These factories
have now been in the flood for seven days, and
it looks like seven days more will elapse before
the water will again be off the city. 1t is al
most certain the awful calamity of February,
1888 is to be surpassed in the height of the
river If it is, the loss at New Albany will be
disastrous. 1t is already heavy enough to be
most severely felt by the majority of the suf-
ferers, though nothing to compare to the losses
of last year. There is little doing in the city in
the way of business. So many factories are
idle that there is nothing for large working
population to do. The situation is becoming
financially grave, when the matter of relief
to the destitute is considered. The citizens
are exertng themselves to their ut
most to provide for those who
need assistance, but their ability to do this
is not equaled by their willingness. They will,
nevertheless do all within the limits of their
ability before asking for aid elsewhere. There
is strong public feeling here against calling on
the people elsewhere for assistance in the pres
ent calamity.
1t is probably safe to say that if the food only
equals that of last year. at least 500 or 900 fam
lilies will be driven from their homes; if it ex-
ceeds that calamity, this number will be con
siderably increased. The present flood cannot
be destructive of property as that of last year,
as the people were better prepared for it, and
had removed good deal of their property before
the river got beyond the sidewalks on Water
street; nevertheless there will be great deal of
valuable property destroyed
The situation here tonight remains the same
as yesterday. There is, of course, increased suf-
fering as the flood increases, but citizens are
courageous and intend to do their best to meet
the emergency upon them like brave and liberal
people.
The reports to-day from down-river towns in
Indiana and Kentucky are not cheering The
food is increasing, and the suffering becoming
more universal at all points between this city
and Rockport. To-day there are no trains on the
j., NJ & T. railroad between this city and Jeffer-
sonvie and Louisville; all travel to those cities
has to go by the ferry, and its trips are few and
far apart. The Indianapolis mail did not arrive
oday until o'clock p. NJ. The L., N A. & C.
road now receives and lands all passengers, mails
baggage and express matter at its depot in this
city, transferring them 10 and from Louisville by
| ferry. The st. Louis Airline trains continue to
make their regular runs but passengers, bag
gage, mails and express matter have to be trans
ferred distance of three miles by wagons. The
outlook is not at all hopeful, and the worst is
| feared.