The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-02
THE FLOODS In ALABAMA.
LOSS OF LIFE AND DESTRUCTION
OF PROPERTY.
Sensational Reports From COOsa
COunty-Freshtts In Virginia
Rain and Snow Storms.

hAml nun -ABAh - -
mixed train came in at noon to-day
from Decatur, and another about dark.
The first brought carload of mail,
the first that has been received since
Monday. No other trains ran to or
from this place TO day. 1t is thought,
however, all will be running regularly
tomorrow on all roads. The Louisville
and Nashville is all right now, except
at Alabama river. The Queen and
Crescent road will be ready tomorrow
to run trains regularly from near Chat
tanooga to Tuscaloosa. The Georgia
Pacific track is nearly as good as ever.
The lower end of the Alabama Great
Southern division and part OF the New
Orleans and Northeastern, OF the
Queen and Crescent, seem to be in
pretty bad shape. The shops at Me-
ridian are flooded.
TIE GREATEST DISASTER
by the food in this State is along Ala
bama and Ooosa rivers. In Coosa.
Elmore, Montgomery, Autaugua and
Dallas counties, Wetumpka, thecounty
seat of Elmore county, and the coun-
trv around it are in a deplorable
plight. Water is four feet deep in the
| business houses of the town and the
occupants have been driven out OF
MANY of the residences. There are
sensational reports of loss Of life in the
country. A convict farm was flooded
and ali hands had to take to RATS, and
they floated for miles on these before
they could land safely. They say that
all this time they could hear wild
cries for help all up and down the
river. One farmer is known to have
been drowned while crossing stream.
There is not a bridge left in Elmore
county and only one mill. Untold
damage has been done further down
the river. Selma is cut off from the
outer world by the destruction of rail-
road bridges and tracks and a vast
area of farming country tributary to it
is under water. The river is still ris-
ing. The Coosa river at Gadsden is
the highest ever known and still rls-
ing an inch an hour. Railroad traffic
and mail service are still paralyzed
all over the State.
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT.
BRMrNGHAM, ALA, April l.. Spe-
cials to the Age from the river towns
of North Alabama show that the
effects of the freshet are worse even
than elegraphed yesterday. Gadsden
reports the Coosa river at its highest
mark and still rising, with alarming
reports from above. All the railroad
bridges on the branch road between
Alfalfa and Gadsden are swept away
and number of washouts on the AL
ALBANIA g reat Southern are reported OF
both sides of Alfalfa. The mill and lum
ber interests at Gadsden suffered i'm
mensely. The Tennessee river is re
ported out of its banks at severa
points. From Tuscaloosa and Warrel
. adviceg are serious, though it is be
r lieved the worst has passed. Man.
houses on either side OF tn
river have been abandoned, and tn
water is running through the door
g and windows. Some families occup
: the upper stories of the dwellings an
, skiffs and hatboats are used for trans
portation. The village OF Northpol
across the river is almost submerge
!, now, and the iron bridge connectin
n the TWO places lb uuueI Wat0i q. w.
4 ends and fears are entertained for i
safety. The water is a foot deep l
e the Tuscaloosa Cotton Factory an
: work had to be abandoned. Just b'
d fore dars the wreck of a small hout
. passed down the river and sewers
: persons were observed clinging to tn
" timbers. Rescuing parties in skill
Ie started out in pursuit trol
i the Tuscaloosa shore and wei
~ rapidly borne outside by tn
" rapid current Many person living c
l. low lands below Tuscaloosa had
Y be rescued fro II their homes in skifl
n N calculation can yet be made of Il
,s amount of damage don to farming /
terests, to railroads and other hig
"a ways. From every place with tel
I'd graphic facilities come the same repol
ID OF no trains and no mails since Mo
a. day night. The regular trains on t
= roads centeling here have been disco
We tinued till further orders, and no wo
Sc is being done by the company's el
ms ployes except in repairs and constrt
IA ton. Rumors reach here OF loss
~ ~ life in the Coosa Valley.