The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-02
THE SOUTHERN FLOODS.
The Damage Greater Than First Reported
Railway Business Still Greatly Impeded.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. April specials from
the river towns of north Alabama show that the
effects of the freshet are worse even than tsle-
graphed yesterday. Gadsden reports the Coosa
river at the highest mark and still rising. All
the railroad bridges on the branch road between
Alfalfa and Gadsden are swept away, and
number of washouts on the Alabama Great
Southern are reported on both sides of Alfalfa.
The Tennessee river is reported out of its banks
at several points. From the Tuscaloosa and
Warrior the advices are serious, though
it is believed the worst has passed.
Many houses on either side of the
river have been abandoned. and the water is
running through the doors and windows. Some
families occupy the upper stories of the dwell
ngs and skffs, and f1at-boats are used for trans
portation. The village of Northport, across the
river, is almost submerged now, and the iron
bridge connecting the two places is under water
at both ends, and fears entertained for its
safety. The water is foot deep in the Tusca-
loosa cotton factory.
RICHMOND, Va, April 1.-The James river at
this point has been rising all day, and at P. M.
all that portion known as Rockets was sub
merged. The water has also invaded the streets
above the old market between Fifteenth and
Eighteenth streets, cutting Off communication
between the upper and lower parts of the city,
except by boats or by going a long distance
round toward the north. The street cars run only
as far as the ST. Peters Hotel The water is still
rising at the rate OF six inches per hour and
it is expected that it will continue to do until
or o'clock to morrow morning The precau-
lions taken by people in the threatened districts
will keep the damage at comparatively small
figures. From present indications this food will
khnon AF nwaA &c
the gas-works is submerged and ii is believed
that the gas supply will be cut off before the
night is over No trains have run on the Lynch
burg road since yesterday, Dispatches from
Clifton Forge and other points above Lynchburg
state the water is falling rapidly.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, April I.-To-night, at
8 o'clock. the Tennessee river at this point marks
forty eight feet three inches on the gauge, and is
rising at the rate Of two inches per hour 1t
will reach its climax tomorrow. No actual dam
age has yet occurred here, but several hundred
families have been forced to move from the low
lands. The greatest inconvenience is from the
total stoppage of trains. Only one train has
entered the city since Monday night. II
was forty-eight hours the road and brought
in two hundred passengers. many of whom had
been on the road since Monday. 1t is not
thought that any train will leave or enter the
city before Sunday.
A special to the Times from Gadsden says
that the entire country has been devastated by
Tue uoOuS. anu That inc county Will De q SUlIerer
for many thousands of dollars The freshet
this city is experiencing is due to the most ex-
traordinary rainfall ever known here All the
mills in the city, except two three, are closed
down to-day.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, April Heavy rains
the past three days raised the Kanawha and Elk
rivers to thirty-eght feet, and they are still
rising Only few railroad trains are running,
and at 9 o'clock matters look gloomy, as at least
one-half of this city is under water, and many
dwellings occupied by poor people are sub
merged. The Western Union wires are under
water from here to Point Pleasant, sixty miles.
New river is reported falling at Hinton at the
rate of four inches an hour. but the Kanawha
is rising here at the rate Of five inches per hour.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, April 1.-The river ceased
to rise about noon, after reaching the highest
point ever known. One thousand people. mostly
coiored, had to leave their homes. Rumors of
persons clinging to roofs of houses come from
along the river, and rescue parties with boats
have been bringing in sufferers all day. The
river has fallen slightly.