Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-22
MISSISSIPPI FLOODS.
The Angry Waters Begin to Rtcede,
Leaving Desolstien and Bestruc-
lion In Their Wake.
Placed n About -Four MIL.
lion Dollars.
THE WORST HAS PASSED.

| VoLNCfB Lily may Zl.-The great d bod
IN the Mississippi, which will be remem-
bered as without 3 precedent in the de-
struction and suffering created, is slowly
abating, and it is thought the worst Of
the high water has passed, but the worst
that could happen has already occurred.
Hundreds Of families have been rendered
| homeless and thousands of acres of grow
ing crops ruined, to say nothing of the
loss entsiled By demolished dwellings,
wrecked fences and wsshouts. a trip
through the submerged regions show that
the stories Of loss and suffering already
pub ished have not been exaggerated in
the least. From the northern end Cf
Adams county to the southern end of
Pike county the land on the Hi.
nois side of the river was protected by
system Of leyees, the region embracing
%. 900 acres Of soil being the richest in
the state. All the region is now one vast
lake from six to ten feet in depth. Along
the bluffs on the eastern edge of the SUBJ
merged district hundreds Of families are
camped, living in tents, huts and in the
open air. Before the food most OF these
people were well-to-do, prosperous
farmers, but now they
HAVE LITTLE OR NOTHING.
Much sickness prevails among the I'm.
fortunates, owing to wasn't and exposure,
but prompt measures have been taken to
alleviate their sufferings. The inundated
regions are full Of desolation. Deserted
homesteads with water tapping the caves
are the most frequent as well as most
pathetic sight, but here and there is
spark Of Life not yet extinguished BY
the all-des roying waters. While vast
maj oriy Of the Inhabitants fed to higher
land, few were not granted time to get
away or Fnis1udged the character of the |
breaks in me levee and determined to |
stay witfia heir homes, and are now liv- ]
ing in garrsts or on the roofs. Every |
roof has been turned into place of ref |
uge for live stock, poultry. etc, but num-
oerless houses have been lifted from their
and carried away with the
irresistible current or demolished en-.
tifely. In the Sny levee district below
his city, the situation is inf litely worse
han in the regions to the north. The
,revasse which completed the inundstion
opened at the upper end CT the embsnk-
nent, and the pent up waters from the
liver poured over the vast track of rich
arming land, sweeping everything before
t. The torrent rushed down in q great
wave several feet high, with force which
nothing could withstand. The towns Of
Eall Creek, Seahorn snd Hulls are but
mere islands, and hundreds of refugees are
IUDDLED TOGETHER IN A LIMITED SPACE
Four or five families are living in each
4 the rooms In the few houses above
water and are suffering intensely and the
iamage to railroad property is enormous,
nd it will be three weeks after the water
ubsides before the trains csn be run on
ime. This city is cut off from railroad
north, west and south.
The Q aincy and Carthage track Is under
water for distance Of several miles. The
quincy, Altoona and st. Louis track is
Washed for miles. Bridges are gone and
elegraph poles are down. The Chicago,
burlington and Quincy and the Wabash
RI cks at East Hannibal were washed ont
n Saturday morning on the west side of
he river. No attempt is made to run ,
rains on any Of the roads. Owing to the
reat confusion 1t is impossible to obtain
ne detailed losses, but the aggregate will ,
each fully $4,000. 600 from crops alone.
he damage to levees, houses and rail-
Dads will approximate 100000. |,