The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-05-18
THE LEvEE BURSTED.
The Mississippi BIeaks 1t Open and Com
pletely mandates the Town of Alexan-
dria, Mo.-Great Damage Results-Loss
of Life in the Red River CouDtry

AAe luissASsippI bIeakS IL open ana Com.
pletely mandates the Town of Alexan-
dria, Mo.-Great Damage ResuIts-Loss
of Life in the Red River Country.
ST. LOUIS, May 14.-At IL o'clock Satur
day morning the levee south of Alexandria,
No., broke in several places and vast
volume OF water began pouring into the
town, which was completely inundated A
spasmodic attempt was made to check the
irresistible flow, but within few min
utes the laborers quit and accepted
the inevitable. 1t required less than
an hour to inundate the town, which is COW
cred with water from two to six feet. The
water having reached the lower half of the
houses their occupants have sought
refuge in the upper stories of build
ings, where they will be imprisoned
until the subsidence of the food in the
main streets. The water is fully three feet
deep. The people are compelled to go
about in skiffs or rrdely constructed RATS.
Sidewalks are overlooked and skiffs are
landed in the doorways of private resi-
dences Business is entirely suspended.
There has been no loss of life or great
damage to property within the town.
At this point the Mississippi river is
fully seven miles wide. The area of farm
ing lard in the Missouri bottoms
that is submerged is estimated at
5000 acres, and a continuance Of
the flood will result in loss to the
farming community of that region of at
least $500, 900. A high wind prevailed yes
terday, which caused the waves to wash
| openings in The Warsaw levee, which af-
fords protection to $4,000 acres of fertile
Illinois land.
ha ,hoh 40, 40 of fha hx1n
| are moving their stock and:portable proper
ty back to the bluffs. From the experience
Of former years they know the ter
ritory covered now with hundreds of
| thousands of waving crops may to-day
be under ten feet of water Re-
| ports from the north are alarming
and if the Sny levee or Madison dixie breaks
the loss will be millions. 1t has been seven
| years since the levee broke and the whole
section was inundated; but the seven years
| following the leyee has been strengthened
along the entire length and confidence was
| restored and the valley began to blossom
like rose. Last year witnessed quite a
boom in real estate at advanced rates, and
last fall thousands of acres were sown in
wheat. A great acreage Of corn has been
| planted this spring, and it Is no wonder
that the anxiety over the safety of the levee
| is truly painful. a#
| Advices from the Red river country re-
| port that the damage done to the inhab-
ltants of the Red river valley during the
last ten days is almost beyond computa-
ton and the overflow the largest since 1S43
Most of the plantations near the river have
been covered with water four to six feet
| deep, and many miles of fencing,
| cribs and barns have been washed down
| and carried away. Many of the people
have lost their household furniture, pro-
| visions and corn. At West Norwood a
negro was drowned yesterday trying to
swim from the overflow. Two white men
were drowned at Mill creek and quite a
number of other deaths are reported
| QUINCY, Ill, May 14-The river now
stands seventeen feet six inches above low
water mark The high northwesterly wind
prevailing has created grave fears for the
safety of the levees above and below the
city, and large forces of men are working
| day and night strengthening weak
| places The levees have been greatly
| weakened and crevasse is expected
| at any moment. Should break occur
over 200, 600 acres of farm land would be iu-
| undated. People living in the threatened
district have fed to the bluffs.
DAVENPORT, Ia, May 14-Front street is
-deluged nearly it's entire distance The
water covers the first floors of hundreds of
dwellings, offices, factories and business
places. The city of Rock Island, across
the river, is worse sufferer. The
water at Nineteenth, Twentieth and
| Twenty-hrst streets runs up to Fourth
| avenue, and boats and RATS are plying
south of the Harnar HOusa