The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-05-19
POURING THROUGH BROKEN LEvEES.
Hundreds Of Men Unable to Restrain
the Turbulent Water.
Scenes of Desolatlon and Suffering
Along the Mississippi.
Suddenly Rising Floods Drive Arkan-
sas People to the Housetops.

HANNIBAL. Mo-, May 1s.-At 4l5 o'clock
yesterday morning, break occurred in the
Sny levee at point about two miles below
the Hannibal bridge, and this was followed
at 6.45 o'clock by larger and more serious
one above the bridge short distance. Whis-
ties were blown as danger signals, and the
widest excitement prevailed in this city as
well as among the few farmers who had
stubbornly remained in the bottoms. The
200 men who had been engaged all night in
the work of stopping leaks and placing bags
Of sand on top of the levee to keep the river
back as long as possible. attempted to close
the breaks, but without success. The roar
of the turbulent waters was terrific, and
filed all hearts with terror. Many persons
viewed the work Of devastation and ruin
from the Lovers Leap, very high cliff in
this city, from which view of the entire
bottoms and encroaching water was TO be
had. The more sensible farmers had re-
moved all taeir live stock from the bottoms
to the bluffs. six miles distant, when the first
apprehension over the levees' condition was
felt, but not a few remained unit. the mo-
ment OF the calamity; consequently they
sustained serious losses. Hogs, cows and
horses could be seen swimming in the flood
until they came in contact with some obsta-
Gle upon which their bodies would be man
gled.
The smaller houses in the bottoms are
wrecked. As yet no loss OF human life is re-
ported. The territory now covered with wa
ter is 40 miles long and miles wide, with
$4,000 acres under cultivation. Tho depth Of
the water is all the way from 10 to 20 feet.
The river is receding rapidly. The farmers
condition by the middle Of June they can
raise late corn. This is the first break since
1881, and the farmers had begun to rely upon
the strength Of the levee.
Devastation and Suffering.
QUINCY, ILL.,. May ls.-The great flood that
now prevails along the Mississippi river has
been equaled but once, in 1851. Ten days
ago the water reached the danger point at
Quincy. From that time it has been rising
steadily at the rate of from to IA inches
daily. The government gauge now marks 10
feet and nine inches, being seven inches
inches higher than during the great food of
1891. The scene Of desolation between Quin-
cy and Hannibal is pitiable, and the loss to
farming interests is incalculable.
What was few days ago fertile valley is
now vast expanse of water. The water is
pouring over the top of the leyee and rush
luB bHIOuBH tnt DIedkS Wltn irresistible
force On the dry places ON the embank-
ment are hundreds of cattle, horses and hogs
without food and in danger of being swal-
by the floods. Far across on the bluffs oppo-
site Quincy are hundreds Of men, women and
children without homes. Their farms are
laid waste, property destroyed. homes al
most completely under water, furniture float
ing away and stock drowning. Many are
utterly destitute having neither sufficient
clothing nor shelter, and suffering for food.
Steps have been taken to aid them.
Loss OF Life feared.
ALMA, Arkansas, May 1S.-The hardest
rains for many years have been falling in
Arkansas for the last two days. The
streams have all overf1owed and immense
cotton fields and corn bottoms are sub
merged The country is suffering general
inundation. So quick was the rise Of the
Big Frog Creek the the people were forced
from their houses and some were compelled
to swim for their lives. Many women and
children were seen standing on the tops Of
their houses. crying for help. with the water
ten feet deep around them and still rising
1t is feared that several lives were lost.