Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-25
MISSISSIPPI FLOODS.
Tho Angry Waters Begin to Recede,
Leaving Desolstisn and Bestrnc.
lien In Their Wake.
Thousands OF Families Hemels as The Loss
Placed ~ About -Four NIL.
hon Dollars.
TIE WORST has PAesxp.

QUINCY, ILL.,, Msy 2I.-The great loo,
In the Mississippi, which will be remem
oered as without precedent in the de-
struction and suffering created, is tlowl,
absting, and It is thought the worst O
the high water has passed, but the woIs
that could happen has slready occurred
Hundreds Of fxmIlies have been rendered
homeless and thousands Of acres of grow
ing crops ruined, to say nothing of the
loss entailed by demolished dwellings,
wrecked fences and wRshouts. A trip
through the submerged regions show that
the stories Of loss and suffering already
published have not been exaggerated in
the lesst. From the northern end Of
Adams county to the southern end OF
Pike County the land on the Hi
nois side Of the river wsg protected by
3 system Of levees, the region embracing
$4,000 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 sub
merged district hundreds OF families are
cemped, living in tents, huts ana 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 un-
owing to want and exposure,
but prompt measures have been taken to
alleviate their sufferings. The inundated
regions are full of desolation. Deserted
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-destroying waters. While vast
majority Of the inhabitants fed to higher
land, few were not granted time to get
away Or mis1udged the character Of the
breaks in the levee and determined to
stay within their homes, and are now liv-
ing in garrets or on the roofs. Every
roof has been turned into place of ref
uge for live stock, poultry. etc, but num-
berless houses have been lifted from their
and carried away with the
irresistible current or demolished en-
Eirely. In the Sny levee district below
this city, the situation is IL fi1itely worse
han In the regions to the north. The |
;revasse which completed the inundation
opened at the upper end CT the embank- |
oAu tuO pew up WosC4o 1kOu VIC /
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
lothing could withstand. The towns of
fall Creek, Ssshorn and 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 house above
7ater and are suffering intensely and the
amage TO railroad property is enormous,
nd it will 4 three weeks after the water
uosides b. -, the trains csn be run on
Ime. Tn &c y is cut of from railroad
north, west and south.
he Quincy and Carthsge track is under
'ater for distance Of several miles. The
.uincy, Altoona and st. Louis track is
'sshed for miles. Bridges are gone and
,legraph poles are down. The Chicago.
arlington and Quincy and the Wabash
acks at East Hannibal were washed out
a Saturday morning on the west side Of
le river. No attempt is made to run
aims on any OF the roads. Owing to the
:eat confusion 1t is impossible to obtain
le detailed losses, but the aggregate will
ach fully $4,000. 900 from crops alone.
be damage TO levees, houses and rail-
,ads will approximate $500, GOO.