The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-22
LOSSES BY WIND AND WATER
An Unprecedented Rainfall Causes
EnOrmousL Losses in the Sugar Region.
Wind Storm Inficts Great Damage Along the
~River-Heavy Rains In Eastern Ohio, West
ern Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 21.-At $50 o'clock Fri
day night a fresh easterly wind set in which in
creased In force. accompanied by occasional
showers. until Z o'clock Saturday morning.
During the day the wind continued from the
eastward, but had SO moderated that no atten-
ton was paid TO it. A $50 T. ~. the WIND
again strengthened. and by 2 A. y. Sunday was
blowing a gale which held from the eastward
until 3 o'clock Monday morning, when 1t veered
to southwest At s A. II. the storm began 10
lull. and by noon had about ended. The signal
service reports the rainfall for ths twelve hours
ending Z o'clock Sunday morning, Ls6 inches
The total for twenty four hours was % incnes.
The highest velocity of wind obs erved was %
miles sn hour, at 6 o'clock on the evening OF the
18th, which blew the wires of the
anemometer, and prevented observations of the
maximum velocity. but the average Is given as
forty miles per hour. Great damage was done
In the city aud throughout the sugar belt from
Baton Rouge TO the gulf. including the rice sec
ton of the State. Much OF the sugarcaue and
rise was blown fat on the ground. and many
sugar-housss ana dwellings were damaged. The
damage to the sugar crop 10 roughly estimated
at from 10 to 20 per cent, and the rice crop 20
TO so per cent. In the city many houses were
Unrooted. fences Frustrated and trees uprooted-
Tbs heavy rain on the night Of the 18th for a
time flooded the entire city. The rear portion
OF the city west Of Claiborne street is still in-
Undated, the water in the canal being so high
That the drainage machines are omparatively
useless. The city was in darkness on the night
OF the 18th, the electric light wires coming in
contact with the wires Of the telegraph and
telephone companies. necessitatine the cutting
on or the electric current. The greatest
damage done by the storm about the
city was along the river front Fifty coal-ooats
ali ot~ e AAvn ~ nFa
were sunk; they are valued at 50, 900 each. The
small STEAMERS ". g.. Little. Laura and Bara-
TARA were also sunk. The steamboat Ed Rich
ardson went adrlft. had Der chimneys blown
overheard, and received other damage. There
are hundreds of minor losses throughout the
city that will, in the aggregate. amount TO thou
sands of dollars. The storm drove the waters
OF the gulf up against and over the Louisville 81
Nashville railroad embankment extending from
Michon to Lookout Station, a distance of twenty
miles. causing many washouts and the suspen-
sion Of traffic over that portion OF the road The
Joss on coal barges sunk IS to-day estimateda at
$500. 000. The crops along the river for a dis
tance OF over twenty miles have been entirely
destroyed. A number OF vessels are overdue,
and undoubtedly encountered the storm in the
gull. The Future City, with seven barges. and
the Oakland. with six barges. both from st.
Louis, due here Sunday, have not yet arrived,
and nothing has been heard from them.
News from Morgan City is Co the effect that
dozens of houses were wholly or partly unroofed
and fully fifty buildings are of their founda-
tiona The floating elevator OF George c. Gill
christ, valued AZ sl3, 600 was destroyed.
Among heavy losers Of property along the
river are the coal dealers. When the last news
WAS received, eighty loaded coal barees and
boats and one boat of coke had sunk, and a
number Of others were reported sinking. The
Pittsburg e. Southern Coal Company lost forty
ut Willow Grove, twenty-seven at Nine Mile
Point and eight at Brown & Jopess coal yard.
at Albers. Brown & Jones lost one boat of
coke. and one barge and one boat of coal The
total loss is s240, 900. The steamer Keokuk was
wrecked 81 Baton Rouge last night. She was
valued at $50. 600 and was insured for $40. 900 in
Western companies.
AT Oaklawn plantation. owned by Col. Robert
Rivers, eight cabins. sugar-houses and rice shed
were blown down and completely wrecked.
{ Tom Schaffers Anna plaatation only three
OF the houses were left standing.
At Franklin eighteen dwellings were unroofed.
All through the Teche country the cane has
bsen blown down, but il is not estimated that
the total damage will exceed one-third l. of the
crop OF that section.
three sons and several companions, left Belle
Isle for Lost Island on q pleasure trip. No news
has been received from them. and grave appre-
tensions for their safety are entertained.
The Baton Rouge steamers Teche and War
rem, both here, we're badly damaged. The coal
feet is = total wreck. Wood. Bodley & Co. lost
ffty-seven coal boats. and Coyle, Wilmot & Co.,
twenty-five, e~ntailing a loss of about $3.50, 600.
Wood. Bodley & 20. also lost two coal elevators
az the city wharf.
The steamship E. B. Ward, jr, from Truxillo.
arrived at 8 O'CLOCK last night Within 400 miles OF
the Passes she encountered storms and was driven
seventy-fvs miles beyond Mobile bay. She
threw over q portion of her cargo, but sustained
no damage.