The Delta independent., 1888-05-22
BIG FLOOD IN ILLINOIS.
Inc Mississippi River Higher than
Any Time since 1851.

|
Any Time since 1851.
QUINCY. ILL.,, May 1.-THE great
Hood that now prevails along the Mississip-
pl river has not been equaled but once in
the history of its waters, the single excep-
lion being In 1s5l. Ten days ago the water
reached the danger point and from that
Time IL has been rising steadily at the rate
OF from four to fourteen inches daily. The
government gauge tonight marks nineteen
feet nine inches, being seven inches higher
than during the great dood OF 1881, which
was the most destructive ever exp rienced
in this section of the Mississippi valley.
Above aud below Quincy there are over 100
| miles OF levee protecting fully 2)0, 900 acres
81 land, the most productive farming lands
In the valley.
On Suncay morning The first br, ak Cccur-
red In one of these great embankment g,
known as the Indian Grove levee, and dur
| ing the day two other crevasses were made
and within few hours thousands of acres
OF winter wheat that promised yield of
| from forty to sixtI bushels per acre were
laid waste. The farmers had been working
Oh the embsnkments night and day in the
hopes OF saving their homes, and when the
nocd Came majority of them had barely
tttiie 10 save their families, SO sudden and
Overwhelming YVES the Onrush of the tcrrent.
outside of the embankment was the great
river, solid body of water twenty feet
deep,and as soon as a crevas 50 was made it
poured through the opening with roar
that could be heard Ions distance, every
moment increasing the width of the crew
asSe and the great flood that was to carry
destruction in its patti. Thrifty homes
were deserted at a moments notice from
! the riders who were sent out to give warn
Ing OF the danger, in many cases the people
being obliged 10 leave everything and TO fly
to the bluffs or seek safety in boats.
On Monday the Sny Carte levee, an en-
! bankment commencing below Quincy and
extending south fity-four miles, gave
way between Hannibal and st. Louis and
the scenes enacted on ths day previous
| were repeated and intensified. Eariy in the
week the Alexandria levee, thirty miles
above Quincy gave way, completely food
Ing that thrifty city. To-day crevasse
was made in the Sny levee at East Hanni-
bal, followed soon after by unotl break a
mile south, and tonight the destruction in
the ievee districts is complete. Not an acre
of ground in this vast territory can escape
the flood, and the loss TO the farming inter
ests Is simply incalcuable. Cattle and
horses i'll the Inns wOoi.d pastures ws-
| overwhelmed in many localities and
drowned.
The river above ard below the city is
from ten to fifteen miles broad, covering all
| the farms on both sides and extending from
the bluffs on the Illinois side to tie high
blutfs ia Missouri. The scene OF DESC
latiOn, between q lincy aud Hannibal Is
pitiabie. What was a few days ago fer.
tile valley teeming with al uldaDt Gro. S is
now vast expanSe OF water, desert d by
every living thing. The water is pourip &
over tue top ot The ievee besides washing
through The brea t,om 800 to 400 yards
wide with Irresistible f,rce. on the dry
places on the embankmeEt tr. hundreds uf
cattle, horses and hogs, without feed and
! 40 prospect Of drink except wheie in dan
| ger IF being swallowed up by the I, Jod4.
Far across on the Opposite bluffs are
gathered hundreds OF m. Ii aud wuiuen and
children, desolate, foiloIn, despairing.
They look upon the ruin wrought on ,heir
farms and destroyed homes, almost con.
| plete.y under water and stock drowning.
Many OF them are utt:rly destitute, having
neither clothing nor shelter and some are
suffer Ing for food despite the bravery OF
the more fortunate ntighbors who are max.
ing every effort to relieve their immediate
wants. They are refugees from u scene OF
d saster % llace where they are in fear.
fal despair white they wait the coming o!
succor from their position OF distress and
deprivations. Steps have heen taken to
aid them, and the spirit tf CHARITY is al.
ready pouring i55 abundance to assis. III I'm
with evetY necessary Of life.