Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-18
I'd EDITION.
--latest qtlGglaIls 70 The Star.


Terrible ExPsrtsaos - the People In
the Flooded Region % Illinois.
QUINCY, Ill, May 1s.-The great mood that now
prevails along the Mississippi River has never
been equalled but once. in 1851. Ten days ago
the water reached the danger point and
s nfsaa,v that time has , been ,o,, rising ao
"a inches day yne the s's Sm ea@Se nO%
marks 10 feet 0 inches, being Inches higher than
during the great Mood Of 1881. Above ana below
over Of us 100 ss acres anS
the most productive farming lands In the valley
on sunday morning the rrst break occurred
the Indian Grove leyee. During the day two
other crevasses .were made, and within
few hours thousands Of acres Of winter wheat that
acre were laid waste. The farmers had been work
ing upon the embankment night and day In the
nope OF saving their homes. and when the MOOD
HAD BARELY TINE TO SAVE THEIR FAMILIES
30 sudden and overwhelming was the onrush OF
the waters Outside the embankment was the great
soon as q crevasse was made It poured through the
opening with . roar that could be heard long
distance. Every moment increased the width OF
carry destruction in It's path way. Thrifty
homes were deserted on q moments notice from
riders who were sent out TO give warning OF the
leave everything and az 70 the BUNS 70 SEEK
safety In boats. On Monday the Shy Carte levee,
al euUduAmeut commencing just below quincy
ana extending south distance OF 81 miles,
gave way between Hannibal and Louisiana
and the scenes enacted the day previous were re-
peate0 and Intensified Early In the week the
Alexandria levee 30 miles above quincy, gave way
completely, noodlng that thrifty city.
SAD SCENES OF DEsoLArIoN.
the river above and below East Hannibal Is
from ten TO fifteen miles broad, covering all the
farms on both sides, and extending from the bluis
on the Illinois side to the high bluffs In Missouri
nioal Is simply pitiable. What was few days
ago fertile valley teeming with abundant crops,
Is vast expanse OF water, deserted by every
living thing: Hundreds Of men, women, and
small groups, desolste, forlorn. and despair.
ing. Many OF them are utterly destitute, hav.
Ing neither sufncient clothing nor shelter and
some suffering for food, despite the bravery o!
exertiOn to relieve their Immediate wants. Rail-
roads running into Quincy are seriously embar-
rassed and the losses 10 railroad interests will be
much more serious than has been anticipated
urely cut Oh, every road being under water. In
this city factories and warehouses along the rveI
are seriously embarrassed, and large buildings arr
being gradually undermined by the rushing
waterS
TO AID THE DESTITUTE
Last evening maSS-meeting was held TO devise
means for the Immediate relief OF the destitute
sufferers from the dood- For the past two OF
three days the9e helpless people have been coming
TO the city In boats, single rowboat often con-
tanning an entire family with such household ef-
fects as could be gathered together For ten days
1t has rained stearily 70 add TO the suffering Az
the meeting last night money was freely SUBJ
scrtbed to provide provisions and clothing TO be
delivered to-day north and south or quincy Ia
charge OF citizens relief committees. Commit
tees we're also appointed to solicit aid from citizens
generally.
The water is steadily rising and the worst Of the
food has not yet been reached.