The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-05-29
ON THE HOUSEHOLDS
Seeing Their Worldly Posses
sionS Swept Away.
Heavy Loss TO Farmers Their Best Land
Covered by the Sea of Water Loss of
Life Reported-Other Casualties.

QuNcY, May 2l.-Tho great food in the
Mississippi, which will be remembered as
without precedent in destruction and suffering
created, is slowly abating, and it is thought
that the worst of the high water is passed, but
the worst that could happen has already oc-
CURED, hundreds of families having been rem
dered homeless and thousands of acres of the
growing crops ruined, to say nothing of TIE
loss entailed by demolished residences, wreck
ed fences and washouts.
a trip through the submerged region shows
that the stories of loss and suffering, already
published, have not been exaggerated in the
least. From the northern end of Adams
county to the southern end of Pike county.
land on the Illinois side OF the river was pro-
tected by a system of levees. the region en-
bracing 250,000 acres, the soil being the richest
in the state. Al that region is now one vast
lake from six to ten feet in depth. Along the
bluffs on the eastern edge of the submerged
district hundreds of families are camped. liv-
ing in tents huts and the open air. Before the
flood most of these people were well-tO-do,
prosperous farmers, but now they have little
or nothing. Much sickness prevails among
the unfortunates, owning to want and ex-
posture, but measures have been taken to allie
viate their sufterings.
The inundated regions are full of desolaton.
Deserted homesteads, with the water tapping
their caves are a most frequent as well as
pathetic sight. But here and there is
spark of life not yet eXtinguished by the all
destroying waters. While vast majority of
the inhabitants fled to higher land, few
were not granted time to get away or mis-
iudged tho character of breaks in the levee
and determined to stay with their homes, and
are now living in garretS or on roofs. Every
roof has been turned into place of refuge for
live stock, poultry, etc, bat numberless houses
has been lifted from their foundations and car
ried away with the inevitable current or de-
moished entirely.
In the Sny leyee district, below this city,
the situation is infinitely worse than in regions
to the north. The creyasse which completed
the inundaton opened at the upper end of the
embankment, and the pent-up waters from the
river poured over vast tract Of river farming
land, sweeping everything before it. The
torrent rushed down in great wave, several
feet high, with force which nothing could
withstand. The towns of Fall Creek Selham
and Hulls are mere islands, and hundreds of
refugees are huddled together in the limited
space. Four or five families are living in each
of the rooms in few houses above water, and
arc suffering intensely. The damage TO rail-
road property is enormous. and it will be three
weeks after tho water subsidies before trains
can be running on time.
This city is cut off from railroad commune
cation north, west and south of Quincy and
Carthage. The track is under water for dis
lance oil several miles, The Quincy, Alton
and St. Louis track is covered for miles.
bridges arc gone anu telegraph poles down,
The Chicago. Burlington and Quincy and Wa
bash tracks at East Hannibal were washed out
Saturday morning. On the west side of the
river no attempt is made to move trains on
any of the roads. Owing to the great confu-
sion, it is impossible to obtain detailed losses
but the aggregate will reach fully 100000
from crops alone. The damage to levees,
houses and railroads will approximate 5000, O00.
Reports received todayirecord the drowning
of Samuel Moore by the floods in Indian
IL ps,t so x,o 81. lxN,@ -
William johnson in shy district. Two fami-
lies living in Sny district are unaccounted for
and no trace of them can be found. 1t is prob
able that many fatalities viii be recorded when
all the facts regarding the flood are fully
known. Much sickness prevails among desti-
tute people from the inundated districts. but
the relief committee of Quincy are rendering
every possible assistance to those in distress.
The river today is falling slowly, having de-
clined nine inches from the highest point
reached. Trains on the western roads will be
running tomorrow and the damage TO all roads
in this locality will be repaired as speedily as
DOSsible.