Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-19
THE MISSISSIPPI
ovERFLowS ITS BANKS AND BRINGS
DESOlATION TO MANY HOMES.
The Flood Unequailed Since that of 1881
Quincy, Illinois, Under water-The
River Fifteen Miles Broad In Certain
PIaces-A Steady Rain of Ten Days
Adds to the Misery of the People.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-. May l9-For one month
the Mississippi has filled its banks and the
past week il has gradually spread beyond
them until now the flood has never been
eqIaled but once, the single exception be-
ing in 1854. Ten days ago the water
reached the danger point and from that
time has been rising steadily at the rate OF
from four to fourteen inches daily.
dispatch from Quincy. ILL.,, says:
"Above and below Quincy are over one
hundred miles of levees for the protection
of fully two hundred thousand acres of
land-the most productive farming land in
the valley. On Sunday morning the first
break occurred in one of these great EN-
bankmentS known rs the Indian Grove
leyee. During the day two other crevices
were made, and within a few hours thous-
ands of acres of wint.s' wheat that prom
ised yield of from 10 TO 60 bushels 10 the
acre, were laid waste.
On Monday the Snv Carte levee. on en-
bankment commencing just below Quincy
and extending south, a distance of fifty
four miles, gave way between Hannibal
and Louisiana, and the scenes enacted the
day previous were repeated and intensified.
Early in the week the Alexandria levee
thirty miles above Quincy, gave way, COM
pletely flooding that thrifty city. Iester-
day a crevasse was made i'll the Sny levee
at East Hannibal, followed soon after by
another break a mile south, and last night
the destruction in all the levee districts
was complete. Not an acre of ground in
this vast territory can escape the flood, and
the loss TO farming interests is simply in
calculable. Cattle and horses in the fine
wooded pastures were overwhelmed in
many localities and drowned.
The river above and below the city is
from 10 10 10 miles broad, covering all the
farms on both sides, and extending from
bluffs on the Illinois side To the high bluffs
in Missouri. The scene of desolation be-
tween Quincy and Hannibal is simply pitt
able. What was few days ago a fertile
valley, teeming with abundant crops, is a
vast eXpanse of water, deserted by every
living thing. The water is pouring over the
top of the levee, besides rushing through
the breaks, from 800 to 400 yards wide. with
irresistible force. On the dry places on the
embankment are hundreds OF cattle, horses
and hogs, without feed and no
prospect of drink, except when in
danger of being swallowed up by
the floods. Far across on the opposite
bluffs are gathered hundreds of men, wo-
men and children. in small groups, DESC
late, forlorn, despairing. They look upon
the ruin wrought, upon farms laid waste,
property destroyed, homes almost COM
| pletely under water furniture floating
away and stock drowning. Many of them
are utterly destitute. having neither suffi-
cient clothing nor shelter and some suffer-
| ing for food, despite the bravery of more
| fortunate neighbOrs who are making every
exertion to relieve their immediate wants.
Steps have been taken to aid them aud the
spirit of charity is already pouring its
abundance to aid them with every neces-
sary of life.
Railroads running into Quincy are seri-
ously embarrassed, and the losses to rail
road interests are much more serious than
has been anticipated. Communication to
| the west from this city IS entirely cut off,
every road being under water. In many
localities ties and rails for distance OF
many miles have been washed from the
roadbed by the food, and are piled W
along the embankment and in the woods
Bridges and culverts will be carried out
and the roadbeds will be seriously dam.
aged.
In this city, factories and warehouses
along the river are seriously embarrassed
and large buildings are being gradually
undermined by the rushing waters. I'm
less the flood subsidies soon the loss will be
much heavier than hitherto anticipated
Last evening a mass meeting was held &c
| devise means for the immediate relief oi
the destitute sufferers from the flood of the
past two or three days. These helpless peo
| pie have been coming to the city in boats
single row boat often containing an en-
| tire family with such household effects a:
| could be quickly gathered together. Fol
ten days it has rained steadily to add to the
/ suffaripp