River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-05-17
FARMS UNDER WATER.
The sny and Indian Grove Levees Break
Through Their Banks - Thousands Of
Acres Inundated-Seenes Of Dissolution



The sny and Indian Grove Levees Break
Through Their Banks - Thousands of
Acres Inundated-Seenes Of Dissolution
Immense Losses.
QUINCY, Ill, May I5-The food has done
its worst and the expectations of loss have
been fully realized. Both levees have
broken and over 100000 acres OF growing
crops are ruined and hundreds Of head
Of stock drowned. The first crevasse
occurred ia the Indian Grove levee
Sunday night at a point a few miles
above the city, and since then the
levee has given way in two other places
The breaks We're accompanied by u roaring,
rushing sound that could be heard fully
two miles away When the first break
occurred a large force Of men was
set at work to try and repair the
damage. A steamboat and barges Were
pushed into service hauling rock The
men worked With the courage Of despera-
ton. but TO no avail, as nothing could with
stand the mighty force Of water pouring
through the rapidly -widening breach. The
sight was one never to be forgot
broken and huge rocks were torn
away. The three breaks were each
originally about 100 feet wide, and are be-
ing cut away at the rate Of ten or twelve
feet an hour. People living in the doomed
district, which is about twenty miles long
by eight wide, We're forced TO fee for their
lives, saving only such articles as they
could pick up in their flight
What was Sunday night 100 square miles
Of fertile, growing fields is now a lake
from eight 10 ten feet in depth. Individual
escapes from the onward rush Of the water
are numerous, and many thrilling stories
have been told Of families going 10 sleep
Sunday night in fancicd security and wax
ing up TO find their dwelling rocked to and
fro by the motion of the water.
Individual losses are not obtainable but
the aggregate viii be enormous. In this
city foundries, factories and mills have
been forced 20 suspend. All railroads
north, west and south have been aban-
dOned and the mails to inland towns in
Missouri are carried in skifTs.
The town of Canton, No. is half under
water and much loss and suffering win en-
sue.
TIE river was still rising. but il is thought
the highest point viii be reached by to-
night. The stage is now eighteen feet four
inches
LOUISIANA, No, May I5.-The Suy levee
succumbed TO the pressure yesterday
morning and opened az a point at the foot
~
Foot" about eight miles above this city.
An opening over 100 yards wide vas
made, and a vast volume Of water rushed
through with loud roar. rapid
ly inundating Sny valley and drfv-
ing the farmers from their homes
To seek safety in the bluffs. Some
idea can be formed of the damage that will
result from this inundation when il is con-
sidered that the Sny valley extends from
point five miles below this city to a point
opposite Hannibal, with an average width
of five miles, and possessing as rich soil as
there is in the State Of Illinois
Since the break Of 1881 the levee was so
repaired as to inspire confidence again,
and many new farm houses were built
and thousands Of acres cultivated. There
never was a better prospect for a large
yield of wheat and corn than before this
disaster. II viii now be swept away
by the flood, except that situated on the
higher ground. Although great anxiety
has existed for some days over the safety
of the levee and many people left with
their focks and herds. still the greater part
remained and have suffered great loss.
HANNIBAL, Mo, May 15.-The river here
is still rising at the rate Of one half inch
an hour. The railroad tracks on Front
street are two feet under water and the
electric light house IS surrounded
by a lake two and a half feet
deep. The lumber-yards of tho Hannibal
Saw-Min Company are submerged, and
force of fifty men was employed all day
weighing down the lumber to keep it from
floating away. The railroad yards are also
submerged. There are grave appre-
tensions for the safety Of the leyce.
At the Shepherds switch there are
a number Of Ieakages which are closely
watched. Another point opposite Still
wallis farm is guarded, and a large force Of
men is employed in putting in crush and
rocks to stop the leaks. The river continues
to encrOach upon the em5ankment and the
outlook is gloomy.
The water has spread all over the low
grounds of South Hannibal, and hundreds
of families have been compelled 10 move.
The water at S O'Clock last night reached
the high-vatcr mark of 1881, with no sign
of subsiGiug
Much Of the levee is composed Of made
soil and sand which IS not calculated to
Withstand such tremendous pressure IS
is now brought against it. Third street
bridge has been abandoned and IS being
weighted down TO keep it from breaking
loose and drifting away.
On the Missouri side the break at Alex
andria has caused a great sea covering So,
GO acres of land, in the midst Of which is
modern Venice with imp Omptu craft OF
all kinds and sizes. The water floods the
town Of Alexandria from Two to SIX feet
deep. The people were in man
ner prepared for the food and the suffering
is not great The bottom was planted in
wheat and corn and the farming community
reckon on their loss at figures aggregating
100000 Most Of the live stock has been
driven to the bluffs.
Rock ISLAND, H.. May 15.-COnsiderable
anxiety is felt lest the Rock Island and
Peoria embankment, which protects the
southwestern portion Of the city from the
Mississippi, should give way aud that part
be inundated. The water is steadily ad-
vancing and is now one inch higher than
its greatest height in ISL
BURLINGTON, Ia, May 15-The river hero
lacks but two inches of the high water Of
1SS1-the biggest food since 1S5i-and may
possibly come to il, althoI gh 10 can not
pass it. Several small herds OF cattle in
the adjacent bottom lands Of Illinois and
Iowa have been drowned and much loss to
farmers occasiOned.
GALExA, H.. May l5.-The food came to
a stand at this point Sunday morning, and
at o'clock last night the water had fallen
a little over one inch. 1t will take weeks
to recover from the effects of the inunda
tion here after the water goes down. The
stoppage of the factories and other indus
tries by the food has thrown many persons
out of emplcs ment.