The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-05-24
The Flood on the Mississippi.


QUINCY, ILL.,, May 21.-The present
great flood in the Mississippi will be
remembered as without precedent in
the destruction and suffering created.
1t is thought that the worst of the high
water is past, but the worst that could
happen has already occurred, hundreds
of families having been rendered home
less and thousands of acres OF growing
crops ruined, to say nothing of the loss
entailed by demolished dwellings,
wrecked fences and washouts. A trip
through the submerged regions shows
that the stories of loss and suffering
already published have not been exag-
gerated in the least. From the north
ern end of Adams county to the south
ern end of Pike county, the LAND on the
Illinois side of the river was protected
by system of levees, the region en-
bracing 100000 acres, the soil being
the richest in the state. All that re-
giOn 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, living in tents,
huSs, and in the open air. Before the
flood most of these people were well-to-
do, prosperous families, but now they
have little or nothing. Much sickness
prevails among the unfortunates, owing
| to want and exposure, but prompt
measures have been to alleviate their
sufferings. The inundated regions are
full of desolation. Deserted home
steads with the water tapping the
caves are the most frequent as well as
most pathetic sight. But here and
guished by all the destroying waters.
While a vast majority of the inhab-
itants fled to the highlands, a few were
not granted time to get away, or, mis-
| Judging the character of the leVee and
determined to stay with their homes,
and are now living in garrets or on the
roofs. Every roof has been turned into
IL place of refuge for live stock
poultry, etc., but numberleSs houses
| have been lifted from their foundations
and carried away with the irresistible
current or demolished entirely. In the
Sny leVee district below this city the
situotion is infinitely worse than in the
regions to the north. The crevaSse
which completed the inundation opened
at the upper end of the embankment
and the pent-up waters from the river
poured over vast tract OF rich farm
ing land, sweeping everything before
them. The torrent rushed down In
great waves several feet high, with 8
force which nothing could Withstand
The towns of Fall Creek, Seahorn anC
! HuIls are mere islands. There is much
suffering there. The damage to railroad
. property is enormous, and it will b
three weeks after the water subside;
before trains can be running on time
) This city is cut off from railroad com
, munication to the northwest and south
4 The Quincy & Carthage track is unde
! water for distance of several miles
! The Quincy. Alton & st. Louis track i
4 washed for miles, bridges are gone an,
I the telegraph poles down. The Chica
4 go, Burlington & Quincy and Wabasl
; tracks at East Hannibal were washe
! away Saturday. morning on the ives
, side of the river. No attempt is mad
o to run trains on any of the roads OWN
4 to the great confusion. 1t is impossi
4 BILE to obtain detailed losses, but the az
\ gregate will reach fully 50 ,OOO, 600 froI
; crops alone. The damage to levee
70 houses and roads viii approximai
$500 600.