The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-22
After It's Unprecedented Career
Begins to Slaclxen It's Pace,
But This Only After the Worst Has
Already Been Done.
Hundreds OF Families Rendered
Homeless BY the Deluge.
Thousands OF Acres Of Growing Crops
Destroyed, Dwellings, Demolished,
Miles OF Fencing Washed Away
and Leyees Broken.

QUINCY, ILL.,, May 2l.-The great food
in the Mississippi, which will be remem-
bcred as without precedent in the do
struction and suffering created, Is slowly
abating, and Il 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
rendered homeless and thousands OF acres
Of growing crops ruined, TO say nothing Of
tho loss ontailed 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 exaggerated In
the least.
From the northern end Of Adams
county 10 the southern end Of Pike
county the land ON the Illinois side OF the
river was protected by n system OF levces,
the region embracing 100000 acres, the
soil being tho richest in the State. All
tho region is now one vast lake, from ak 10
ten feet in depth. Along the bluffs on the
eastern edge OF the submerged district
hundreds OF families are camped, living In
tents, huts and In the open air. Before
the flood most OF these people were we'll.
TODD, prosperous farmers, but now they
have little or nothing. Much sickness
prevails among the uniortunates, owing to
want and exposure, but prompt measures
have been taken 10 alleviate their suffer-
ings.
The inundated regions arc full Of desc
lation. Deserted homcsteads with the water
tapping the caves, are the most frequent rs
well as the most pathetic sight. But here
and there lisa spark OF life noticed extin.
giished by the all-dostroying water. While
the vast majority Of the inhabitants fled 10
the higher land, few were not granted
time 10 get away, or misjudgcd tho chanc.
ter OF the breaks In the levee, and deter
mined 10 stay with their homes, and are
now living In the garrcis or ON the roofs.
Every roof has been turned into place
OF refuge for live stock, poultry, etc; but
numbcrlca houses have been lifted from
N.s'r foundations and carried away with
the irrcsintable current, ~ demolished en-.
tircly.
In the sny lcvce district below this cit,
the situation 10 Infinitely worse than In th
regions 20 the north. Tho crovasso whicl
completed the inundation, opened nj IN
upper end Of the cmbankmcnt. and IN,
| ltnt ul Nhicfh IRON the fiNcf poured ONcl
the vast tract of rich farming land, sweep.
ing everything before H. Tho torrent
rushed down In great wave several feet
high with force which nothing could
Withstand. The towns Of FALL Creek, See
horn and Hull are but nero islands, and
hundreds Of refugees are huddlcd together
in the limited space. -Four or five families
are living In each Of the rooms In the few
houses above the water, and are suffering
intensely.
The damage TO railroad property Is enor
nous and II will bc three weeks after III,
water subsidies before trains can be run
ming on time This city IL cut OF from
railroad communication north, west and
south. The Quincy < Carthage track !,
under water for the distance OF severn
miles. The Quincy, Alton & 81. LOU,
tmck IL washed entirely out. The Chicago
Burlington Quincy and the Wabash tracks
at Fast Hannibal were washed out Satur
day morning. On the west side OF the riv
CT no attempt Is made 90 run trains on ans
Of the roads. Owing 10 the great damage
Il IN impossible 10 obtain detailed losses
but the aggregate will reach fully 5000,
600 from crops alone. Tho damage 10 th,
loyccs, houses and railroads will approx
mate $4,000.