Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-22
THE FLOODS sUBsIDISG.
Unprecedented Destruction ana
scenes OF DesolatioD.
fBy telegraph to the Dispatch.

QUINCY. Ill, May 2l.-The great flood IN
the Mississippi. which will be remembered
as without q precedent in the destruction
aud suffering created, is slowly abating.
But the worst that could happen has already
occurred, hundred Of families having been
rendered homeless and thousands OF acres OF
growing crops ruined, to say nothing OF inc
loss entsiled by demolished dwellings,
wrecked fences. aud wssheuts. A trip
through the submerged regions shows that
the stories OF loss and suffering already pub
lished have not bees exaggerated. From the
northern end Of Adams county to the south
ern end OF Pike ceuaty the land on the
Illinois side OF the river was protected BY q
system Of leyees, the region embracing 250''
0s0 acres, the soil being the richest In the
state. All the region Is now one vast lake
from six 10 ten feet 10 depth. Along the
bluffs on tie eastern edae Of :he submerged
district hundreds Of families are oanped,
living In tents. butts, and IN the open air.
Before the food most OF these people were
welLto-do. prosperous farmers, but now they
have little or nothing. Much siekne" pre-
ysIls among the uniortunstcs owing 10 want
and exposure, but prDRpt measures have
been taken 20 slleViate their suaerines.
The Inundated regions are full OF desela-
ton. Deserted honesieads with the water
lapplng toe caves are the most frequent as
well "a the most pathetic sight. But here
and there is a spark Of life not yet eX-
tiugulshed by the all-destroying waters.
While the vast majority OF the inhabttant.
fled to higher land, few were not granted
tlme TO get away or misiudged the caarsstor
Of the breaks in the leyee AID determined to
STAY with their bones. and are BOW
LIVING IN TIE GAEEETs or on THH ROOF.
Every roof has been turned into place
Of refuge for live stock, poultry, re-, but
num6erless houses have been lifted from
their foundations aHd carried away with
the Irresistible current or demolished en-
tifely.
In the Spy leyee district below this city
the situation IS infinitely worse than In the
regions 10 the neIth. The crevasse, which
completed the inundaiiop, opened at TIE
upper esd Of the Ombankmsnt, aud the peat
up waters from the river poured over the
vast tract Of Iich farming land, sweeping
everything before It. The torrent rushed
down IN great wave several feet bigh with
q force which nothing could Withstand.
The towns OF Fall Creek, SeehOrn. and
HuIls are but mere Islands, aud hundreds OF
refugees are buddled together IN limited
space. Four or i've families sre living IN
esch Of the rooms in the few houses above
the water. and are suffering intensely.
ENORMOUS DAMAGE TO RAILROAD PROPERTY.
The damage to railroad property Is enor-
nous, and il will be three weeks after the
water subsidies before trains can be running
on time. This city is cut eli from railroad
communication North, West, aud South.
The Quincy and Carthage road is under
water for q distance OF several miles. The
Quincy, Alton and st. Louis track is
covered for miles, bridges are gone,
aud telegraph-poles down. The Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy and the wabash
tracks at East Hannibal were washed out
saturday morning. On the west SIDE OF the
river no attempt IS made to run trains on
any Of the roads.
owing to the great confusion It is I'M
possible TO obtain detailed losses, but the
aggregate will reach fully s3,0J0,OOO from
crops alone. The damage TO the leyees,
houses. and railroads will approximate
100000.
81 Don FATATITIE=.