St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-19
Fearful Devastation Caused
by the Floods on the Mis-
80
sissippi River. sm
L..
Expeditions Organized to OBJ
tain Full Particulars and j
Relief. " w
Two Men Killed by an Explo-
sion Of Dynamite in I'll
Michigan. 81

the refugees camped on the high lands
and bluffs north and south of thr city.
In the Indian Grove district there are
$50 families rendered homeless, the ma
Jority of whom are partially sheltered
III barns and other buildings on farms
not inundated. A number, however,
remain in the upper stories of dwellings
in the submerged area. They are all
suffering to some extent, but the atten-
ton and care of neighbors has thus far
prevented actual want. These more
fortunate people, however, can
not long stand the strain upon
their limited resources. The great flood
that now prevails along the Mississippi
river has never been equaled but once.
the single exception being in 1851. 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. The govern
ment guage now marks 10 feet inches,
being seven inches higher than during
the great flood of 1881. Above and
below Quincy are over 1O0 miles of levee
for the protection of fully 100000 acres
of land, the most productive farming
lands in the valley. On Sunday morn
ing the first break occurred in one of
these great entertainments, known as the
Indian Grove levee. During the day
two other crevasses were made, and
within few hours thousands of acres
of winter wheat, that promised yield
of from forty to sixty bushels to the
acre, were laid waste. The farmers had
been working on the embankment night
and day in the hope of saving their
homes, and when the flood came ma
jority of them had barely time to save
their families, SO sudden and overwhelm
ing was the
ONRUSH OF THE TORRENTS.
Outside the embankment was the
great river, a solid body of water TWEEN
ty feet deep, and as soon as crevasSe
was made it poured through the open
ing with a roar that could be heard
long distance. Every moment increased
the width of the crevaSse and the great
flood that was to carry destruction inits
pathway. Thrifty homes were deserted
on a moments notice from riders who
were sent out to give warning of the
danger, in many cases the people being
obliged to leave everything and fly to
bluffs, or seek safety in boats. Monday
the Sny Carte levee, an embankment
commencing just below Quincy and eX-
tending south a distance of fifty-fOur
miles. gave way between Hannibal and
Louisiana, and the scenes enacted the
day previous were repeated and intenSi-
fed. Early in the week the Alexandria
levee, thirty miles above Quincy, gave
way, completely flooding that thrifty
city. Yesterday crevaSSe was made in
the Sny levee at East Hannibal, followed
soon after by another break 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 incalculable. Cattle and
horses in the fine wooded pastures were
overwhelmed in many localities and
drowned. The river above and below
| the city is from ten to fifteen miles
broad, covering all the farms Oh both
sides, and extending from the bluffs on
Missouri. The scene of desolation be-
| tween Quincy and Hannibal is simply
| pitiable. What was few days ago
fertile valley, teeming with abundant
crops, is vast eXpanSe of water, de-
serted 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 OH
| the entertainments are hundreds of cat
| tie, horses and hogs without food. and
no prospect of drink, except when in
| danger of being swallowed up by the
floods. Across on the opposite bluffs
are gathered hundreds of men, women
| and children in small groups, desolate,
| forlOrn, deSpairing. They look upon
THE RUIN WROUGHT,
upon farms laid waste, property de-
| Stroyed. homes almost completely under
| water, furniture floating away and stock
drowning. Many of them are utterly
destitute, having neither sufficient
clothing nor shelter, and some suffering
| for food despite the bravery of more
| fortunate neighborS, who are making
| diate wants. Steps have been taken TO
aid them, and the spirit of charity is
| already pouring its abundance to aid
| them with every necessary of life Rail
roads running into Quincy are seriously
| embarrassed and the losses to railroad
| interests will be much more serious
| than has been anticipated. Commune
cation to the West from this city is en-
| tirely cut off, every road being under
water. In many localities ties and rails
| for distance of many miles have been
| washed from the road bed by the flood
| and are piled up along the embankment
| and in the woods. Bridges and culverts
| will be carried out and the road beds
| will be Seriously damaged. In this city
| factories and warehouses along the river
are seriously embarrassed, and large
| buildings are being gradually under
mined by the rushing waters. Unless
| the flood subsidies soon the loss will be
much heavier than hitherto anticipated.
| Last evening mass meeting was held
| to devise means for the immediate re-
lief of
THE DESTITUTE SUFFERERS
| from the flood. For the past two or
three days these helpless people have
been coming to the city in boats, a SIM
gle rowboat often containing an entire
! family. with such household effects as
| could be quickly gathered together. For
| ten days it has rained steadily, to add
| to the suffering. At the meeting last
night money was freely subscribed to
provide provisions and clothing, to be
delivered to-day north and south of
Quincy in charge of citizens relief COM
mitteeS. Committees were also an
pointed to solicit aid from citizens gen
orally. The water is still steadily ris-
ing, and the worst of the flood has not
yet been reached. From Fayetteville.
Ark, comes report that it has rained
necessarily there for the last thirty-six
hours, and that the White river, usually
placid stream, is now rushing tor
rent, five miles wide. Severe lightning
has also prevailed, in one or two in
stances doing damage to property. No
hos ~ hnn
lowlands away from the railroads, and
the exact damage cannot be figured. A
washout is reported on the Frisco rail-
| road, near WinSlow, $50 miles south of