The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-19
The Greatest Freshets Since 1851.
Levees and Embankments Carried
Away by the Furious River.
Hundreds of Thousands Acres of
Land Rendered Useless.
Scenes OF Desolation Below Quincy,
H., Simply Pitiable.
What Was a Few Days Ago Valley
Teeming with Abundant Crops, isa
Vast Expanse OF Water Deserted
by Every Living Thing.

nhs HcNcr OccH tVuhlcu Dul onCct INC hlnRlc
exception being in 1851 Ten days ago
the water reached the danger point aud
from that time II has been rising steadily
at the rate OF from four 10 fourteen inches
daily. The govornment gauge now marks
nineteen feet nine inches, being seven
inches higher than during the great food
Of 1881. Above and below Quincy are
over 100 miles OF levees, for the protection
Of fully 100000 acres oi land-the most
productive farming lands in the valley. On
Sunday morning the fnt break occurred
in one Of these great embankments known
as the Indian Grove lcyec. During the
day two other crcvasses were made, and
within few hours, thousandsof acres OF
winter wheat that promised a yield Of from
forty to sixty bushels 10 the acre were laid
waste.
The farmers had been working on the
cmbankment night and day in the hope OF
saving their homes, aud when the Hood
came a majority OF them had barely time
TO save their families, ~ sudden and over
whelming was the onrtish of the torrents.
Outside the embankmenis was the great
river, solid body Of water twenty feet
deep, and as soon ~ ccvasse was made
Il poured through the opening with roar
that could be heard long distance.
Every moment increased the width Of
the oreyasse and the great flood that was
20 carry destruction In it's pathway.
Thrifty homes were deserted on mo-
ment's notice from riders who were sent
out 10 give warming of the danger, In many
cases the people being Obliged TO leave
everything aud fly TO the bluffs or seek
safety in boats.
On Monday the Sny lrvee, nm cmbank.
mont commencing just below Quincy and
extending south distance OF ilfiy.iOur
miles, gave way between Hannibal aud
Louisiana, aud the scenes enacted the day
previous wcn' repeated and intensified
Early in the week tho Alexandria lcycc,
thirty miles above Quincy. gave way, com.
pletely flooding that thrjliy city. Icslcr.
day crcvassc was mai IN the Sny lcvuc
at Fast Hannibal, followed coon ailor by
another break q nilc south, aud last night
the destruction in all the loyco districts
was complete. Not nm acre OF ground in
this vast territory can escape the flood,
and the loss 10 farming Interests IL simply
incalculable. Cattle and horses IN the iino
wooded pastures wcrc overwhelmed In
many localities aud dmwnod. The river
above and below the city u from ten 10
ilitocn miles broad, covering oil the farms
ON both sides aud extending from the
bluffs on the Illinois side 10 the high bluffs
in Missouri.
The scene of dc.olalion between Quincy
and Hannibal " simply pitiablc. What
wis few days ago u fertile valley tccming
with abundant crops, Is a vas, cxpansc Of
water. deserted by every living thing.
Tho water IL pouring over the top Of the
lcyce, besides rushing through the breaks
from 800 To 400 yards wide, with irrcsisti-
ble force. ON the dry pliccs ON the em-
bankment arc hundreds Of cattle, horses
and hogs, without food, aud with no pros.
poet Of drink except when in danger Of
being swallowed NJ by the floods. Ear
acruss on the opposite bluils arc gathered
hundreds VI men, women and children In
small groups, dcsolaie, iororn, dcspairing.
They look upon the ruin wrought, upon
farms laid waste, property destroyed,
homes almost completely under water, fur
niturc floating away and stock drowning
Many of thom are utterly destitute, having
neither sufficient clothing nor shelter, aud
some suffering for food despite the bravery
OF mor fortunate niighlDrs who aru
making every effort 10 rolicyc their imme-
diaie wants.
Steps have been taken 10 aid them and
the spirit Of chaiiiy Is pounngin IN abund.
ancc 10 aid them with every necessary Of
life. Railroads running into Quincy arc
seriously embarrassed, aud the losses to
sss.tls..uI tVlae.saIa e.Itll FsHffHM
rious than has been Anticipated. Commu.
nication 10 the west fr0m tliis city Ia en-
tircly cut of, every rad being under
water In many localil,s ties and rails,
for distance Of many miles, have bcdn
washed from the roadbed by the Hood aud
arp piled up along the cmbankmont aud In
the woods Bridges and culyoris will be
carried out and the fOadDcd seriously
damaged.
In this city factories anil warehouses are
seriously embarrassed, md large buildings
are being gradually Undermined by the
rushing waters. Unlefsthc flood subsidies
soon the loss viii be much heavier than
hitherto anticipated.
last evening a mass meeting was held
10 devise means for the immediate relief
of the destitute sufferers irom tho Hood.
For the pas two on thfcr days these help
less people have been coming TO the city
/ In boats, n single row.boat often contain.
ing an entire family, will such household
effects ~ could be quickly gathered 10.
gcther. For ten days 4 has mincd stead
lily 10 add 10 the suilonrA At tho meet.
ing last night money W. freely subscribed
30 provide provisions nd clothing TO DO
delivered south Of Qnircy IN charge OF q
citizens relief committee. Committees
were also appointed 10 sJicit aid from cili'
zens generally.
The water Is sull steadily rising and
the worst Of the hood has not yet been
reached.
The food IN this district gives no sign
of abatement. A decline of an inch
and q half here up 10 o o'clock this
morning was duo solely 10 relief al
fordcd by tho numerous breaks In
the two leyccs, which permitted vast lakes
Of water 10 overflow The basins Since
that, however. the rivcr has been on n
stand, and further riso is certain IL v
possible, In the judgment Of experienced
river men, that the high water mark oi
'5l viii be passed before the climax ~
reached. The situation among the pco-
pie suffering from the disaster - practical,
y unchanged since Yesterday Relief