Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-05-30
MILES OF WATER.
Unpleasant Predicament of an
Emigrant Family.
Hundreds of Acres Submerged
The Highest Water Known In
Years. Watching the Rail
Road Bridges.

Just east of the city, standing on
a slight elevation, with muddy,
swiftly flowing water within ten
feet on all sides, an emigrant out
fit spent last night and all of to-
day. The mover are from the
East, bound for Oklahoma. They
arrived at their present location
late Monday night and when the
rain began yesterday morning it
was deemed best not to resume the
journey under the pelting drops.
So a camp a made, and the
family stopped on the little knoll.
The rain continued all through the
day, however, and at nightfall
there was no prospect of a cessa-
ton. Salt River began to show
signs of a rise, but the emigrants
did not look at the swelling waters
with any degree of alarm. But
when they awake this morning
everything was different from the
night before. ALI about them lay
a sheet of muddy water and their
little camp ground was less than
fifty feet in width. The alarmed
party made soundings of the water
and it was found to be from five to
seven feet in depth, stretching far
on every side. There are several
women and children in the party,
but none of them are thought to be
suffering. 1t is believed they have
plenty of food, though the wagon
is wet and their comforts are few
indeed. No effort to reach the
travellers has been made, as the
water seems to have reached its
greatest height and no danger that
the occupants of the island may be
washed away, is feared. The
nearest boat is nearly a mile away
an unless some new trouble arises,
the emlgrants will be left on their
little patch of ground until the
water recedes.
THE HIGHEST IN YEARS.
The streams throughout North
Missouri are higher now than they
have been for years. 1t is doubted
if Salt River was ever swollen as at
present. East of this city, in the
neighborhood of the railroad
bridges, this stream is now over a
mile in width, with back water
running two or three miles into the
woods and over fields. The water
is several feet deep all about Har-
rlson's brick yard and Just east OF
the Alton round house and south OF
the main line ofthat road the water
is well up to the top of the fences.
Trees that usually stand high and
dry two hundred yards from the
banks of the creek are submerged
to their branches, and the county
road running under the Alton bridge
is covered by at least six feet Of
swiftly running water. The wooden
bridge at the foot of Liberty street
now stands at least two hundred
feet from dry land on the west,
while on the east it cannot be ap-
preached closer than a quarter of a
mile. The water is passing over
the floor of the structure, and nu'
merous big logs and great piles Of
drift are humping ominously
against its side. Within ten feet Of
the ties on the Alton bridge a force
of men belonging to William Bow
ers' bridge gang Is engaged WIZ
long hooks in
CATCHING THE DRIFT
and sending it down stream. The
men stand on the iron braces, which
are fully covered with water, and
with their prongs and hooks keeI
the big logs from striking the bridge
They work in several feet of water
and their position is perilous in the
extreme. Below the narrow, water
covered irons on which they stano
the water is fully twenty-five feet
in depth, while, filled with drift
the swift current rnshes abou'
them. A sudden nuubness OF {