The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-05-18
THE RAGING FLOODS.
Destruction of Property and Loss OF
Life Along the Rivers.

By Telegraph to State Chronicle.
ST. LOUIS, May 17.-The Missis-
slppi river is higher to-day than since
the flood of 1858. The river contin.
ued to rise all during the night. At
Alton the water is above all previous
records except that of 1874. Above
the viaduct the 0. & NJ, and c.. b. &
z. tracks are from one to four feet
under water. The G. & A. road for
four miles from the bridge is out of
sight. The Big Four will suspend
today and the Cairo short line
will follow suit before evening.
Not a wheel has moved in the
Mobile and Ohio yards for several
days; the Belt Line yards are three
feet under water and the great bridge
yards closed down last night. There
are but two engines with fire boxes
above the water and they are pulling
all passenger trains from the relay de-
pot, upon the Wabash track, to Ven.
ice and the Chicago and Alton road to
point beyond Nameoka. The Mer-
chants Terminal roads at East St..
Louis have suspended traffic between
the bridge and the national stock
yards. The floods in St. Charles
county, twenty miles above the city,
increases in vastness and in its disas-
trous results. All day yesterday
and up to late hour last
night appeals for help were
received. Last night the Post-Dis-
patch steamer rescued twelve families
from Stump Slough and six families
from Kitsac islands. The steamer
Fa'0n was carried out of the regular
channel of the river and stranded in a
wheat field, one-eighth of mile from
the river proper. A messenger reach
ed Alton this morning after rowing
ten miles from an island near the
mouth OF the Missouri river; there were
over sixty persons on the island which
was rapidly being inundated; the water
was alre ady in the first floors of many
houses and the occupants were climb
ing to the roofs. A relief party at
once started to rescue the islanders.
Ihe signal service predictions are a
warning to prepare for worse things yet.
Much anxiety is felt i'll regard to the
rains expected to overwhelm this sec
ton tonight. Great apprehension is
felt among residents of East St. Louis.
The Ohio and Mississippi river en-
bankment is the only thing that pre-
vents the place from being submerged.
A portion of the town of Brooklyn ad-
joining East St. Louis on the north
side is covered with water to the depth
of three feet. The town contains
large negro population and
they threaten to cut the embank-
ment. An armed patrol guards the
embankment and any attempt to cut
the dixie will be met with summary
vengeance. Armour's packing house
is surrounded with water and switch
men are at work waist deep in water
getting out car loads of meat. A feature
of the suffering from flood in this city
is the threatened coal famine. 1t is es-
timated that $4,000 men are idle from
factories and foundries stopping work
on account of high water.
KANSAS CRY, May 17.-Heavy
rains have been falling ever since
early morning all over the eastern
part of Kansas and streams are again
all bank full and rising rapidly. The
dead of the heavy flood are now begin
ming to show on the water and thre e
bodies foated down the Kaw and two
down the Missouri to-day.
OMAHA, Neb., May 17.-The east
ern approach to the great Union Pa
cific railway brid ge here was washed
out this afternoon, and all traffic has
been stopped.