Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-05-21
THE GREAT INuNDATlON.


Many Mile. of Railroad Track Completely
Submerged in Missouri-A Number OF
Families Rescued From Great Peril by
n Relief Steamer-Several Towns Under
From Five to Twenty Feet of Water.
ST. LOUIS, May 1S.-The Mississippi
river at this city is higher than at any
time since the disastrous flood of 1858.
At Alton the water is above all previous
records except the high water of 1874
An idea of the effect of the flood on the
railroads entering the city from the Illi-
nois side of the river may be gained
from the following description of the
situation at East St Louis: Above the
viaduct the Ohio &c Mississippi and Chi
cago, Burlington & Quincy tracks are
from one to four feet under water. The
Chicago & Alton road for a distance of
four miles from the bridge is out OF
sight Below the viaduct the Louisville
& Nashville road has been compelled to
refuse freight. The Big Four will prob
ably suspend soon and the Cairo Short
Line will follow suit. Not wheel has
moved in the Mobile g. Ohio yards for
several days.
The flood in st. Charles county, twen-
ty miles above the city, increases in
vastness and disastrous results Appeals
for help were received Monday from
numerous families whose homes are be-
ing swept away by the food. The POST
Dispatch secured large steamer and,
manned with a double crew for day and
night duty, started to render aid to the
hundreds of persons who are in immi-
nent peril near the mouth of the Mis-
100, txxya altr.
| families from Stump slough and six
families from Kitsac island. The water
had driven these people to the roofs OF
| their houses and they had almost given
up hope of rescue when the steamer
| hove in sight. The current in the river
was running at tremendous rate and
the work of saving these families was
accomplished with great difficulty.
messenger reach Alton yesterday
after rowing five miles in skiff from
an island southwest of the mouth of the
| Missouri river. He stated that there
were over sixty persons on the island,
which was rapidly being inundated.
| The messenger reported that the water
was already in the first floors of many
houses and the occupants were climbing
to the roofs of the buildings. On receipt
of this information the board of trade
pressed the Post-Dispatch relief boat
into service, and taking on board a
dozen large slliffs started to rescue the
| islanders.
The towns of Venice, Brooklyn, East
Madison, East Carondolet Centreville
Station, Forest Lawn and Cahollia ara
under from five to twenty feet of water.
At least ninety square miles of the most
fertile farming land are inundated, and
thousands of farmers have been driven
from their homes and forced to seek
refuge on the Pittsburgh bluffs, which
lie east of the flooded district. They
are without shelter, food or fuel. They
were forced by the sudden rise of the
waters to leave all their property be-
hind them. In some instances the far
mers managed to drive their stock to
safety, but in many cases all they saved
was their lives Their condition became
SO desperate that yesterday a commit
tee headed by two Catholic priests went
to Belleville, Ill, and appealed to Judge
Boneau and Mayor Weber for assist
ance. Judge Boneau came to st. Louis
and arranged with Gov. Francis to se-
cure the loan of $50 tents belonging tc
Missouri in order that these people may
be sheltered.
New ORLEANS, May 1s.-All efforts a
closing the Bonnet Carre levee break
have been abandoned. 1t is now 40C
feet wide and twelve feet deep. The
water is sweeping southwark through
ST. Charles and Jefferson parishes, and
twenty sugar plantations will be flooded
!, Eight miles of the Louisville, New Or
, , leans & Texas railroad are under water
OMAHA, Neb., May 1s.-The east ap
proach of the Union Pacific briege ovel
the Missouri river gave way last night
and as result thirty-foot gap pre-
cludes all idea of using the bridge TO
some time. 1t has been raining her
since o'clock Monday night, and as I
, result the small streams are rushing
7 rivers The Missouri is rising rapidly
t The bottoms are flooded and the squat
, ters have been compelled to seek higl
j. | prOund