Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-12
DEAD In THE FLOOD
Scores of Persons Perish In the
Rushing Waters
HELPLESS VICTIMS OF FATE
Overtaksn in the Mad Tore rs and Hast.
Believed 10 Have Been Done


ham give the death roll Of persons
drowned in the recent great foods al
twenty The town Is filled; with refa-
gees who have fed here with the little
plumber left them out Of the general
wreck.
CeLunBrs. Miss. April 1.-THE last
few days have been the most distress
ing this section has ever experienced
"Wednesday morning the Tombigbes
river. already full. began rising rapidly.
BY Thursday morning ali the low lands
were submerged. the river having
risen IA feet that night IL con-
tinued TO rise ali that day and
by Friday morning II was feet higher
than WAS ever known before. Black
and Lusapila creeks Joined their waters
with tie Tombigbee and Columbus was
then literally an island with miles of
water 10 every direction.
Etfsy Probably Drowned.
There has been great loss OF life and
an immense amount OF property de-
str0yed. ! onrieca negroes were
drowned few miles from tsis place.
A low estimate puts the loss .; ufty IN
this county. To this time no
white persons have been reported
drowned. The hood has car
risd destruction in al direc-
tons. Hundreds Of homes have been
swept away. miles and miles 81 fences
DESTROYED. and the loss of mules and
cattle is large, Tau river aDd creeks
rose 80 rapidly that great number oi
people were aroused from their slnmbers
by the rush Of water through their
houses and. of course. could save none
of their household effects.
Work of Gescaers.
As soon as the extent of the food was
known the city government had a large
number OF boats built and rescuing
parties began their work. Hundreds
were saved and brought TO this
city and are now being cared for
by the citizens. There are COO homeless
negroes here now being sheltered
and fed by the city and county Jointly.
The loss has been SO great and the food
area SO extended that the mayor Of the
city and president OF the board Of su-
pervisors have telegrsphed John Allen.
congressman from this district, asking
him to appeal 70 the federal govern
ment for aid.
railroad Property Destroyed
Great damage has been done the road
beds and trestling of the Mobile A Ohio
and Georgia Pacific roads. The latter
road has miles of track washed away
between here and waverly and there
are several washouts on the Mobile e.
Ohio between here and Artesia Tho
road has run no trains here since
Pacific did nothing. bnt they go; a
train through from Birmingham Satur
day.
Scene Of Desoiation.
A correspondent in company with z.
c. Shot., manager Of the Western Union
telegraph Office at this place, rowed 4
miles in boat with the hope of being
able 10 repair the wires and let the
world know something OF the destrnc
ton that had been wrought in this sec
ton by the unprecedented foods. Dur
ing that ride the work of destruction
was witnessed Houses. cattle. corn
cribs and furniture were being carried
away by the raging water.
Narrow Escapes.
Several of the rescuing parties had
narrow escapes Col. William Baldwin.
q prominent attorney OF tais city. and
William Johnson were ont early and
continued their work of rescne all
day. In their eagernesS 20 save
the victims they overloaded their
boat. After going ashore
short distance their boat was caught IN
a swift currcn. and overturned and
three occupants were drowned Bald.
win and johnson and four negroes sue
cceded In reaching trees and were res
cued a, midnight. after being IN thei
periIocs position for six hours.
The Flood Came In the Night.
wEsr PoTSr. Miss. April il-Fsood
disasters multiply as the news gets IA
by skiTs from various parts Of tis
county. George Crimes. who has lives
City years on bis farm near
this city without cvrr suffering
from overflow. awolsc one night 10
find the water rapidly rising IN the
rooms Of the lower story Of his house.
The family took refuge in the upper
story. and rescuers who went the ncst
dsy to transfer them 20 place of safety
rowed their boats back and forth
through the balls of the house
The negroes on TIM plantation say
they went TO sleep in total ignorance of
danger. and ~ quietly did the water
enter that they stepped out Of bed In
the morning 20 End II several iIehes
deep They escaped - trees. sne n
little while the water eocd above their
eahins
YAwfiv Missing.
A family named Cook. who lived On
the banks Of the Tonnbigbee pesr here.
10 missing. and neither human being
nor house Is te be found where they
formerly resided. n is supposed they
we're washed away during the night
Every bridge IN the county is gone
and railroads washed up 80 that
n :. impossible 20 knov vet the fnli en-
tent of the damage done. but the se-
eonnss already IN place II far beyond
snythine ever known in this county.
The banks of the creeks are finsd with
carcssses - cows and horses. and the
crops are CON pletelv ruined
efvsrs en- . e.npeee.
vTrervTa, I'll. April 1.-The low
ls-ss porth q here sre flooded bv ths
Illinois and Ssnrsmon rivers The
I. 4 IL. Ia. - Uos~Trf~ro