The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-12
FATALSOUTHERN FLOODS.
GREArLoss or LrrE AND PROPERTY.
Conrress Appenled 10 for dil-Transporta-
tion Cut Or-Eigh Water in the
Northwest Also.

COLUMBUS. MISS. April 1.-THE last four
days have been the most distressing this sec
ton has ever experienced Wednesday morn
ing the Tombigbee river. already full. began
rising rapidly. By Thursday morning all the
low-lands were submerged. the river having
risen fourteen feet that night. 1t continued to
rise al that day and by Friday morning 1t was
seven feet higher than was ever known be-
fore. Black and Luxahilla creeks joined their
waters with lthe Tombigbee and Columbus
was then literally an island with five miles OF
water in every direction. There has been
great loss of life an immense amount OK
property destroyed. Fourteen negroes were
drowned within few miles oil tins place.
FIFTY LIVES LOST.
low estimate puts the loss at fifty IN this
county. Up 10 this time no whites have 1een
reported drowned. The Hood mas cafIieu ue-
struction in all directions Hundreds OF homes
have been swept away. miles and miles OF
fences DESTROYED and the loss or mules ana
cattle is fearful The river and creeks rose so
rapidly that great number OF people were
aroused from their slumbers by the rushing
waters through their houses, and OF course
saved nothing of their household effects;
As soon as the extent of the hood was
known the city government had a great num-
Der of boats made and resculng parties began
their abors of mercy. Hundreds were saved
and brought TO this city and are now beng
cared for by the citizens. There are no less
than 800 homeless negroes here now being
sheltered and fed by the city and county
Jointly.
AN APPEAL TO CONGRESS-.
The loss has been so great and the belt so
extended that the mayor Of the city and the
president OF the board of supervisors have
telegraphed Representative John Allen, ask
ing him to appeal 10 the Federal Government
for aid. Great damage has been done the
road and trestling Of the Mobile and ONO
and Georgia Pacific roads. The latter ROAD
has five miles of track washed away between
here and Waverly, and there are several
washouts on the Mobile and Ohio between
here and Artesia. This road has run no
trains here since Wednesday.
For two days the Georgia Pacific did moth
ing. but they got train through from Biz
mingham yesterday. The wires were down
| in all directions.
FATAL RIDE.
The correspondent, in company with Mr..
! F. G.. Shot, manager of the.Western Union
| Telegraph Office at this place. rowed four
| miles in boat with the hope OF being
able to repair the wires and let the
world know something of the de-
| in this section by the unprecedented Hoods.
| On that ride the most terrible destruction
| was witnessed Houses. cattle cOrncribs and
| furniture were being carried away by the
raging waters. Several OF the rescung parties
| had a narrow escape. Colonel Baldwin, IA
prominent attorney Of this city. and Mr.
William Johnson were out early and con
tinued their good work all day, and IN their
eagerness to save they overloaded their boat.
After going a short distance their boat was
caught in Il swift current and overturned ana
! three occupants were drowned. Messrs. Bald
win AMI Johnson and four OF the negroes sue
ceeded in reaching trees and were rescued at
midnight after being IN their perllous condi-
ton for six hours.
Later information will doubtless show
greater loss OF life and property all along the
banks OF the TOmbigbee. The waters have
receded. six feet having fallen since yester-
day morning.
THE DAMAGE IN ALABAMA.
BRsnNGHAM, ALA. April Rain has set
] in again. and much more damage Will De
! done by floods. There have been no trains
to Memphis over the Kansas City, Memphis
and Birmingham road for week. In one
place the road 10 washed out for half a mile,
and trains cannot be run for many days yet.
In Marion county large iron bridges across
the creeks and rivers were swept away. Near
! Pearson's Mill, John Livingston and two chill
dren. while crossing q creek IN a wagon. were
swept away and drowned. Eight miles south
| of Carbon Hill two women were drowned.
A man from Columbus. Miss. says that
TWENTY-FIVE families are believed 10 have per
ished by the floods around that place. Near
Greenwood |. 200 feet of the Georgia Paclhc
track was washed away. AT Cadsden. Ala,
Coosa river is forty feet above low water marx
and hundreds OF acres south OF the town are
submerged. Many RATS of tim Der are lost ana
damaged, amounting to thousands OF doiiars.
MEANS OF INFORMATION CUT OFF.
New ORLEANS, La. April ll.-Ali the wires
between here and the vicinity OF the HOOD
are down, and it is impossible to get any IN
| formation from the overhoyed district: Inc
number Of deaths is now estimated al hfty.
FLOODS IN INDIANA AND ILLINOIS.
yIScESNEs, IsD., April 1.-The Wabash
river which has been rising several days. IL
| now seventeen feet in the channel ana - SUN
going up. The low bottoms are inundated;
! Much damage has been done to bridges and
fences. Farmers are getting their stock to
high ground TO save it. Crops IN the lowlands
VIRGrsIA, ILL.,, April 1.-THE lowlands
along the Illinois and Sangamon rivers are
Completely flooded and both rivers are still
rising At Beardstown the Illinois IS five
miles wide Both rivers are above their high
water marks for the last ten years and no
small damage has been done the growing
crops in the rangam0n valley.