Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-05-26
Devastation by Deluge.

Devastation by Deluge.
The Associated Press dispatches
give heart-rending accounts Of the
floods in the South and Southwest;
we clip the following from The
State of the 22nd inst:
ST. LOUIS, May 21.-When day
light spread over the submerged
dictricts in the Mississippi and
Missoury valleys this morning the
outlook was more discouraging
than at any time since the begin
ming of the floods, aweelS ago. The
temporary fall of the river was
checked late last night, but it is
again rising this morning, with no
prospect of cessation until it has
reached higher point than the
gauge has registered in the past
half century. All through the
night light rain fell in this Sec
tion, and this morning the sky is
overcast with heavy dark clouds,
and another downpour is threat
ened. The recent rains in northern
Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Ne
braska have swelled the flood in
the Missouri River, and that stream
is now pouring into the Mississip-
pi River a greater body of water
than ever before.
But little idea of the extent of
the flood in the upper Mississippi
district can be given. From the
city of Alton, on the Illinois shore,
to st. Charles, twelve miles from
the mouth of the Missouri river
the country is one vast body of
muddy water. The water has
worked it's way around the high
land, and for miles back of these
cities the country is inundated to
depth of from twp 70 six feet.
The same condition of affairs ex-
lists formally miles down the river
towards st. Louis, and should the
flood begin to recede to-day, it will
be many weeks before the river
will have returned to its regular
channel.
The amount of damage and suf-
fering caused by the overflow can
scarcely be estimated. The whole
country is a desolate waste. Hun
dreds Of families are driven from
their homes, their live stock
drowned and their crops destroyed.
In many places the swift current
has washed away entire farms, and
the channel of the river will never
be restored to its original course.
To add to the serious condition of
the beleagured people, sickness
has overtaken them to an alarm
ling extent. They have been living
in improvised houses, tents and
poorly constructed buildings, and
as a result of exposure to the in
clemencY Of the weather of the
past,week, many families are. suf-
ffafGeRiRhaHsF faGeiRhaa fFqqRRae fo cold and wet
weather.
Already the cry of distress and
lappeals for relief have been sound
ed, and the inhabitants are now
dependant upnn the charity of
their fellow-people. The cry for
aid has been heard and is meeting
with quick and substantial recog-
milton. Apublic relief committee
has been organized in this city,
and already the sum of $4,000 has
been subscribed for the relief of
the destitute.
In recognition of the serious
state of affairs along the Illinois
shore, Governor Fifer and staff
reached Alton this morning, and,
accompanied by the Alton relief
committee, boarded steamer and
began a tour of the flooded district.
The Governor will, if deemed
necessary, call a special session of
the Illinois Legislature, with a
view of making an appropriation
for the relief of the inhabitants of
the submerged district. The Gov
ernor has given orders that tents
and blankets, cots and other quar-
ter-master;s stores at the arsenal
be used for the temporary relief of
the refugees of the Inundated bot.
tom lands; and should these prove
inadequate, the United States
quartermaster's stores at Chicago
will be called upon.
The water commenced to rise in
the northern part of St. Louis at
midnight last night, and has been
gradually rising to-day. The
gauge shows that the rise has over
come the fall ofyesterday, and the
worst is expected.
HAVOC INCREASES IN MAGNITUDE.
PINE BLUFF, Ark, May 21.-The
destruction of life and property in
the Arkansas valley, north and
south of this city, caused by the
flood, increases in magnitude with
every new report. Sixteen negroes
were drowned on Hensley Island,
forty miles north Of here, Thurs
day night.