The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-02-08
DEVASTATED BY FLOODS.
Mississippi Valley Inundated and
Many People Drowned.

CANTON, Mss, Feb. s.-Rains in the past
As hours have caused the most destructive
overflow known in this section for 20 years.
The entire western portion of the city is mum
dated from two to five feet, houses are flooded,
and in some cases the inmates were awakened
in the morning by water coming into their
houses. The people of the overlooked section
have been taken by boats TO other sections of
the city. The Illinois Central Railroad is
submerged and many bridges destroyed.
News was received here this morning of the
drowning of an entire family of children on
the Reid place, four miles from Canton, the
parents having gone to festival, and the
dwelling being flooded before their return.
PoRT GIBSON, Mss, Feb. 3.-Rain fell
here for Sc hours continuously, beginning
Friday night. The government gauge shows
a fall ofseven and a-third inches. All streams
are overlooked and bridges destroyed or badly
damaged. Dave Barnes, colored, was drowned
by the upsetting of a dugout in which he was
attempting to cross an overhowed field.
COLUMBIA, TEXAS, Feb. 3.-The Brazos
River began rising from the normal stage less
than As hours since; now it is out of its banks
in number of places. Travellers from Bra
zoria report that the road between that place
and this is now covered in several places, and
that if the rise continues until morning, travel
in the direction of the county-seat will be en-
tirely interrupted. The water now entirely
surrounds this town, except towards the North
or Richmond road. The rise is almost un-
precedented.
NAvAsorA, TEXAS, Feb. 3.-The Brazos
River is still rising, being six inches over the
Sante Fe track for two miles near Allen Farm.
The two rivers have united between Navasota
and Allen Farm, making a stream L miles
wide. Traffic, though interfered with, will
not be suspended.
MADISON, Mss, Feb. "a terrific rain
fell here last night, washing away bridges and
roadbeds all through this section. The water
at Calhoun Station was the highest for 80
years.
TERRY, MISS, Feb. 3.-Heavy rains here
the past 48 hours caused general overflow
of streams. Bridges were carried away in all
directions, causing a loss of many thousands
of dollars to the county.
THE LATEST.
Beginning at Galveston, Texas, on January
"a, with slight intermissions, the coast to
Newfoundland has been swept by series Of
the most terrible storms known to the Weather
Bureau. The rain gauges registered from p to
IS inches of water.
The coast is lined with wrecks while the
interior is almost drowned by the unprece-
dented rain fall. Small streams becoming
rivers extending in width from FIVE to twelve
miles, while the loss of stock, buildings and
crops and damage to railroads, county roads
and bridges will run into millions of dollars.
Since February the total precipitation in
Baltimore has been 4.89 inches. Between .
o'clock Wednesday night and Thursday after
noon 3.4S inches of rain fell. The average
fall for the entire month of February in Bal
timore is about $50 inches. The extent of
the fall during the recent storm may be better
realized when it is stated that one inch of rain
falling upon an area of one square mile is
equivalent TO 1928, 200 cnbic feet, or nearly
1880, 600 gallons. Baltimore city contains
80 square miles. Thus during the storm L.
94s, 800, 600 gallons Of water descended upon
Baltimore.