The weekly intelligencer., 1897-04-03
FLOODS CLAIM SIX.
Children of q Kansas Farmer Drown
While Crossing a Stream.
The Wagon Upsefs In the Water and OF Its
Seven Occupants Only the Mother
Escapcs-The Mississippi
Floods.

SENECA Kan. March 30.-Mr. and
Mrs. John McGrath. who live in the
northwest part of Ncmaha county,
Sunday the parents of six children,
are childless to-day. and the mother is
so distracted by grief that it is feared
her reason may b. Gethroned. The
children were drowned Sunday after
noon while trying to ford Manley
creek in IL wagon. Mrs McGrath,
who was with them. escaped with her
life. The dead are: Frank McGrath.
aged Il years: Katie McGrath, aged IL
years; Leo McGrath. aged nine years;
John McGrath. aged five years; Robert
McGrath, aged two years, and babe
in arms, aged eight months.
The mother protested against at
tempting to cross, considering it n
hazardous undertaking, but the chill
dren were eager to visit n neighbo and
dren were eager for visit, and all
urged the eldest boy, Frank. who was
driving, to attempt to ford the stream.
Prompted by their pleading. and en-
couraged by the knowledge that others
had made the crossing safely earlier in
the day, he drove in. The horses had ad-
vanced but a few steps when they were
swim. They Immediately swung
around in an attempt to return to the
bank they had left, and in doing so up
set the wagon and threw its human
freight into the swiftly running water.
The older children struggled desper-
ately with the current, striving to
grasp the floating wagon or overhang-
ing boughs but the mad waters were
e.. II. i. - 1,
and, one by one, they sank to their
death. Mrs. McGrath directed her
special efforts to save her babe. but the
icy waters soon chilled her until she
was almost helpless, and when she
realized that all she could possibly do
was to save herself she found that a
most difficult task. After having been
swept some distance down stream,
however, she succeeded in laying hold
of overhanging limbs of trees and man
aged to draw herself half dead with
cold and horror, on to the bank.
When she had recovered sufficient
strength to walk, she wandered in a
half dazed condition along the stream,
looking eagerly into the dark, pitiless
water for her loved ones. After fol-
lowing the stream for mile, she came
to the residence of John Calnan, where
she told her heart-rending story. Search
for the bodies of the drowned children
was begun immediately. Two were
found in short time, and three more
were recovered yesterday, leaving one
still to be located.
A Vast Sea OF Water.
ST. Louis. March 30.-From Burling
ton. Ia, to the Gulf of Mexico the Mis-
sissippi threatens to become a vast in
land sea. Thousands of acres of fine
farming land are being added daily to
the inundated district and thousands
of dollars worth of property and many
lives have been claimed by the merci-
less current.
The danger in the bottom lands
around Quincy, ILL.,, is growing. In
the vicinity of Keokuk, Ia, the bottom
lands on the Missouri and Iowa sides
are completely submerged. The river
at Alton is nearing the danger line,
and great alarm exists among the peo-
pie in the low lands opposite the city.
There may be n repetition of the
Hurricane creek tragedy at Charles
ton, Mo-, as break is hourly expected.
The crevasse below charlottesville,
Mo-, continues to widen. In the south
desperate battle against the waters
is in progress along both banks of the
river below Helena.
The prevalence of disease, resultant
from exposure II floods and un-
favorable elements, is appalling. Hun
dreds are suffering with chills and
fever. pneumonia and pleurisy.
A dispatch from Gunnison, Miss,
says: The levee broke at Sledge plan
tation, near Concordia landing, three
niles north of Gunnison, yesterday
afternoon. The crevasse is about 100
feet wide and the levee, being made of
sand, will cave fast. The people are wild
with excitement, and there is no effort
being made to stop the widening of
the crcvasse. 1t is expected that the
crevasse will cut to n width of 500 feet
by morning. Water is pouring through
the break at terrible velocity, carry
ing houses, trees and everything in its