Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-07
STORM In THE WEST.
III STANDS UNPARALLELED IN Ex-
TENT AND RAINFALL.
WIND At TINES A HURRICANE.
Great Damage Done to Dwellings,
Barns, Fences, and Orchards
railways Suffer severeIy-Many
Washouts-Trnffic stopped.

CHICAGO. March 6-rhe storm which
ragged throughout the Middle West Thurs
day night stands unparalleled. not only
for the extent OF territory over which 10
ranged, but for the amount OF water pre.
cipitated. At Cincinnati the rainfall re.
ported by the weather bureau officials
amounted TO 5.3S inches. and floods are re.
ported from almost every telegraphio sta.
ton from Pittsburg. on the east TO Kan.
sas City, on the west, and from the Lakes
to the northern boundary OF Tennessee.
In some instances the wind reached the
velocity of a hurricane, and much damage
to dwellings, barns, fences, orchards. and
forests has been reported from various
points throughout the district. Through
out Southern Illinois. Indiana, aud Ohio
the damage to railroad property. in tina
form Of washouts. making traffic impossi-
Bile, and in wrecks, caused by the soften
ing Of roadbeds. is immense
A not inconsiderabe loss to the people,
as a whole, will be caused by the washing
away OF bridges and roadways. which
have been built in the rural districts at a
cost OF millions of dollars, and which, In
too many cases, have been totally de-
stroyed.
Owing to the decentralization OF railway
traffic. the mails local to the deluged
district have been greatly delayed. while
the through service over the trunk lines.
east and west aud north and south, has
been badly crippled, greatly to the an
noyance Of the vast business Interests in
VOlyed
The estimates are that considerably
over 100000 worth OF property has been
lost in the yicinities OF Cincinnati Day
ton, indianapolis, and ST. Louis.
Reports received from Illinois towns last
night tell Of the following damage:
Edwardsville-As a result Of an almost
unprecedented rainfall all the levees
along Cahioka creek are broken. and
thousands Of acres Of bottom lands are
submerged from to feet. The water IL
still rising.
Flora-Fully 10 inches Of water fell here
last night. Trains are all delayed on ac-
count Of high water. Bridges on public
roads are nearly all washed out
Lawrenceviile-The Embarrass river
rose II feet in ten hours. AMI reports say
Summer Bridgeport. Pinkstaff and Birds
are under water. Trains on both the Big
-Four and the Baltimore and Ohio South
western are water-bound. and many
bridges and culyerts are washout out.
UNEASINEsS ABOUT PEOPLE.
There IS a great deal OF uneaslness for
the people living in the bottom lands. IL
is feared there is great damage done, with
possible loss Of life.
Mascoutah-The su eets are flooded with
water. and at the post-Otiice and in many
business houses water ran in knee-deep.
Much damage resulted.
Mount Vernon-All the lowlan0s arc
submerged, and washouts on different
roads have seriously impeded the running
of trains. In the surrounding farming
districts much damage has been done.
Oiney-The Fox river for two miles west
Of here is Is inches higher than ever
known before The Peoria, Decatur, and
Evansville trestle over the East fork has
been washed out. Washouts also occurred
on the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern
at C.aremont and Clay Centre.
Vandalia-An infant belonging TO an un-
known family residing in the river bot
toms was drowned during a terrible storm
Thursday night
Carlisle-The Kaskaskia river has risen
8 feet. Ten thousand acres OF bottom
lands are inundated. The river Is five
miles wide at this place.
RAILROAD TRAINS ANNULLED.
LOUISVILLE, KY, March 6.-The
Pennsylvania railroad annulled all trains
north and east to-day, on account OF the
Indiana flood. The Baltimore and Ohio
Southwestern started a train for Gin
cinnau at 10 o'clock this morning, and
will try TO get one to st. Louis tonight
The Louisville. New Albany and Chicago
sent out a Chicago train via the Belti-
more and Ohio Southwestern and Big
-Four. which is open all the way. II is
expected that all the roads will be In
good shape by tomorrow morning.
The Cumberland Gap tunnel OF tho
Louisville and Nashville has caved In
again. Passengers are being transferred.
SCORES OF HOMES RUINED.
CINCINNATI, O., March 6.-scores OF
homes ruined. immense loss to property.
and great suffering are the record for
one day, as the result OF the second food
within a month in this city. All the
creeks and slde-streams In this vicinity
have overiowed their banks. and The
mad rush Of waters carried houses,
bridges, trees, ard everything else that
offered obstruction before them AL
ready hundreds Of thousands dollars
worth OF damage has been done, and the
full extent will be known only after the
food subsidies and a careful inspection Il
made. Hundreds OF families have been
rendered homeless. The creeks and
streams throughout the country are
rising. The Licking Is on the rampage.
and the Lagoon dam is threatened.