The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-25

ernor of F'riesland, the eminent engineer,
Caspar de Robes, Lord of Billy, took the
greatest care to repair the dikes, employ
ing the soldiers to do the work. He in
creased the bikes by giving them a hight
of twelve feet and a breadth at the top Of
six feet, with slopes Of four to one on the
sea side and two-and-a-half to one on the
land side.
In 1907, the County Of Somerset of Eng
land, was partially inundated, but com
paratively little damage was done. In 1884
a fearful calamity befell the Danish King
dom. A great part of the coast. which had
often been flooded previously, was swept
away, together with the greater part OF
the population. over 1000 people. Ham
burg, Bremen and Oldenburg were also
submerged, and in these provinces over
10000 human beings perished in the turbu-
lent flood.
The great Christmas flood OF III cover
ed the whole northern country of Europe
and ruined 5000 dwellings totally and $500
partially. The years his, 17i9 and espe-
cially 1920 saw these countries flooded
again.
Almost the whole of Europe was again
inundated in 1925 and the damage was
enormous. The latter half of the eight
zenith century was comparatively free
from great foods and foundations OF the
rivers of Europe, those most subject to
ube. Thames, Loire, Rhone, Seine, Tiber
and Neva
In 1851 and 1866 thousands Of people
were drowned IN Sicily. In 1917 Catalonia
was visited by an inundation in which
1900 human beings lost their lives. Hun
gary suffered fearfully in 1871, when the
Danube submerged 25 villages. and two
years after Austria, Hungary, Poland and
Silsia' were overlooked in almost all dis
tricts, the loss OF life reaching almost TO-
co., Since then Russia suffered by mum
lions In 1874 France In 1910, almost all
Central Europe IN 1859. Southern France
I'm 1866 Central Europe again In 1875 and
In the early eighties.
In China, where the population is most
dense OF all the countries, the loss, of life
by flood has been the greatest recorded.
In 1912 10000 people we're drowned at
Karfong, almost as many in 1851, when
the Yellow river burst it's banks: 10000
lost their lives In Bengal and millions of
human beings are said to have persisted In
Honan in 1887. The calamity which visited
Japan In 1896, appears comparatively in
significant when compared with these.
The United States can be said to have
escaped rather more fortunately than Eu-
ropean countries. The Mississippi has al
ways been source of danger, but its
floods have been comparatively light In re-
gard to loss of life. In this respect, the
two following were the most serious.
On the 18th OF May, 1874, a disastrous
food occurred In the country OF Hamp-
shire. caused by the breaking away OF the
dam which confined a large reservoir in
the upper part of the town of Williams
burg. This reservoir contained a reserve
water supply for the factories on Mil
river. in the villages surrounding 1t, and
covered 1A acres, with an average depth
Of twenty-four feet. An enormous flood
rushed down the valley before warning
could be given, and destroyed the villages
OF Williamsburg. Skinnerville, Hayden
vile, Leeds, Florence and Northampton.
The peculiarly loss amounted TO- about
s., 800, 600, and nearly 200 lives were lost.
But the greatest calamity OF more recent
times need scarcely be recalled here. The
great Johnstown food of 1883 Is yet vivid
ly in the memory OF all.