The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-07-23
WIND AND FLOOD.

Keokuk, Ia, July 81 Exploration
of the flooded districts of the Missis-
sippi river from Keokuk SOUTH shows
conditions beyond the appreciation or
realization of any but those with long
experience with the Father of Wa
ters' in its most destructive mood.
The situation is growing worse hour
ly. There is absolutely not the slight
est chance of stopping this the most
costly flood in the history of the great
river above St Louis. IN The worst
damaged area the greatest crops ever
known are under water deep enough to
float a steamboat
The height of the flood is indicated
by an incident at Lagrange. The
steamboat warehouse was well back
from the river bank and stands
high. a strong current and a gale
caused the pilot to make an imperfect
landing and the cornice of the roof of
the warehouse was torn off by the for
ward guards of the steamboat. The
river is rising all the time and the
worst is to come by the extension of
the flooded area by the water passing
levees which it is now stopping. The
breaking of three OF these levees
would flood large eXpanse in Illinois
and destroy $1,000, coo to $1,000, 900
worth of corn. The CHIEF food thus
far has been on the Missouri side from
| Keokuk to Louisiana, with Canton
and West Quincy as centers of the
country most hurt. Opposite Quincy
in Missouri the scene of devastation
is appalling. Hundreds of farmers
rich ten days ago are penniless and
| homeless.
Careful estimates gathered from the
statements of best informed people in
dictate the loss, up to yesterday, as So,
600, 900, with every prospect of two OF
three millions by the rise above not
yet reaching the lower stretches OF
the river
To this story of flood and heavy loss
is added that of the work of wind and
WAGER in other States, which is, also
one of destru ction and death.
Binghamton, N Y, July 21.-The
heavy rains which have prevailed il
this section for the past few days
reached climax Saturday night, whel
three separate cloudbursts occurred
within the limits of Broome coonty
alone and several in surrounding ter
ritory to the porthward breakinl
mill dams, washing oct railroad track
and highway bridges and doing mucl
minor damage as well as delaying
trains. AS result of the waters mao
worH, four are killed, two seriously
injured, and $500, 600 monetary dam.
are has been done
Baltimore, Md, July 21.-A fierce
tornado characterized by windstorn
OF extraordinary velocity, thunder
vivid lightning and heavy rain sud
denly burst upon Baltimore at 80 p
IN. Sunday, coming from the south
west. Eleven persons lost their lives
hundreds OF houses were unroofed
trees in parks and streets were tori
up by the roots, many buildings dam
aged and several people injured. Tn
storm exhausted its fury i'll less thai
fifteen minutes The damage done il
the business part Of the city was com
paratively slight 1t was III the resi-
dence portion of the city along tn,
river front and III the harbor wher
the wind spent its violence. OF thos
who persisted, nine were drowned il
the harboI from open boats, one wa
killed by a falling tree and one by
live wire
Buffalo, July 2l.-Raiu descended
in torrents in western New York yes
terday ard as a result rivers wer
much swollen, causing great loss o
propert and delaying railway traffic
The hay crop is practically ruined
The water is two feet deep in som
svceets near Silver creek. Thache
Brook dam at Gowanda, burst AM
streets al that place are impossible
Nine miles south OF Dunir fortytiv
foot embankment on the Dunkirk, A
legbeny Valley and Pittsburg railroa
was washed out for fifty feet. Passen
gers are being transferred around tn
chasm. The Pennsylvania roadbe
between Mayville and Brockton wa
under water for twenty hours. Tw
nickel plate culverts east of RIPPLE
were destroyed.