The San Francisco call., 1904-03-27
MILLIONS
ARE LOST
BY FLOOD
Situation in Lower
Michigan Less
Hopeful.
Point Of Greatest Danger
Is Thought to Be at
Grand Rapids.
Lines Are Down as Result
Of Storm and the South Is $50
lated From the North.

DETROIT, March 26.-The food sit-
uation throughout Lower Michigan
seems less hopeful tonight. The point
of greatest danger seems to be at
Grand Rapids and along the course of
the Grand River. Estimates made at
the various stations place the flood
damages at several million dollars The
number Of drownings reported was in
creased to three to-day by the death
Of Joseph Kirkbride. who while riding
horseback was swept off a flooded
bridge at Saranac.
Eight bridges were destroyed at and
near Flint to-day.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark, March "a
destructive storm to-day caused the
others and laid waste much property
in Gainesville and vicinity.
PORTLAND. Ind, March 26.-Two
men were drowned here to-day and a
boy was drowned at Huntington as
the result of the flood The loss here
will reach $100, 900.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio, March 26.-
The worst flood in Springfeld's his
tory threw a thousand men out OF
work, drove twenty-five families from
their homes and completely stopped
street car traffic Policemen were
called out early to get boats to rescue
people hemmed in by the flood Many
residents are still unable to get out OF
their homes.
LOUISVILLE, KY, March 26.-Sel-
dom II ever since the Civil War has
the entire South been so completely
Isolated from the North as il is to-day.
Destruction or paralysis Of telegraph
facilities by the storm was so wide
spread and unparalleled that not wire
was working south through Richmond,
Nashville, Memphis or any Of the great
centerS Of electrical control on either
side of the Alleghenies so far as beyond
the Mississippi. The absence of fntelli-
gence from the South was keenly felt
in commercial circles on account of the
critical situation in the cotton trade,
as a result of the semi-panicky condi-
tions growing out Of the sensational
Government report yesterday on crop
conditions, following so closely after
the upheaval resulting from the sus-
pension Of Suly & Co. Anxiety was
also felt as to the rumOrs Of great loss
of life and property damage as a direct
result of a storm Of such extraordinary
nature.
GRAND RAPIDS. Mich. March Is
On the west side of Grand Rapids 2500
residences We're surrounded by water
to-day, and the citizens were compelled
to use boats in getting from place to
place. Grand River continued to rise
throughout the night and has exceeded
all high water records The water is
rushing through a large number of west
side streets to a depth of from three
to five feet. Grand River, which goes
through the city on a bend, is tending
to make for itself a straight channel.
KALAMAZOO, Mich, March 26-
The river is still rising and the sub
merged area to-day is much larger
than yesterday. The police went about
in boats taking people from the second
stories of their homes.
BATTLE CREEK. Mich. March 26-
Both the Kalamazoo River and Battle
Creek have begun falling, and it is be-
ieved that the crest of the flood has
been reached here. The cold is check
ing the flood. The total flood loss here
Is estimated to-day at $500, 900.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. March Is
Several hundred houses in Indianapolis
are flooded and 800 families have been
driven from their homes. The property
damage will be very heavy.
WASHINGTON, Ind, March "a
White River Is ten miles wide In places
and Is rising rapidly. Thousands OF
acres Of farm land are under water.