The
Sny Levee Gives Way, Causing Much Loss
Miles
of Country Deluged, Railroads Abandoned, Many Cattle Drowned, and
Houses Wrecked.
Louisiana,
Mo., May 17, 1888
The
flood continues with rains to make the situation more
disagreeable. Other breaks occurred last night in the Sny Levee,
one at a point a mile above the city and two at points near
Hannibal, spreading ruin and consternation over the entire Sny
bottom. All the inhabitants of that once beautiful and fertile
valley will now be forced to fleas the flood will cover the entire
surface. The Mississippi River here is now five inches higher than
the floods of 1881 and is still rising. The station of the St.
Louis, Keokuk, and Northwestern Railroad, near the wharf in this
city, is weighted down with iron rails to prevent its floating
away. The track of the same road is so deep under water that no
more trains will attempt to go through it until a fall in the
river. The situation to the farmers of the Sny bottom is extremely
gloomy. The prediction is freely made that the entire levee will
wash away; in that event the Government will be called upon for
aid. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad from this city
across the Sny Vally to Quincy has been abandoned. The Chicago and
Alton Railroad Company has a construction train and a large force
of men constantly at work on its embankment across the bottom and
at the Sny bridge. It seems impossible to save the roadbed and
bridge, but if human efforts can accomplish it the plucky
management will do it.
Hannibal
MO., May 17, 1888
At
4:15 o’clock this morning a break occurred in the Sny levee at a
point about two miles below the Hannibal bridge and this was
followed at 6:45 o’clock by a larger and more serious one above
the bridge a short distance. Whistles were blown as danger signals
and the wildest excitement prevailed in this city as well as among
the few farmers who had stubbornly remained in the bottoms. The
200 men who had been engaged all night in the work of stopping
leaks and placing bags of sand on top of the levee to keep the
river back as long as possible, attempted to close the breaks, but
without success. The roar of the turbulent waters was terrific and
filled all hearts with terror. Many persons viewed the work of
devastation and ruin from the Lover’s Leap, a very high cliff in
this city, from which a view of the entire bottoms and encroaching
water was to be had. The more sensible farmers had removed all
their live stock from the bottoms to the bluffs, six miles
distant, when the first apprehension over the levee’s condition
was felt, but not a few remained until the moment of the calamity;
consequently they sustained serious losses. Hogs, cows, and horses
could be seen swimming in the flood until they came in contact
with some obstacle upon which their bodies would be mangled.
The smaller houses in the bottoms
are wrecked. As yet no loss of human life is reported. The
territory now covered with water is 45 miles long and 6 miles
wide, with 50,000 acres under cultivation. The depth of the water
is all the way from 10 to 20 feet. The river is receding rapidly.
The farmers state that if the ground gets in favorable condition
by the middle of June they can raise late corn. This is the first
break since 1881, and the farmers had begun to rely upon the
strength of the levee. The loss at this writing is incalculable.
The damage to railroad property will be great. No trains are
running on the “Q” or long line through this city.
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