Inundations.
For a long period of time the principal inundations in the
United States were caused by the overflowing of the banks of the
Mississippi River.
The record of these disasters, al-
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though not containing many individual cases, is a distressing one because of the vast amount of property destroyed and the large number of lives lost.
The following briefly summarizes the most notable inundations in the
United States:
1816.
The
White Mountain region in
New Hampshire was flooded by a deluge of rain after a drought of two years. Several valleys were completely under water, and large tracts of forests were torn from the ground and washed down the mountain sides.
1849, May 12.
A flood in New Orleans spread over 160 squares and submerged 1,600 buildings.
1874, May 16.
The bursting of a reservoir on
Mill River, near
Northampton, Mass., caused the destruction of several villages in the valley and the loss of 144 lives.
1874, July 24.
A waterspout burst in
Eureka, Nev., and with the attendant heavy rains caused a loss of between twenty and thirty lives.
1874, July 26.
An unusual fall of rain caused the overflow of the rivers in
western Pennsylvania and the loss of 220 lives.
1881, June 12.
Disastrous floods began in
Iowa,
Kansas,
Minnesota, and
Missouri, lasting several days, and causing the destruction of much property.
1882, Feb. 22.
The valleys of the
Ohio and
Mississippi rivers were flooded, and the loss of life and property was so great that the governor of
Mississippi made a public appeal for help.
1883, February.
Portions of
Pennsylvania,
Ohio, and
Kentucky were visited by a disastrous flood, which was most severe at
Cincinnati, lasting several days.
1884, February.
The
Ohio River overflowed its banks, causing the loss of fifteen lives and rendering 5,000 people homeless.
1886, Jan. 5.
Pennsylvania, New York, and several of the
New England States were visited by floods, and great damage was done to property.
1886, Aug. 20.
A storm in
Texas was followed by a flood, which was
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particularly disastrous in
Galveston, where twenty-eight lives were lost and property damaged to the extent of more than $5,000,000.
1889, May 31.
The rising of the
Conemaugh River, in Pennsylvania, under incessant rain, caused the breaking of the dam about 18 miles above
Johnstown.
The great mass of water rushed down to the city in seven minutes, and at the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge, near the city, it became dammed up, greatly increasing the loss of life and collecting a large mass of debris, which afterwards took fire and added further to the destruction.
Official reports after the disaster placed the total number of lives lost at 2,142, and the value of property destroyed at $9,674,105. Nearly $3,000,000 was raised for the relief of the sufferers, contributions being sent from nearly every State and large city in the
United States, and from several cities in
Europe.
In the distribution of the relief, the sum of $1,500 was given to each of 124 women made widows, and $50 annually till they should reach the age of sixteen was assigned to each of 965 children made orphans or halforphans.
1890, March and April.
The levees of the
Mississippi River gave way in many places and the waters flooded large areas of land in
Mississippi and
Louisiana.
The worst crevasse was caused by the giving way of the Morgansea, near
Bayou Sara, which had been built by the federal and State governments at a cost of about $250,000.
1900, Sept. 6-9.
A tropical hurricane visiting the
Southern coast spent its fury at and near
Galveston, Tex., on Sept. 9.
The loss of life and property here was the largest ever reported in the history of the
United States from this cause, the loss of life being officially estimated at about 7,000, and the value of property destroyed about $30,000,000. The latter included the
United States military post.
The relief contributions from various sources in the
United States and
Europe amounted to over $1,500,000.
1901, June 22.
A cloudburst occurred near the headwaters of the
Elkhorn and Dry Fork rivers, whose confluence form the main Tug
River in the
Flat Top coal region of
West Virginia.
A disastrous flood ensued, causing the loss of many lives and the destruction of a large amount of property.
The consequent distress was such that
Governor White appealed to the citizens of the
State for relief for the sufferers.
