INMONROE-L Archives

Archiver > INMONROE > 2000-02 > 0949902006


From: Randi Richardson <>
Subject: Bloomington Memories
Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2000 00:40:06 -0500


Bloomington Telephone, November 24, 1883, p. 1.

FLOODS
Come and Sweep Away Thousands of Dollars Worth of Property.

Last Wednesday and Wednesday night the heaviest ran that was ever known in
this vicinity "poured down" literally drenching everything that was
uncovered, washing away bridges, street crossings, fences, drowning stock
and causing a flood that swept everything before it. All day Wednesday the
rain fell in torrents, but at night it came down in sheets. It is stated
by those who ought to know that as much water never fell in as short a time
as fell between seven and eight o'clock.

It was not long until the swollen streams began to sweep their way,
regardless of property. Citizens from the southesast end of town could
scarcely ford the branch, and below the college it was impossible to pass.
The bridges on 4th and 5th street over Spanker's branch were sweeped away
and houses near the stream were filled with water. Harmon Fedder was
compelled to move out and several other residences were drenched. Reports
from the country show that thousands of dollars worth of damages was done,
all the fences that bordered streams being swept away with flood gates and
etc. In bottom fields much corn was yet unhusked that is entiredly ruined
while cords of wood were taken by the waters. Hay in rick has also been
lost but the great loss is in stock, especially hogs. In many places hogs
were fastened in on low land and were drowned before assistance could be
rendered, so rapid did the land overflow. Cattle are reported lost in the
same way.

A TELEPHONE reporter rode down on the train next morning as far as
Harrodsburg and from the car window could be seen hundreds of dollars laid
in waste. The L. N. A. & C. track was badly washed, in this section the
first time in the history of the road. Just this side of the Harrodsburg
bridge, a mile or more of road was washed from its bed. Farmers were out
viewing the destruction of fences while others are already rebuilding. At
Clear Creek much of the stone fence is torn down. A report from
Ellettsville states that the stream passing through that place was never
known so high, and it has taken fences, floodgates and everything before
it. Reports frome everythwere are to the effect that much property has
been destroyed.

This thread: