In March and April of this year the floods along the Mississippi river and its tributaries reached the highest level ever recorded. In extent of area and loss of property these floods were the most remarkable in the history of the continent. The total area under water on April 10 was about 15,800 square miles, containing about 39,500 farms, whose value was close upon $65,000,000. The loss of life was small. Congress gave relief to the extent of $200,000, besides appropriating $2,583,300 for the improvement of the Mississippi. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1897. Extensive floods occurred in Galatz, Moldavia, in June, rendering 20,000 people homeless. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1897. The islands of Leyte and Samar, in the Visayas group, were swept by an immense wave caused by a cyclone, in October, thousands of natives being killed, and much property destroyed. {72} CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1897. On October 6, the Philippine Islands were swept by a typhoon, which destroyed several towns. The loss of life was estimated at 6,000, of whom 400 were Europeans. This was followed on October 12 by a cyclone which destroyed several villages and caused further loss of life. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1897. By an eruption of the Mayon volcano in the island of Luzon, Philippine Islands, four hundred persons were buried in the lava, and the large town of Libog completely destroyed. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1898. A series of earthquake shocks in Asia Minor during the month of January occasioned considerable loss of life and property. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1898. In January, Amboyna, in the Molucca Islands, was almost destroyed by an earthquake, in which about 50 persons were killed and 200 injured. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1898. On January 11, a tornado wrecked many buildings in Fort Smith, Ark. The loss of life was reported as 50, with hundreds injured. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1898. A disastrous blizzard occurred in New England, January 31 and February 1. Fifty lives were reported as lost, and the damage in Boston alone amounted to $2,000,000. Many vessels were driven ashore or foundered, with further loss of life. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1898. Floods on the Ohio river in March and April caused much loss of life and property. Shawneetown, Illinois on the Ohio river, was almost entirely destroyed by the flood, more than 60 lives being lost. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1898. On the night of September 10, the island of Barbados was swept by a tornado which destroyed 10,000 houses and damaged 5,000 more. Three-fourths of the inhabitants were left homeless, and about 100 were killed. The islands of St. Vincent and St. Lucia also suffered great losses of life and property. CATASTROPHES, Natural: 1898. A typhoon swept the central provinces of Japan in September, causing heavy floods, and destroying 100 lives.