The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-18
A STORM ON IHE MIssIssIpPI RIVER.
Grand and MOrRanza Levees Broken
Nine Parishes Likely TO be- over
A0vuaA


flowed
From the Nelo Orleans Times. May II.
We learn from a reliable gentleman, who Just
arrived on the steamboat Sonora, that during a
stolm m on Tuesday night the wind veered to toe
moth, and the rain felt in torrents from midnight
TIL daylight on Wednesday morning. During
IL night there was q temporary rise OF the river
OF about seven inches, and the waves, dashng
against the soft and recently erected embank-
ment, washed over and carried II away. Pre-
vious to the storm the water was within i've
inches of the top Of the levee. 2 .
Our informant was at the lower part of Grand
Levee at the time OF the crevasse, and he states
that the alarm and excitement OF the inhabitants
were Intense. They were endeavoring to escape
IN skis, rats, canoes, carts, and by every other
available means.
While the excitement was at its height, the
news arrived that the great MorganZa Levec had
also gwen way, thereby grea tly extending the
area of obstruction. AS the levees were new,
the breaches extended III both places very
rapidly and in the course of IA few hours the
Vat'r spread over wide extent of country,
and still swept onward towards the Gulf OF
Mexico.
The whole of that fertile territory extending
from the RIVER to Berwick's Bay will uudoubE
edly be deluged, and the destruction OF property
WI, be beyond compuRntion. Planters who have
been endeavoring, by Almost superhuman exer-
tons, to build up their broken fortunes, are
again sent forth from their homes by the pursu.
ing waters-exies from the Eden they so love-
lncalculabie distress must follow this terrible
visitation otthe angry flood, and for season,
at least, the most beautiful portion of our fair
State viii be trackless waste.
The State Engineer has given up the broken
levees In despair, and until the rivers fall N
summer, the alligator will course over felus
which few days since were putting on their
spring smiles OF promise. Other levees below
those which have been broken are in doubt
ful condition.
At the last great overflow eleven parishes were
guhmpropd bnt no hraa on, hot
was much earlier in the season than on this it
IS to be hoped that the deluge of this year will
not spread over such wide extent OF country
and that it will not cover more than nine par.
ishes. BE this as 1t may, the calamity viii be
sufficiently widespread TO ruin thousands upon
thousands OF our people, We trust that gene
rous hospitality will be extended to the wan
Gerers who so suddenly had to turn their backs
upon their homes.
LATER-oPINIoN OF THE STATE ENGINEER-wIDTH
AND DEPTH OF THE BREAKS. -. b.
From the Times, 1911.
Mr.. Williams, State Engineer of the Levees,
arrived in the city this morning, and has
reported the condition OF the new crevasses up
to yesterday afternoon to Mr.. Durable Presi-
dent OF the Board of Levee Commissioners
At Morganza, he says, the gap is about four
hundred feet wide and quite deep, not less than
ten TO twelve feet water running through. II is
not caving rapidly, and an effort to secure the
ENDS OF the remaining portion OF the work will
pIopdDly Oe Uaue. Inc place Where the leVee
gave way is Immediately in the rear of the
break which occurred in the old levee and
where there was no obstacle to keep the waves
from dashlng upon the new embankment with
unbroken force. The water washing over, the
torrents OF rain that we're falling, and the vio-
lent shocks of the waves, caused the laud side
OF the levee to Slide" and so weaken il that
successful resistance to the immense pressure of
the stream was rendered Impossible.
At noon of yesterday Mr.. Williams proceeded
from Morganza to Grand Levee. The latter levee
is about four thousand feet long, and perecCy
straight and consists of fresh earth piled on the
base of the old levee, which was not washed
away. lie was informed that there were two
small breaks in this levee, but on reaching the
spot found the greater part of it gone, and an
unbroken stream of Water, twenty-five hundred
ieet wide, rushing through into the fertile and
cultivated lands which stretch away for miles in
the direct course of the uncomfortable Hood
The water at this break is not so deep az at Nor
ganZa, 1t Is Judged, from the fact that it is VIC.
lently rutfed, not smooth and strong, and It is
thought that the remains of the old levee which
had become firm and compact, still stand.
An immense volume of water is flowing
through these breaks into a section which is
probably under better cultivation this season
than any other secuon of the State. 1t is ex-
pected that within two or three days this flood,
vases, will inundate nearly all the Terrebonne
and Laiourche region. A greater calamity, in
the present impoverished condition of our
people, could scarcely have occurred, and we
anticipate, ere long, heart-rending accounts of
devastation, suffering, and perhaps death. Truly
are the people of Louisiana sorely afflicted.