New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-21
The Lower Mississippi.

The sudden fall of the river on Thursday
night last from West Baton Rouge down to
the sea, when telegraphic reports from
Cairo and other points above indicated a
rise in the upper Mississippi and many OF
its tributaries, rendered it certain that one
or more crevasses must have occurred-and
large ones at that-at points on the Missis.
sippi below the mouth of Red river. The
fall not being occasioned by any lack OF
water above, the only reasonable way to
account for it was that the river had forced
other outlets than those existing at its
mouth; but where the crevasses had oc-
Cured, it took time for those living at a
distance from them to know.
Advices received subsequently have not
only confirmed these fears, but located the
principal crevasBes through which the water
has left the river and poured into the
country in an impetuous, all-destroying
flood. This Sudden fall may be traced to
the following serious breaks in the levees
above:
The Hickey crevasse, which occurred last
Thursday in the lower end Of West Baton
Rouge. Since that time it has increased
fearfully in size. II is now half mile wide,
and the water is pouring through with such
force and volume that its roaring may be
distinctly heard at q distance of several
miles. This crevasse has entirely ruined
the Hickey plantation. All the buildings
have been washed away and nothing but
water is now to be seen where but a short
time since stood fields of luxuriant green
cane that promised most bountiful har-
vest.
The two crevasses in the new Morganza
levee, adjoining Grand levee. in the parish
of Pointe Coupee. This information is de-
rived from Captain L. A Drouillard, of the
steamer General Lee. They occurred a few
days since, but in consequence Of the tele-
graphic wires not being in working order
between here and Bayou Sara, no positive
information reached here of the fact until
the arrival of the Lee. The new Morganza
levee was built in lSG9-70, just opposite
where the break of 1869 took place.
The third crevasse is in tie Waterproof
levee, in the lower end of the parish of
is estimated to be hundred yards wide.
The water is pouring through it with great
rapidity into what is known as the Bayou
rArgent country, and will overflow a very
fine section of the parish of Tensas.
While these crevasses have undoubtedly
relieved the danger of inundation to the
very large section of sugar growing lands
bordering on the Mississippi, from Donald
sonville down below New Orleans, as far as
cane is grown, they are the means of devas-
tating large portion of the growing crops
Of the parishes of Iberia, st. Mary, st. Ian
dry, etc.
The crevasses named above are above
Donaldsonville. Below that town there is
40 serious break in the levee, until Bonnet
Care on the left ank, in the parish of St.
John the Baptist, is reached. The greatest
lamage done by this crevasse is to the
Jackson railroad.
Below New Orleans, the Bellechasse and
crevasses have done consider
lble damage, but there is good prospect
If their being closed shortly, and in that
went, the crops on those plantations may
)e saved.
AS much as all may regret the flood that
las been precipitated upon the States Dor
lering on the Mississippi, ana particularly
louisiana, which has been made chief
there is cause to hope that we
ave passed our greatest danger, and that |
rom this out the Mississippi will conine |
tself TO its banks, except in those places |
vhere breaks have already occurred.