Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-03-28
STORM AND FLOOD.
Effects of the Recent Heavy Shows and
Rains "A Flood Pouring Down upon
us from Above.
Planters Below Must Look Out, Must
Make Preparation for an Overflow
More Snow on the Plains.
Destructive Floods and Freshets in Con-
necticut, Massachusetts and New
York Loss of Life at Sea
Etc., Etc.

The weather in this locality the past
two days has he N as variable between
the conditions Of rain and sunshine as it
were possible to conceive. All day Sun
daY, until the sun went down, we en-
joyed the bright sunshine, with perfect
ly delightful spring temperature. At
night, however, dark line Of clouds ap-
peared in the northwest, and through
out the night the heavens were black
with dense clouds, threatening to pour
out torrents upon the already flooded
earth. No rain fell worth notice until
near Daylight, when a regular April
shower prevailed until about nine or
ten O'Clock, when signs of clearing
weather became apparent. In the after
noon the clouds partially cleared away
until the sun went down, when another
pluvial wave rolled up, Obscuring the
heavens and for an hour pouring down
q torrent of rain upon our devoted heads.
1t has been predicted by those who
claim to be experienced in the freaks OF
the river, that owing to the unusually
mild winter there will be no spring over
flow of The Mississippi. The present
hight of the water line, and the pros
pect of more coming, however, will have
the effect to change their opinion. We
append here the weather observ-
er's summary OF the weather
the past twenty-four hours at
all points: "The barometer has risen
in New England, in the Middle States,
and the lower lake regions, with west
srly winds, partly cloudy weather and
fol in
snowstorm is central in Missouri, aud
heavy rains have prevailed from the
gulf-coast northward to the Ohio and
Missouri valleys, followed by clearing,
cooler weather and northerly winds in
| the southwest. Colder northerly winds
prevail in the upper lake region and the
northwest, with increased clOudiness in
| the lake region, and snow in the Missis.
sippi and Missouri valleys. The ther-
mometer is decidedly high in the ex-
treme northwest, and is low in southern
Missouri. The Mississippi river has
risen south of Cairo; it has reached the
danger line at Vicksburg; is one foot and
| three inches above it at Helena; three
feet ten inches above it at Cairo; and is
seven inches below it at Memphis. The
| Cumberland has risen three feet at Nash
J vile. The Savannah has fallen thirty
| three inches at Augusta
The cutoff at Dsvil's Elbow, by
which the Shawnee and Halle bends,
containing, it is estimated, twenty thou
sand acres of valuable lands, are re-
claimed, besides saving about twenty
miles to river navigation, is now the
sensation In marine circles. The chute,
through which the water bIOke few
| days ago, is said to be half mile wide,
and promises to become Of good naviga-
| BILE depth. 1t is thought its formation
| will prevent the river from making such
disastrous incrosehments upon the levee
at this port. Toe ginhouse anu smoke
houss of DR.. B. J. Williams were washed
away by the water in making the cut
| off, 6s was also the site OF the late resi-
dence of Mr.. e. w. Massey, which was
recently destroyed by fire. The heavy
draft OF the current through the cutoff
has already relieved the ove1fiowed dis
tricts above, and it is thought by expert
enced river men that the change will
| benefit the farmers generally in the vicin-
| ity of Island No. 81. A beautiful lake
| is thus added to the number TO be found
on the cline of the Mississippi.n II con-
! lectures prove true as to the great bene-
| fits to ali accrulng from this great change
! in the channel of Big Muddy, we hope
proper measures will be adopted to aid
the work Ct deepening the channel in
| the new cut IF, so that it may become
the main channel of the river. The
number of acres of valuable farming
lands. and the distance saved to steam
| boat navigation, should warrant the eX-
| penditure of q considerable amount Of
money. and the employment of the best
| engineering talent in the effort to make
the new cutoff success.
RESULTS IN NEW YORK.
NEW YORK, March 27.-Yesterday's
storm ragged over the whole of New Eng
land with disastrous effects. Railroad
travel was interfered very seriously by
land slides and Wsshouts, but as these
were anticipated and caution exercised
| no accidents Of consequence to the trains
are reported. Fears of q dangerous
| freshet inMerrimRc river are entertained.
The loss by the breakage OF dams, de-
| struction of bridges, mills, dwellings,
and by inundation where property is
not swept away, is immense and cannot
be accurately estimated.
At Providence yesterday the rainfall
was 4.O6 sinches, and for six days,
including Saturday, 1855 inches. AT
Dsnielsonvi lie, Connecticut, Gains
bough's mill was undermined and likely
be carried away; loss already estimated
at twenty thousand dollars, The Baltic
mill at Norwich, Connecticut, was
partly swept away, and will not be able
to repair short of three months. Four per.
sons crossing the pond at Norwich were
drowned. At Burrillville, Connecticut,
the mill and manufacturing property,
valued at over two hundred thousand
dollars, was swept away. Some dam
age is reported from New Jersey.
Ali the vessels arriving here to-day
report more or less damage caused by
the heavy gales during the past few
days. The bark Daphore, from Balti.
more for Marseilles, put into this port
for repairs to-day, having been in colt
sion with q steamer said to be the Great
Western.
| DAMAGE IN CONNECTICUT.
NORWICH, March 25.-The damage
in eastern Connecticut by the freshe
amounts 10 several hundred Thousand
dollars, and several lives were lost.
FLOODS IN MASSACHUSETTS.
LAWRENCE, March 27.- Some fivu
thousand or six thousand mill operator
here are idle to-day, owing to the stop
page of many mills in consequence o
the unprecedented high water. All tn
mills on Bhickel river are also stopped
Serious damage has been done at seveHa
| DOints but foftunatelv the riyara ara ffa