Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-23

WASHINGTON, February % Dispatches
received at late hour last night report that
the great storm had reached Chicago, and
the weather turned much colder. Tele-
graphic communication in all directions is
seriously interfered with or entirely cut off.
Bridges have been washed away and travel
on several railroads suspended. The freeze
up has checked the flow of water from the
ground into the little streams, and mot
OF the little streams and creeks are falling.
CHICAGO, February 22.-Reporis from
points throughout the West all tell the same
story OF food and disaster. Rain has been
general in many places, accompanied by
wind and sleet. The telegraph wires last
night In every direction were down, and
many railroads are badly washed out. The
result, however, except from the river
floods, will not be disastrous. The most
sion OF traffic along the Oaio and lower
Mississippi, However, the disastrous ef-
feet of the floods seems to be increasing.
CINCINNATI, February % The river has
fallen nearly two feet from the hi CHEST
marks and is still falling rapidly. The
weather is clear and cold. Advices from
up the river show that 1t Is still rising, and
~ may llcC again utT6a Dub bO6 COlQ weather
gives promise that the worst is over.
VICKsBURG, February % The Enegaia0
Commercial publishes the following: "From
Colonel ID. q. Pepper, a passenger on The
AucbOr Line Stesmer from Helena this
morning, We learn discouraging particulars
concerning the devastating and widespread
ruin caused by the breaking of the levees
along the river from Memphis to Green
Vile. The latest breaks 10 Tunlca county,
OF n
and half below Yazoo Pass,
and in Coahoma county at Wards
Lake. AT the opening In Louis swamp
large volume OF water Is going through to
Sunfower bottoms. There was a Temporary
leves at Trotter Ridge, which is all gone.
This levee Joined the maiu one, on Colonel
Edward Richardson's place, above Husha-
pakara. From the latter place down TO the
break above the Mounds place, In Bolivar
county, the water is higher than ever known,
and In many places about the mainland is
only kept cut by small ridges being
thrown up on the outer edges OF the levees
with dirt taken from the inside portion. The
levee at Mounds place gave way Monday
night. The special weak points are In the
Robinsville levee a short distance below
Hushapakara, Lake Charles at a point lust
Eelow Concordia, and near Bolivar landing.
At all Of these points the water has been
running over the leveee, but was stopped by
the use OF sand bags and small ridges OF
earth thrown up on top of the levees. The
break at Mounds place will overflow the
Deer Creek section.
From the officers of the steamer Kate
Dickson, which arrived at II O'Clock to dav.
We learn that a telegram was received at
Hays Landing yesterday, STATING that the
Bolivar levee had also broken from the
Greenville dam on the Mississippi side. The
levees there are still intact, and 1t is hoped
that they will be able to stand the heavy
pressure"
MEMPHIS, February 22-The officers of
the steamer City OF ureenville confirms the
report published concerning the sad condi-
uon OF affairs now existing throughout the
Mississippi valley. Thousands of nen are
on constant guard along the levees, ana are
using every possible means to strengthen
the power OF resistance and elevate crests
to prevent the water from inundatfng the
whole country. The Greenvllle brought
several thousand sacks to De used bv filling
with earth to aid in strengthening the EN-.
bankments. Twenty-Five hundred sacks
were put of at Bolivar landing where the
danger OF break was imminent to Wash
ington, lssaquena, Bolivar, Coahoma,
and Tunica counties, Mississippi.
La fact the whole shore line between
Memphis and Vicksburg on the Mississippi
and the whole eastern shore of Arkansas
are either under water or threatened with
inundation. The Inhabitants of the vast
area OF country are in great distress. Many
have been forced from their houses and are
suosisting as best they may on RATS, and
some ON knobs or parts OF old levees. The
destruction Of live stock is beyond calcula-
tion.
The navigation Of the river itself is re-
garded by riVermen as dangerous at its
present stage on account of the great ex-
panse OF water In many localities and the
billowy character of the water when the
surface is swept by heavy gus,s of wind,
aud also because of the great difficulty of
getting to safe ports The government
lights along the river are maintained with
admirable regularity. These lights prove
an incslcdlable benefit TO steamboat men
now, since all the bank landmarks have dis
appeared.
Arkansas City is completely submerged.
Not single house in that city is free from
the presence OF the muddy floods. aThe
water there Is represented ss being eight
inches higher than the food Of 1876. Houses
We're built so as to be above the high flood
level of that year, but in all of them there
are from to inches of water,
Between Cairo and Memphis the follow
ing points OF land only are Visible above the
surging food: The bluff at Columbus, the
hills back of Hickman, the land oa the Ten
nessee side opposite Island No. 10, New
Madrid, Point Pleasant, TifIouville, Fulton
Bluffs, Randolph, Richardson's, Islands
Nos. 30 and 80 and Dean's Island, above the
head OF the Centennial cutoff for'y miles
above Memphis.
ST. LOUIS, February % The river came
to stindstill this morning, and is now
slowly falling The railroads are again get
tlng into shape again, and are moving trains
by using each others tracks, where in con-
dition.