Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-19
THE RIVER
Aakfax for its Old Channel Along the
Tennessee shOre, and Threatening
Wolf River from Above the WaterwOrks
The suryey Made Yesterday.
s. PERKINS Cbroiher Of Eli).

There has been, since Sunday morning lat,
considerable talk about the water from the
Mississippi river running across the country
TO Hatchie river, then into HAichie lake,
and from that into Wolf river, and again
into the Mississippi at Memphis. Should
the river take this course it would wash cut
much Of the country between the Mississippi
and Wolf rivers, and probably do immense
damage TO the mills ADD other institutions
about the mouth Of Wolf river.
Capt. Bob Speed yesterday took small
party on the tug DesOto 10 lock al the new
break through which the water was reported
to be running with such force. C.pt. Ad
Storm and Mr.. Galloway, Of the elevator,
were of the party, and Capt McNeely was at
the wheel, and cheerfuliy furnished all the
information he could. The current ia run.
ming against the Tennessee shore with great
force at the point where Brown 4 Jones's
coal heet is anchored-with more strength, it
is said, than ever before. At the foot of
Mound City chute We were shown the point
where the river, when high, overfows
and starts the stream which flows through
the Arkansas woods and again enters the
Mississippi at point near Presidents I,land
At Mound City number OF government
boats were anchored, having been driven
from their work by the high water. A little
further up the river passed the boat on
which the willow mattresses have been m ade
There were large number of bsrges loaded
with stone for government work. The break,
about which so much talk has been had, is
one Of three between the foot OF Island 30
and old Fort Harris. The fret break i. a
few huudred yards from the foot of the
Island. This is a deep one, and near
ly 100 yards wide. There is hardly any
washIug going on there, although considers
Bile water is running through. The next
point at which the water is running across is
few hundred yards further south. The
current does not seem to strike here, and
there is but light flow Of water. The last
cut and the one that has created the excite
ment, is a short distance south Of the United
States light. The break is about fifty yards
wide, and the water is roaring through it
with great force. The current strikes di-
rectly at the mouth of the break, and il
seems probable thai the place will
be washed much deeper aud wider
in few days. 1t has been break
for several year,, and was shallow, the water
passing over It only in time OF very high
water. At the point where these breaks are,
the river is only about sixty to 100 yards
from the lake. The current now strikes di-
rectly from the west bank 10 the southern
break, and it is puzzling river men TO say
what the river will do there. With s'few
| feet more rise and much more washing, a
very large volume OF water will pass over to
the lake and come to Memphis through Walt
| river.
The currents have changed in 30 many
| places that river men say the river is max
ing some changes, but We will have TO wait
Till the water subsidies considerably before
finding where they are.
The boat returned to the levee about
o'clock, with all the passengers indebted to
Capt. McNeely for his attention and infor-
nation on river points.