The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-27
THE SOUTHERN DELUGE.
The Raging Waters have Swollen into
ON Inland Saa

The Raging Waters have Swollen into
an Inland Sea.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 24.-In
the senate to-day, presided over by
Sherman), Ellis asked unanimous
consent to introduce the joint resolu-
ton reciting that the waters of the
Mississippi river have risen to the
high water mark of 1874 at New Or
leans, which Is the highest known in
the flood annals. The river is still
rising between st. Louis and New Or
leans at the rate of two or three inches
a day. The resolution recites that an
appalling calamity, the inundation of
a city of 100000 souls, is imminent,
involving a great loss of life and
property, and asks that an appropria-
ton of $4,000 be Immediately e1-
pended in the discretion of the secre-
tary of war in preventing the river
from OVERLOOKING the city of New Or
leans and the country adjacent
thereto.
Dunn wished to know by what sort
of legerdemain the committee on ap-
propriations had leaped from the Ohio
river to the city of New Orleans, dis
regarding the appeal made by 10000
people of Arkansas and Mississippi?
Ellis excepted to the word legerde-
main, used so glibly by the gentleman
from Arkansas. The object of the
resolution was not for the relief of the
sufferers, but to prevent what might
be the most appalling calamity Of the
age. The water in the river was now
up to the top of the levees, and when
ever the flood went over levee that
leYee was doomed. There was moth
ing between the city of New Orleans
and the river, which was 16 feet above
the level of the city, except dirt
wall. A horrible calamity must ensue
if the waters rise higher-in fact, the
extent or havoc of that calamity could
not be depicted by human tongue. It
would be the calamity of the age.
Dunn withdrew any objection, but
called attention to the fact that in his
district the Mississippi was ninety
miles wide. There was rise coming
from the Missouri river, supplemented
by the great overflow of the Ohio, and
there were to-day in his district seven
hundred thousand people whose homes
were flooded.
Rice objected to the resolution, say
committee on appropriations.
Ellis appealed to Rice to withdraw
his objection, predicting If there was
any delay the house would be called
upon to consider, not an ounce of pre-
vention but many pounds Of cure. The
city of New Orleans was doing all it
could to prevent the catastrophe. but
it's state legislature was not in ses-
sion.
Randall said the resolution had
been informally considered by the
committee, who were favorable to it.
withdrew his objection.
Hunt said he had received letter
from one of the engineers Of the Mis-
sissippi river commission, predicting
the greatest disaster that could posi-
bly, be conceived, if precautions were
not taken to prevent an overflow OF
the city of New Orleans. He hoped
no one would object to the resolution,
as delay of one day might cost the
many times more than
the paltry amount asked for.
Oates doubted the constitutional
power of congress to appropriate pub
lie money for the relief of sufferers by
t1OOQS, nr6 or SCOrm.
Morey moved the resolutions be re-
ferred to the committee on appropria-
lions with instructions to report back
Immediately.
A resolution appropriating $5OO,O00
to be expended by the secretary of
war in preventing the overflow of
New Orleans, and to relieve persons
rendered destitute by the overflow of
the Mississippi river, was rejected.
NEW ORLEANS, March PA Plea
yune Baton Rouge special says: Since
daylight this morning it rained con-
tinuously. The river is now at high
water mark of 1882. Mulatto Point
crevasse is abandoned, and no further
effort will be made to close the open
ing. The force at that point Is distri-
buted to adjacent weaker and threat
ened points.
West Baton Rouge suffers several
hundred thousand dollars worth of
damage, and much uneasiness is felt
concerning the levees of this section.
The rain will doubtless continue
during the night, and the river will
surely advance several inches. The
general impression is there will be
trouble in this neighborhood within
the next twenty-four hours. The
break in Mulatto Poin tbs now two
hundred feet wide and fully twelve
feet deep. Medina levee is reported
going. The back water is steadily
incroaching upon the front, there be-
ing now but narrow strip OF dry
land left. Plantations that never be-
fore overflowed are now under water,
where. The CITY of New Orleans is in
danger.
NEW ORLEANS, March 25.-The
Picayune's Baton Rouge special from
Mulatto Point says the crevasse is
widening steadily, and tremendous
volume of water is pouring through.
The belief is, no sugar will be made
west of Baton Rouge the coming
season. The crevasse at Wateroo, six
miles below Bayou Sara, west side, Is
adding volume to the overflow from
Morgan Sea above and Mulatto Point
below. Many threatened places along
the levees have been strengthened,
and several breaks closed. The water
is reported flowing over many levees,
and is driyen over others by the wind.
This morning the river reached the
high water mark of 1874, but since 8
o'clock a. M, has fallen 21s inches,
which is doubtless caused by the yield
| ing of another crevasse.
THE STREETS FLOODED.
NEW ORLEANS, March Pa
| Times-Democrat Bayou Sara special
says: Last night this section was
| visited by a terrible wind AID rain
storm. The protection of the levee al
Waterloo gave way, and all valuable
grass in this part of the country was
OVERLOOKED. This water will effect
the river front and all places in Che
vale, including the New York ware
house company's premises. Man!
people here during the storm yester
day moved out on the hills. There i
water in all the principal streets, ant
the rear of the town is overlooked b.
the heavy rain and the breakage OF tn
drainage machine.
Col. Seenor, Of st. Mary's parish, !
here using ali his efforts to save wha
remains of Point Coupe levees. Mucl
distress will result from the overflow
of the Waterloo crevasse, and man
small farmers and poor people on tn
L 1o,, oil -, oto ofoc