The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-03
THE FATHER OF WATERS.
The Mississippi River on Its Annual Spree
Bids Fair to be Unusually Destructive
Other Flood Reports.

Bids Fair to be Unusually Destructive
Other Flood Reports.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, March 26.-There is con-
siderable excitement here at the news of the
breaking of the Louisiana levee and the
iooding of the country lying about New
Orleans. A dispatch from the latter city
saws great efforts were made last summer
oy the State authorities to close all creyasses
in the State and place the 1,010 miles of
Ievees in a secure position. These State eff
forts were to some extent supplemented by
those of the Federal River Commission, and
a month ago the levees were in better con
dition than at any time since the war. But
the extraordinary flood from the Ohio and
other rivers. coming as it did fully month
earlier than any previous spring rise, as
sailed the new works before they had be
come effectually consolidated and this
coupled with the fact that the weather OF
late has been extremely wet and
windy. has resulted most disaStrouSly.
All the new earthwOrkS have been swept
away and according to the outlet theory the
lower delta should have been effectually
relieved. But the water is still everywhere
above the danger line and not only are the
finest plantations of the State and some of
the railway lines under water, but the dam
ger of further encroachment is imminent
Hence urgent measures are pressed upon
Congress for relief appropriation in order
to save what yet remains of the delta from
overflow. The city is still intact, but the
water is over the wharyes. The principal
danger is from threatened break immed
;,@, a TON oh
flow all the rear of the New Orleans half.
4 dozen new crevasSeS Occurr. in the vicin-
ity of the city. some of which have been
closed, while others are still 1unning. The
crevasse opposite the city, which floods the
two Pacific Railway lines, is sbandoned, be-
ing fully one hundred yards in width and an
average of fifteen feet in depth. All the
resources of the two railways fail to close
it. The weather is warm, with threats OF
rain. Usually our worst floods come in
April
NEWS FROM WASHING TON.
WASHINGTON, March 26.-DiSpatcheS re-
ceived here from Louisiana state the Missis-
Sippi has broken over most of the leyeeS,
and Government aid is necessar.y to prevent
the people and stock from starving. Repre-
sentative King received, among others, the
following kilograms:
Troyville,, lathe country is entirely
submerged, and the people and stock are in
need of relief. Signed by S. B. Walters.
Rodney, Miss-This parish is entirely
inundated. RatiOnS will be lSQuiTed fol
10000 destitute people, and feed for stock Is
necessary. The emergency is very great.
Immediate relief is necessary. Signed by
J. Moore, w. d. Davidson, Robert Muir
dock. d. II. Chamberlain and Thomas P.
Clinton.
st. Joseph, La.-This dispatch was sent
from Rodney, Miss. because the overflow
destroyed the telegraph wires in Louisiana.
Vicksburg, Mias-The river at ST. Joseph
is six inches above 1882. The levees are all
gone with the river rising from Cairo down.
Signed by c. COrdell.
Rodney, Miss.-Kempe levee gave way at
1915. This makes the disaster complete,
and the Mississippi Valley is one vast in
land sea. This will make the loss beyond
calculation, to say nothing of the loss of life
and the suffering of the people. Congress
must come to our relief, and feed the people
at once. The lofts of our gin houses and
floating RATS will be the only place of abode.
l believe the best mode for distribution of
supplies IS through the engineer department
in charge of river improvements. They
have every appliance necessary, and less
waste and imposition would attend their eff
forts. Signed by E. L. Whitney.
Governor MeEnery, of Louisiana, tele-
graphs General King of the great distress
MOrgansea, Colt and Waterloo LeveeS are
gone have wired the Secretary of Wal
for rationS of the same amount as in 1882.
AT NEW ORLEANS.
NEW ORLEANS, March 26.-h VickSbarg
- k,fo
two inches above the high water mark of
1882. The rainfall yesterday morning was
half an inch. A Baton Rouge special says:
TIE Governor has received a dispatch say
ing chat the river at Block is lower, az
Ouachita a little lower, and in the Upper
Tensas River, sections is entirely over
flowed The people and stock need imme-
diate relief.
AT ATCHIS0N.
ATCHIsON, KAs., March 25.-The heaviest
run of ice ever known to come down the
Missouri at this point filled the river from
bank to bank. being composed of cakes av-
eraging over two feet in thickness. This is
supposed to be from the gorge which broke
at Yankton some weeks ago. The river is
rising very rapidly, having come up nearly
three feet in one night. An additional rise
of six feet must come before any serious
damage can ensue The bridge at .RulO,
Neb., is gone, and the ferryboat cannot
transfer freight Orders have been given
by the railroads to send no more freight
north on that route. River wen state that
they expect high water and considerable of
a freShet this spring, as the snow III the
mountains is very deep, but do not view the
situation with any alarm at present.
AT BUFOEO.
MINNEAPoLIs, MINI, March GA Bis
marck report from BufOrd indicates the ice
is still firm at the mouth of the Yellowstone
River, which is still rising, and break is
mOmentarily expected. There is big
gorge somewhere between Buford and Wash
burn, but it cannot be located because of nc
intermediate telegraph stations When il
breaks the water and ice will come with a
rush, and an overflow is inevitable. AL
tributaries are pouring their floods into the
Missouri. The water is slowly rising here.
THE NEWS AT WASHINGTON.
The Secretary of War sent Speaker Car
Isle letter saying that from information it
appears that the floods in the Mississippi
Valley from the neighbOrhOOd OF Nicksbuig
down to New Orleans are higher than Tie
highest point reached in the year 1882, and
that large number of people have, by the
overlooking of agricultural districts, been un-
able to help themselves. The Secretary
directs that if it be the pleasure of Congress
to authorize the distribution of supplies tc
those rendered destitute by the food. he, in
the first instance, be authorized to use fol
purpose an amount not exceeding S125, 00o
out of the unexpended balance of the sums
appropriated for the relief of those rendered
destitute by the floods in the Ohio and tribu-
tarieS
Vinegar.
DUBUQUE, IA, March 27.-Ex-Mayol