The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-29
THE FLOOD IN MISSISSIPPI.
The Break in the Levee at Helena-The River
Higher than Ever Before Known.

HELENA Ark. April 28.-The first intimation
of break in the levee was a low, rumbling
sound heard coming from the north, about 4
o'clock in the afternoon. No attention was at
first paid to it, as it was thought that it was
nothing but steam escaping from some steam
boat plying on the water. The whole town was
electrified, however, in short time, by man
riding like mad down the streets and shouting
at every jump the dreaded news THE levee has
broken! the levee has broken" In an incredibly
short time a great stream of rushing humanity
were pouring in the direction of the break, some
who lived on the low lands of the city going to
their homes to save their families and perishable
property. The break was about three-fourths of
mile above the town, and. right back of the
Helena fair grounds. At first it was not over
seyenty-five feet in width, but kept widening
every minute. The banks Of the levee at the
break were soon covered with citizens from the
town, who stood watching the wall of
water pour through the crevasse with
feelings of ave. In the northern part Of
the town there is another levee that makes from
the levee at the river straight to the hills inn
mcdiately west of the city, which WILL for the
present, act as barrier and temporarily keep
the water out of the business portion of the city;
but between this levee and the breaks there are
fully two hundred dweling-houses, the majority
Of them being one story high, and before skiffs
could be got to them the rise was so rapid that
the occupants had to climb to the top of their
houses to keep from being drowned. 1t is re-
ported that colored man and his wife, who re-
manned in their house with the hope of saving
their effects, were drowned. The river is eleven
inches higher than ever before known. There is
still water sufficient in the sunk lands and ST.
Francis river. the latter still continuing to rise
at the rate of about one inch an hour at the cut
off, to raise the river fully ten inches higher
than it is which Of course means one of the
greatest caamties that ever befell the great
cotton growing districts of the Mississippi val
ley, comprising in Mississippi Arkansas and
Louisiana an incalculable amount of rich and
prolific country.
Only meagre details have been received of the
break which occurred last evening at Austin,
Miss. The water in tho bottoms rose three feet
last night. and is now within two feet of the
track of the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas
railroad. Officials fear that the break will
cause suspension Of travel over that line within
the Ecxt two days. The country that will be
overfowed is one of the most productive in the
Mississippi valley. Planters in the low lands
will, it is feared, lose many of their stock by
drowning. Steamboatmen from below report
oceans of water in the neighborhood Of Helena
and as far north as Commerce, Miss, which is
only thirty. miles below Memphis. The flood
that has been pouring out of ST. Francis river
just above Helena has held the river stationary
at Memphis for the past six days.
Mr.. E. d. Pillow, president of the leyee board.
says he thinks the levees from Helena to the
crevasses will stand, but that every acre subject
to overflow from Helena to Laconia will be inun
dated The slackwater is coming into the
city, but it will probably only fill the bitches.
The steamer Kate Adams passed up at p. NJ
from Arkansas City. The officers report that
all the Mississippi levees are intact with the ex-
ception of two small breaks below Friar's Point
LATER.-The levee a mile below Austin has
been swept away for several hundred feet. This
will result in the overflow OF large portion of
Junica and Coahoma counties The loss from
this crevasse will be great, because all the crops
had been planted and were growing.
Portions of the track of the Iron Mountain
railroad between Helena ard Marriani, are ten
inches under water.