Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-03-20
THE WATER CLIMBING up
Heavy Rains in the South Caused the
Rivers to Rise.
Mrny Cities Threatened By the Rapid
ly Rising Waters.
ALI Railroad Traffic Has Been DELAYED
in Consequence.

MEMPHIS, March 13.-Ihe river is in
an alarming condition. The highest flood
level ever recorded is already reached foom
any points south of here and will likely be
attained from Cairo to the gulf within the
next five or six days The rain fall of the
past three days sums up total from two to
three inches over the country lying west
of the Mississippi to the Indian territory
and south of the Ozark range, and from
two to five inches between the Ohio and
Cumberland valleys.
The Appeals reporter, Just returned
from Arkansas City, says the real condi-
ton of that place has been suppressed
The water from the Sappington break has
flooded the town and surrounding coun-
try, and hundreds of hogs and sheep were
drowned, aud the people are In fear of a
constant break in the levee In front of the
city, where the water was yesterday four
inches deep on the sand banks on the top
of the levee.
CAIRO, ILL.,, March 13.-The first train
from the north for the past few days ar
rived to-day Oh the Illinois Central rail
road. The weather is cloudy and cold
this morning and the situation is more
encouraging here, the river having fallen
somewhat.
ST. LOUIS, March Is The rains still
continue in many partss, of the lower
Mississippi valley, and all streams, par
and north, are rising rapidly and are
pouring then floods into the big river
The Arkansas and all its tributaries are
at food height and doing much damage
to farm and railroad property. No trains
have reached Little Rock from Fl. Smith
since Monday and it is impossible to say
when travel will be resumed From south
eastern Missouri come reports of more
rain and of rising rivers, with practical
suspension of railroad traffic. From the
lower Mississippi the reports are still of
rising waters, and, while no more breaks
have occurred there is constant fear that
the levees will yield and that the whole
country will be overfOwed.
LITTLE Rock. March ia Gazettee
special from Black Rock, Lawrence county
gives distressing account OF the flood IN
that section. The Black river along which
there are many mills is ten inches hi CHER
than ever known before and all the saw
mills are under water. A vast amount of
timber has been washed away. The work
men with families are in great want and
COHSlueTdole ulSlTeSS Is lelt among Tie
people generally.
LITTLE Rock, Ark, March 13.-The
situation at Newport. Ark, at the con-
fiuence of White and Black rivers is one
of extreme danger. The water is within a
few inches of the top of the levees which
surround the town, and is rising at the
tants are greatly excited. Should the
no AZ, 1a
rible. At Batesville all that por-
ton of the town through which the Iron
Mountain runs is foot under water. and
trains are abandoned. Reports from the
Black river valley show that the low lands
are now under water at some places so deep
that tree tops alone are visible Jackson
port is under water from two to four feet
Telegraph and telephone wires are down
in all directions and no estimate of the
damage can be made.
New ORLEANS. March 13.-The river
here at 2:45 was Is $40 feet high, and at
ESQ it had reached II feet, but it re-
manned at that point but short time,
when it receded to 16 feet inches where
it seemed to make stand. This was six
inches above the record of other years.
and the water went over the levee on the
city front at every depression or low place
and also on flooded streets and sidewalks
of large section of the city.
Up town, at the head of Jackson, Wash
ington and Saraparu streets the waves
washed over the levee and submerged
the streets and sidewalks; the
same thing occurred at other
points down to Poydras street. Here the
water spread over the space occupied by
the Morgan road, then began to flow down
Poydras street and out into the cross
streets on either side and filing the gut
tiers back to the drainage canals in
the rear of the city. From Custom House
to Cont, the water came over the levees
freely and completely submerged the
streets, and in many cases the sidewalks
and lower floors of business houses, from
the north side of Canal to Hospital
street, a distance of fourteen blocks from
the river, to Rampant street, a distance of
eight blocks. The damage done so far is
not great. The greatest damage was that
| sustained by the merchants who
had sugar stored in the bond
Southern and Crescent oil mills being
the washed under by water and the floors
were torn away and entertainments built
underneath.
The council tonight appropriated the
sum of $4,000 for work OH the
levees during the danger period.
| At the Natchez levee on Davis Island
in Lake Concordia, Ga, gave away, food
ing the Novelty, Evergreen, Sahara, Nor
oan and potOmaua plantations