Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-03-19
THE DELuGE, {.

The Lower Mis- sisstppl Levees. u 4
Feared May Break Should the River
nlso much More-New Orleans streets
Under Wster-Alarm at Memphis,
/ NEW ORLEANS, March 14.-The river
at this point yesterday was six inches
above the record of other years, and the
water went over the levees all along thu
city front at every depression or low
place, and soon flooded the streets and
sidewalks of q large section of the CITY.
| Up town, at the head of Jackson,
Washington and Saraparu streets, the
waves washed over the levee and sub.
merged the streets and sidewalks; the
same thing occurred at other points
down to Poydras street. Here the
water spread out over the broad space
occupied by the Morgan road, filled up
the low places, then began to flow down
Poydras street and out into
the cross streets on either
side, covering the sidewalks on Poy-
dras street as far as St. Charles street
and filling the cutters back to the drain
age canals in the rear of the city. On
Gravier street the water flowed freely,
completely covering the street in places.
At the head of Canal street the water
was running over the levee but very
little, but from Custom House street to
Cont the water came over the levee
freely and completely submerged the
streets, and in many places the side
walks and lower floors of business
houses.
This overflow seems to have taken
most people by surprise, though
all who had business on the levee
made preparations for it to the extent
of removing their goods to safe quar-
ters Since Wednesday evening the
levees across the river have been in
danger and the water Is coming over
from the line of the Davis crew
asse above the city to the lower
line, distance of some fifteen
miles. In many instances the water
flows back for ten squares.
The City Council met Thursday night
and adopted resolution appropriating
$50, 900 or as much as shall be necessary
for work on the levees during the dan
ger period.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 14.-Great
anxiety is felt In the levee-protected
districts. The rain still falls in tor
rents and the wind drives the waves
against the slender threads of levees,
wearing them thinner and thinner
The river at this point is forty miles
wide, extending to the foothills in
A rLoncoo Tho G. h,,;-
covering an area of 1850 miles,
has been filled up, and this
will cause rise in the river, as
it has heretofore acted as vent. The
Government engineer says that an ad-
ditional rise of two inches will compel
him to abandon the unequal struggle.
Cattle, hogs and sheep have been
drowned in large numbers. The Tensas
basin has been ordered evacuated, and
the people are moving out as rapidly as
they can. The Government employees
are doing all in their power, but the
levees are growing so wea that it is
not believed they can hold out much
longer.
The river at this point is threer
tenths above the great rise of 1889, and
one-tenth below that of 1887, the high
est on record.
A reporter who has just returned from
Arkansas City, Ark, says the real con-
dition of affairs at that place has been
suppressed. The water from the Sap
pington break has flooded town and sur
rounding country. Hundreds of hogs
and sheep have been drowned and the
people are in constant fear of a break in
the levee in front of the city, where the
water Thursday was four inches upon
the sand bags on top of the levee. If
the water keeps up great while it will
flood the whole of Chicot County and
finally make its way into Tensas basin.
A special from Black Rock, Lawrence
County, Ark, gives distressing &C
count of the hood in that section. Black
river, along which there are many mills,
is ten inches higher than ever known.
and all the saw-mills are under water. A
large amount of timber has been washed
away. Workmen and their fami-
lies are in great want and distress is
felt among the settlers. Every house
in Pownattan, the county seat of Law
EcuCo SOuAIys Is uuucI "dIcE oACopG Guo
post-office, which stands upon a hill
side. Several bridges have been washed
away, and horses, cattle and hogs have
been drowned. If the situation con-
tinues much longer the laboring classes
will be forced to ask for help.
A special from Newport, Ark, says
that the people live in dread of the
levees breaking that protect the town
from White river, which is almost over
the top of the levee. The same state of
affairs exists at Jacksonport and other
points in Jackson County along White
and Black rivers, and the people at the
mouth Of Black river are leaving their
homes in focks, seeking protection from
the food that is almost certain.
Two private levees, one in Louisiana
and one in Mississippi, gave way
Wednesday night, submerging num-
Der of plantations. Thousands of cat
tie, horses, sheep and other animals
have fed to the levees for safety. The
levees are sodden and mushy, and read
lily yield to the feet of the animals that
crowd them. As the people have had
timely warning no loss of life is appre-
hended, but millions of dollars worth