Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-04-10
THE SOUTHERN FLOODS.

which, Under Existing Conditions, is
Likely to be Experimental Glimpse at
Affairs Along the Mississippi - Water
Everywhere and the Levees Melting
Away.
VICKsBURG, Miss, April 3.-The situa-
ton between Memphis and the mouth Of
the Red River to-day is just this: On the
Arkansas and Louisiana side are six
crevasses-Sappington Arkansas City,
Columbia, Laconia, Luna, Ark. and
Raleigh, La. The water below Arkan-
sas City to Luna flows back to the head
waters of Bayou Macon and Boeuff river.
but it divides on the point of the Macon
hills, in Louisiana, near the Arkansas
line, and part flowed down in the rear
of East Carroll and Madison parishes to
the Tensas river until few years ago,
when the levee system was made COM
piete.
The breaks at all these points over
flow all plantations in direct line be-
tween the river front where the break
occurs and the basin to the rear, but be-
tween these breaks there are many
places yet dry, so the damage is not
universal nor is the food general.
Back of Raleigh, La, the condition
is the same, save that the flow is in
creased by additions from the upper
breaks, and that the flood spreads over
the rear of Madison Parish, now being
in part of one town eighteen miles
west of here-Tallulah. Here it again
collects, and is carried down the Tensas
basin by the network of streams, but if
the whole basin fills the river and
bayou fronts will remain dry.
The worst effects are still days, per-
haps weeks off, or until the great basin
is thoroughly filled. If this flood pass
ing down the Tensas basin meets high
stage of water at the mouth of Red
River the whole volume will back up,
and then, indeed, will the real damage
be done on that side. The people have
had long experience in floods, and don't
mind it as much as sensational reports
would infer. In Tensas and Concordia
parishes, even with the water creeping
down, the people are planting crops as
usual. On the Mississippi side there
are now four breaks-Austin, the latest,
and Huntington, Offutts and Skipwith.
The break at Austin at once filled up
Beaver Dam lake, lying between it and
the Louisville, New Orleans & Nash
vile railroad, four miles east, and the
lake has poured against the road bed;
but as this is a basin or swamp, crossed
by a long treStle, the water does not in
jure the road, but goes through to the
Iallahatchie basin, at the head of the
Tallahatchie river.
1t will take fifteen days for the basin
to be full enough to make the river get
out of its banks, SO there is no imme-
date damage to be feared, as this dis
trict is SparSely settled
Along the Mississippi.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 3.-The levee
at Miller's Bend is expected to break at
any moment. At Greenville the water
is rising in the town and is up to the
doors of the Bank of Greenville.
1t rained all day yesterday and the
river is still rising. When the break
occurred in the protection levee the
negroes in the lower part of town be-
came demoralized, but were all taken to
places of safety, without the loss of a
single life. About 200 were housed in
the courthouse.
Some idea of the flood can be formed
from the fact that large steamboats, can
navigate the overflow up to the town of
Concordia, Miss, which is four miles
from the river bank. Terrene, Miss, is
so completely submerged that only the
chimneys are visible.
Near Henrico,a colored Baptist Church
1oated away while services were in
progress, but the worshipers all got
away in skitfs the same way they went,
without loss of life. Relief has reached
all the sufferers, who are in reach from
tho river, by this time, but to reach all
those back of the river is impossible,
except in skiffs, and their condition and
the loss of life and stock will probably
not be ascertained till the waters sub
side.
The river here is 50. Oh and stationary.
Heavy local rains fell yesterday, but it
is clearing this morning. The Louis
vile, New Orleans e Texas, and
Georgia Pacific railroad bridges over
Bayou Phalia were washed away last
night, and the mail and telegraph |
service is interfered with.
At Easton, Miss, the break in tho |
levee, severe at first, is now tremendous, |
and large volume of water is pouring
in on the lower lands.
At Friars Poi.t, Miss, the river is
falling, and has already gone down
three -fourths of an inch. The levees |
diC ihUdhG buO i~C Dt4IS ClOStly
watched.
At Arkansas City. Ark, the river is
falling: thought to be from breaks in
other side. 1t has been raining for two
days. No such floods ever recalled.
Trains on the Valley road stop a Tillar,
nineteen miles away. Mail and express
matter is sent over in boats.
Laconia. Ark, IS completely over
flowed. Only one house is not in the
water.
A telegram from Arcola to Vic<sburg,
Miss, for fifty tents for flood sufferers
could not be filled.
At Clayton, Miss, the Louisville,
New Orleans & Texas road was washed
away last night.
At Natchez the guage reads As feet
inches, and stationary.
The rise in the Black and Tensas
rivers continues.
At Bayou Sara the river is IS feet 3
inches.
At Memphis, 35 feet and inches, a
rise of one-tcnth.