, 1890-03-20
WATERS RISING
The Mississippi Valley
Levees.
A NUMBER BROKEN.
Intense Anxiety Felt Every
where.
GREAT DAMAGE ALREADY DONE
No Loss OF Life Feared From the
Flood. but Great Property
Destruction.
GREAT DAMAGE ALREADY DONE


WAsHtSdtoN, March ii.-The rain
storm OF the past four days In the I. wer
Mississippi valley has practically ended.
There are no encouraging prospects for
any portion of the lower Mississippi val
ley The stage at New Orleans is now
three feet above the highest ever known,
and last night IL touched the gauge at
siN-tenths above. The river has fallen
slightly at Caro-, but the sharp rises at
81. Louis, and particularly at Cincin-
natl, Louisville aud Nashville make ii
evident that the reaction at Cairo is only
temporary, and that thence southwurd
tht river must continue at Its present
high stage for at least week.
Although the stage of the water at
Cairo and Helena are about four feet be-
low the extreme floods in the past, yet
the prospect is very decided that at even
these places tho greatest flood ever
known will occur during the next seven
days.
Tho Nickbufg river Is half foot be-
low the great flood of 1882 but the very
high stage Of the " ater In the lower Ar
kansas renders IL certain that there will
be no relief at VicksburR, unless, in
deed, the whole country should be
flooded.
Warnings were given bv the signal
offices several days since that all stock
and other movable property in the lower
Mississippi river valley should be re-
moved 10 localities above extreme flood
level.
HEROIC ExERrioNs.
ST. LOUIS, March I..--Additional ad-
vices from the lower Mississippi regard
ing the flood are that the country be.
tween the Arkansas line and VicksDurg,
on both sides OF the rives, is In immedi-
a,e danger OF inundation. The Arkan-
sas leyeos have been abandoned. The
water is running over the Arkansas
lovec in several places. All efforts are
being concentrated to save the leyees in
Louisiana between Vicksburg and tho
Arkansas line, and those on the Missis-
sippi shoc between Vicksburg and
Greenville.
On each. side OF the river the most he
roic exertions have IN made ior
weeks ana arc now Oeing retioubled.
The rain has fallen in torrents every
where.
At all endangered points a watch is
kept up day and night.
Live stock and moyablcs are being
taken to places OF safety.
The lcyee at Mayersyille, Miss, gave
way yesterday afternoon and the river
came against the new levee, which is
considered unsafe, and a panic seized
the population. Many ladies and chill
drcn were sent to Vicksburg on the
steamers.
Two hundred miles Of the levees are
endangered and general overflow is
considered inevitable by a number of
experienced persons. There is no cause
to apprehend loss OF lie, but the destruc-
ton of property will be great.
THE CONDITION At SEw ORLEANS.
NBw ORLEANS, March li.--The condi-
tion of affairs on the river front this
morning Is much more satisfactory than
at the same time yesterIay. The city
authorities, aided by the railroad, have
strengthened the weak places In the
levoe and urc constructing Temporary
lovees ont OF bags filled with earth from
st. Louis to Hospital streets and other
points, but from 81. Louis street to the
canal, where SO much water came in yes.
terday, nothing has yet been done. The
leyees ia this section were Injured more
by the wind and weather than by the
Hood. To-day the wind is blowing from
the north with u velocity OF thirty miles
an hour.
Governor Nichols to-day issued a pro-
clamation, requesting all steamers TO
keep AS near mid stream as possible and
to run as slow as the circumstances will
permit during the present freshet. In tho
lower Mississippi. the waves. from pass
ing vessels have done good deal OF
damage to the temporary work on the
leyees.
THE WATER STILL RIsisG.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, March IA. To night
the river is 80 feet 4 inches, the highest
point ever recorded. and is still rising.
The opinion here is that the levecs on
the Mississippi side will be able to with
stand the pressure OF the great flood,
but the situation on tho Arkansas side
below Arkansas City, is far from reas.
suring, although the damage, should
the ItNet give way, Wouiu w hllknt, US
compared with the destruction which
would ensue should the east bank break.
The passengers on the Louisville, New
Orleans 4 Texas railroad arriving here
to-day report novel scenes along the
road The low lands and lugoons in the
Mississippi delta are flooded until the
only land visible is the ridge on which
the tracks run, and q lew promontories
protruding above tho water. These
places aiiord shelter for hundreds of
squirrels and other small game. The
cabins in tho lower lands are submerged
several feet In the water and skiiis afford
the occupants the only means of transit
from one place TO another. Everything
presents an air Of waste and desolation.
Between Vicksburg and Lula, Miss, the
water is highest, and the farmers who
have not already moved are making
every preparation TO do 80. Along the
line OF the Memphis q Little Rock rail-
road the same state Of Affairs exists.
Unless the water in the Mississippi
and Arkansas rivers recedes more rapid
~ than before the unfortunate people
will suffer great priyations.
NEwPoRT INUNDATED.
NswPoRr, Ark, March 15.-The rivers
commenced running over the levees last
night and the whole town, except Fort
street, is now from iour inches to two
feet under water Business Is entirely
suspended. The damage to tLv adjacent
country Is immense. The rise was sud.
den and without warning. Every thing
movable IN gone. The country south OF
Newport, which embraces some of the
finest farms In the state, Is also inun-
dfHed
BsVween Helena and the mouth
OF the RI. Francis river there are
very few spots vi dry land, and rise Of