, 1890-03-13
in The BOTTOM LANDS
Disastrous Floods Almost
Inevitable.
IN The MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.
People Warned to Flee TO the
Foot Hills to Save Their
Lives.

ST. Louis, March i2.-Thc Hood news
from various points along the Missis-
sippi river and other streams this morn
ing Is 10 the effect that the White and
Black rivers In Arkansas are on the
rampage. Both arc out Of their banks
and overtlowing tho country on each
side for miles. Very heavy raing have
fallen and continue to fall along these
streams, and q general inundation is
looked for.
At Fort Smith on the Arkansas river,
the water rose eighteen feet in twenty
four hours The last accounts are that
II Is continuing to rise at the same rate.
This great rise, added 10 the minor
floods. pouring out of all the small trib-
utaries below Fort Smith, will greatly
add TO tho volume of water in the Mis-.
slssippi below tho mouth Of the
Arkansas, and increase the
peril to tho lower coun-
try. All the railroads In the vicinity of
Fort Smith aro suffering from serious
washouts or lost bridges and the trains
have been abandoned temporarily.
At Arkansas City, on the Mississippi,
the water from the Sappington hook
crevasse has inundated tho rear part of
the town, and the lands In tho back
country are being flooded. 1t is not
thought however, that any great dam
age will result as tho bayous and the
interior streams are capable OF carrying
the water away rapidly.
All the available boats of the govern
ment fleet have been put into the lcvee
service. The river front from Arkansas
City down Is being carefully watched.
All the low places are being filed up
with sacks of sand and earth, and other
means are being used TO hold back the
waters.
The report prevails that the levee at
Alsata, La, twenty miles south of Lake
Providence, is broken, but this Is not
verified.
At ARKANSAS cirY.
ARKANSAS Cry, Ark, March 12.-It
has been raining hero for about forty
hours, and the crevasse in the levee
above this city Is now about 400 feet
wide. The people are much alarmed,
and some are seeking higher grounds
At Poplar Bluii Mo. the situation is
serious.
At Helena, Ark, the Dstan river con-
tinues rising rapidly.
Tho rise in the Arkansas at West
hbthf hIh.t - ~ 10
feared that another day will bring un-
welcome news OF the waters ravages.
Arkansas City will not probably be
submerged, rs the bulk of the water is
finding its way oil into the bayous back
of the town. Should there be more
breaks 1t will not rise much higher.
EVERYBODY WARNED TO FLEE
GREEsvILLE, Miss, March l2.-Cap-
tain Young, chief engineer OF the gov
ernment fleet, has just rotnrned from an
inspection "trip along the Arkansas
shore. He says that the levees
on that side are In imminent
danger, as It will be impossible
for them to stand much moro pressure,
and lfrom the volume of water expected
in the next few days II is out Of question
TO think of saving that country from
overflow. He warns everybody who
lives and has any interest in the adja-
cent bottoms and the Arkansas basin to
prepare for the inevitable and move all
their live stock and other movable prop.
erty to the foot hills.
rHE SITUATION THREATESING.
MEMPHIS March i2,-The Hood out
look Is moro threatening than at any
previous time since the present high
water began to excite attention. The
Arkansas and White rivers are pouring
out immense volumes Of water, and the
situation below their mouths is any
thing but encouraging.
AT yicKsBuRG.
VIcKsBuRG. Miss, March Eat mid
night the Mississippi valley Is flooded
for several hundred yards. A heavy
rain is falling all over Central and South
ern Mississippi.
\ FLooD IN CALIFORNIA.
RIO VISTA, Cal, March l2,-The river
is higher here to-day than at any time
this year. The leVee on Bremen island
gave away this morning The break is
on the line Of tho Gongales and Nor
gan ranches, and is about
thirty-five yards wide. Several houses
have been carried away, but no lives
have been lost. At T.. T. Dann's place,
two miles above here, the breakwater
washed over the levce, but by piling
sacks of dirt on top Of the leyeo further
damage was stopped.