The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-02
L00KSLIKE A VASTLAKE.
THE TACOMA CIRCLE ALL UNDER
a SEA OF WATER.

People Perched in Trees and on the
House Tops A Steamer Sent to
Their Rescue-Cattle in Pitiful Con
dition-Greenville Very Wet but the
People Not DISCOURAGED.
ST.. LOUIS, April Information from
what is known as the Laconia Circle, a sec
tion Of country between Helena and Arkan-
sas City, which is practically surrounded by
the Mississippi and White rivers, is to the
effect that the people there are in deplor-
able condition. The water poured over
the levees on both sides ard in
three hours the circle was filed
even with the surface of the river.
The water averaged eight feet deep. This
occurred so suddenly that the people had no
time to do anything. Their houses, stock,
and everything else they owned were in the
water and in some cases were swept away
before they realized what had happened.
RELIEF BOAT SENT.
The citizens Of Helena sent the steamer
Houston Coombs down there last Thursday
as relief boat TO aid the people. A CORE
spondent ON board writes that when the
steamer arrived at the circle a number of
houses were found blown Off their blocks, or
stills, and others were badly careened. The
people had been living IN the lofts
Of some of the low houses, and when
these careened they could only escape by
Knocking holes in the roofs. Several people
were blown into the water and swan to
other houses where they remained Thursday
night. A number Of cattle were drowned.
REscUING THE PEOPLE.
On Friday men went over the circle in
skitf5 and transferred the people from the
trees and roofs to the gin-houses, which are
generally substantial buildings. These
houses are now packed with people, hun
dreds Of persons being in some Of them. The
Coombs took to Helena 13l persons and 40
cattle.
Many of the planters in the circle are
utterly ruined, and the remainder have no
seed to plant even should the waters sub
side in time to put IN crop.
The suffering has hsen and will be great,
and aid of all kinds will be necessary to
carry the people through their afilichon.
HELENA's LEvEEs UNBRoKEN.
New ORLEANS, April IA special to the
Itmes-Dem0crdt from Helena, Ark, says:
lowing 60 the break of the levee at AUSTIN,
Miss, Helena has received some relief.
Owing to the present rain the river will not
fall much here soon, as the rise from Cairo
will reach us before the effects of the rain
cease. The stock that has been saved from
the flood are having a fearful time standing
the attacks Of the buffalo gnats tnat swarm
i'll myriads. The report that the levees
about Helena had been swept away is un-
true.n
VERY WET AT GREENvILLE.
A special to the Times Democrat from
Greenville, Miss, says: The situation has
been very wet here for the past twenty four
hours. The heavy rain of last night, and
all of to-day has made things very Disagree
able in addition to the encroachment of the
back water in the northern portion of the
city. The water has not spread much since
last night. In the center of the town is a
high rid ge which was formally the bank of
Rattle Snake bayou. This ridge runs east
and west for some distance, when
it takes a southeasterly course until
the bayou appears, and makes a good
drain for the water of the eastern part of
the town. 1t is now flowing over the tracks
of the Louisville, New Orleans and Texas
railway, thereby preventing the water from
spreading very much in town, and it is
quite doubtful whether it will rise any
more in the already innndlted district, as
at one place above the town it is higher on
the inside than tie leyee, and the water is
running over the levee into the river.
"The condition of affairs at Miller's
Bend and at Offutt's break is as follows:
Water from the Huntington break has
risen above the food level below and is
now passing back into the river through
the Offutt break, thereby relieving the
waters at our back considerably. The
Easton break is, however, letting out
great quantity of water, which is fast
spreading over the eastern portion of the
county, and in some places it is quite deep.
To-day the mayor appointed commit
tee to look after and care for those who
may be in distress in the overhowed por-
tions Of the city, the city authorities feeling
abundantlY able to provide for any who
may be in want. The condition here is not
as bad as it would seem to be 20 the outside
world. Should the food pass Off in thirty
days good crop can be made, which has
been the case in nearly all the years Of over
how."
TRAFFIC SUSPENDED.
MEMPHIS, TENN, April The Louis
vile, New Orleans and Texas railroad has
been compelled to temporarily abandon its
trains, owing to the insecure condition of
the trestle near Tunica, which is being re-
paired. Trains will be running tomorrow
YrohohIu