The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-04-12
One Sheet Of Water.
CIR enyille In Danger of Becom-
ing Inundated From the Cat
n Point Break.
Water Spreading With Aston
ishing Speed Over Cultivated
and Improved Lands.
Depressing Situation OF the Col
Ored People In the NeighbOr-
hood of Skipwith.
Seven COlOred Men Drowned by
a Raft Striking a Tree and
Capsizing.

Raft Striking a Tree and
Capsizing.
A report came from GreenvIlle,
Miss, by telegraph, dated tbs 9th
inst., stating that the greatest con-
sterpatlon prevailed at that city
caused by the breuk in tho levee at
Catfish point. 1t Is to the effect that
the latest reports received is that the
crevasse 10 from I,7o0 to 1900 feet
wide and increasing. The water reach
GreenvilIe early that morning, aud
Washington avenue, the main business
street, was then one sheet OF water
from the corner OF Poplar street to
the race track, and the water was
making it's way over the sidewalks
into the stores. A great many people
had to seek higher quarters on ac-
count OF the sudden rise. All the
bitches and other channels lead.
ing to the southern high portion OF
the town were being damned up to
preserve the ridge situated between
Washington and Central avenues from
being flooded, as this spot will per-
haps in few days be the only avail.
able piece OF land where the many
horses, mules, cattle. etc, could be
congregated and kept out OF the water
until the food falls. Parties who ar
rived at Greenville on the 9th inst,
from Greenwood-the greater part OF
their journey being made in a skitf-
describe the situation in the Sun.
flower lowlands as terrible sight to
be looked upon. At an astonishing
speed, the water was spreading over
the vast improved and cultivated
lands and forests OF our planters,
many of whom would have been, at
the end Of another week or so,
THROUGH WITH THEIR PLANTING.
Houses OF all descriptions and fences
in long sectious were easily carried
away by the terrible currents, and
every conceivable household object
was seen floating down the
Bogue Phalia swamps. Stock and
worldly effects that can be transport
ed were being hurried to the front by
those who have taken precautionary
steps. In the neighboi hood Of Skip.
with tents were badly needed by the
coiored people. The levee there pro
sents, to q person with kindly feelings
and sober thoughts, terrible sight,
which must grow greater in the future
il substantial aid and speedy relief do
not come. At every step the colored
laoorer, his family and his all, are
lound almost destitute, arrayed in
gaI ments that have seen their best
days and afford them but little com.
fort and no protection from the howl
ing winds. For shelter they have
nothing but the canopy OF heaven. II
no assistance comes to these people
many will die from exposure. Food
will soon be needed, and, II not pro.
vided, great suffering will be the con-
sequence. The government officers
have done q great deal OF good in
that section. but as there are other
localities which are now showing
SIGNS OF DISTRESS,
cheir means have to be divided. Capt.
Hlder left on the 9th inst, with two
barges to help Capt. Tollinger get out
the people at Catfish Point, where as
sistance was badly needed. In the
vicinity OF Winterville a great many
cattle are dying from a disease called
hollow horn. At Mound Landing,
seven miles below Catfish Point, the
river fell two feet on the 9th inst, no
doubt owirg to the large break which
is said to discharge volume OF water
IN such o vertical way, which has rare
ly beeh witnessed at any break OF
| this nature. The Lake Washington
country and it's highest points in the
banks OF the beautiful lake are
also rapidly disappearing out OF
sight, q thing which has not been
known since 1854. The outlook is
not hopeful for the planting OF the
overtiowed region before May. Just
as soon as the water subsidies sutfi-
GENTLY they will. we suppose, tempo
rarily close the break so shat the crop
may be protected against any further
rise this season. Returning to 1882
| or comparison, the high water this
year is nearly q month later. This is
discouraginc, though the situation
has its hopeful feature. too. Lake
Bolivar crevasse in 1882 let In per.
haps as much water a. all OF these We
have now; Rivefton near as much as
| all OF them, while the river had to fall
below 81 feet before Lake Bolivar
QUIT FEEDING THE FLOODS
over the fields. Ofiutt's and Hunt.
ington's will cease to oe serious feed.
srs, il 10 presumable, at 40; Easton
at 80. but there Is q menace and dan.
ger so long as the present height is ap-
proximated. In 1882 there was q
most disastrous second food begin.
ming May z. The newly planted crops
were drowned out. Despite the num-
| berless outlets the river rose to within
q foot and q half OF the previous
height and broke the leyee May 26 at
/ CIark's front. This rise, which was
mainly from the Arkansas river,
did not 90 of until late IN June,
and on many plantations no cotton
was raised. There is this consolation,
that il the leyess have gone Co pieces
in spots, 1t took che highest water on
record to do it. The highest point
has not been reached at Cairo, but in
the duration OF the food heients--the
true test--1S90 takes precedence over
all receut years; no year OF which we
have any record but 1882 compares
with IL. For illustration, water pass.
cd above 40 &C Cairo this year March
8 and viii not, it is sale TO say, 20 be-
low that stage tefore April 10. For
ty.three days Of such stage &C Cairo
Is unprecedented. In 1882 10 was
reached Feb. 20 and passed below
March 21. or lasted twenty-nine days.
The average for the Arkansas is about
the same for the two years, but there
was
rHESoMESAL FLOOD
lou. OF the White rivss Ihis year. .,hs