Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-13
THE RAGING WATERS
TRAFFIC sUsPENDEoA ALONG THE MIS-
SlSSlPPI AND IT'S TRIBUTARIES.
Railroads Observation-Disclosures
Destroyed-The Height OF the
Flood ut Various Points.
my telegram 70 the pIspstch.l

ST. LOUIS, March l2.-The flood news
from various points along the Mississippi
ana other streams 10 that the WHITE ana
Black rivers in Arkansas are on the ram
page: Both are out of their banks ana are
Overlooking the country on each side for
miles. Heavy rains have fallen, and con-
tinue 10 fall along those streams. and a
general inundation is looked for. The
Black Is o tributary of the White, and the
White empties into the Arkansas Just above
the point where tho latter pours Its flood
into the Mississippi. AT Fort smith. on
the Arkansas, a rise OF over eighteen leet
took place in twenty-four hours, and at
last accounts the swell was proceeding at
rapid rate. The great rise, added TO the
minor Hoods pouring out OF all the small
tributaries below Fort Smith. will greatly
add to the volume of water in the Missis-
sippi below the mouth of the Arkansas and
will increase the peril of the lower coun-
try. All the railroads in the vicinity
OF Fort Smith are suffering IRON
serious washouts or lost bridges and
trains are abandoned temporarily. AT
Arkansas City. on the Mississippi, the
water from Sappington-Hool creyasse has
inundated the rear part OF the town ana
the lands IN the back country are being
flooded. 1t Is not thought however, that
any great damage will result from tins
break, as the bayous and interior streams
are capable Of carrying the water away
quite rapidly. All the available boats OF
the Government have beeu put INTO the
levee service. The river-frOnt from Ar
kansas City down Is being carefully
watched and the weak places IN the
leyee strengthened. The report prevailed
that the levee at Alsatia, La, twenty miles
south of Lake Providence. had broken,
but this has not been verified.
SEEKING HIGHER GROUND.
ST. LoU1s. March ia special to the
ReDlfJlic from Arkansas City. Ark, says 1t
has been raining there for about forty
hours and the crevasse in the levee above
the city Is now about 400 feet wide. The
people are much alarmed nj the outlook,
and some are seeking higher ground. At
Poplar Bluffs, Mo, the situation is serious.
In the Helena. Ark. district the river con-
tinues rising very rapidly, The rise in the
Arkansas west Of Little Rock, Ark, Is I'M
precedented. II ia feared another day will
bring out unwelcOme news OF the waters
ravaSes.
RISING FOOT An HOUR.
BATEsvILLE. AK. March 12.-The White
river rose eighteen feet here Yesterday, and
il is now rising foot an hour.
NEARLY FIFTY FEET.
NEW ORLEANS. March 12.-The PicGynsPs
river stood here last evening forty-sevcn
and half feet and it Is still rising. Re
ports from the levees along the Mississippi
side up 10 y. NJ were that the principal
levees were still in good shape, but the
strain against them WAS increasing every
hour.
Continuous rain accompanied by heavy
| winds prevailed. and some disaster seemed
not improbable before morning. II Ind
l. II 81, ~, and
It was still coming down IN torrents with
no Indication of any change soon.
The TgfS- U,DCcrdi Helena Ark special
SAYS: The river crnwled I'D ;wO inches
during the last twenty-four hours aDd now
marks forty-three feet five inches on the
gauge. The water is now four feet eight
inches below high water. The rise during
the present week will be gradual The be-
ginning of next week will be more rapid,
and tho highest water VIII reach hero sun
day.
HIGH WATER AT MEMPHIS.
MrapHIs. TENN., March 12.-Ihe food
outlook TO-DAY Is more threatening than at
any previous time since the present high
water began to excite attention. The ram
| fall over the country and west OF mere and
| south Of the Ozark Mountain range mas
been over three inches within the past
two DAYS and the storm still continues.
As a consequence the Arkansas and White
rivers are pouring out immense volumes
and the situation below their mouth IS
anvthing but encouraging.
The river ut this point has risen TO the
great food level Of 1852 thirty-six feet
and u rising slowly. Every effort Is being
made by the Government forces TO stop
the break at Sappington, and a. that
crevasse is in slack water the chances are
in favor IF its repair. The feeling, how
ever is that the laeyeson the Arkansas side
along the entire Texas front must 60 down.
The landings between here and Cairo are
so covered with water that the boats are
unable to land except at few places.