New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-13
THE ANGRY MISSISSIPPI.
STILL RISING AND BREAKING IT'S BONDS IN
TWO PLACES.
THE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE WORKING DESPER
ATDLY on THE LEvEES, BUT FEARING
WORSE OVERFLOW THAN THAT OF 1888
THE RAILROADS HEAVY LOSERS
MUCH LAND UNDER WATER
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.
MUCH LAND UNDER WATER


St Louis March 1.-THE effects Of the great
ranstorm that swept over the lower Mississippi
Valley Monday and Tuesday now seen in the
turbulent river which is reported on the rise from
all points below Burlington, Iowa. Not since the
spring of 1883 las there been such volume Of
water pcnncd within the thcatcning banks OF the
big river. The greatest danger. and the greatest
damage so far has been inflicted below Memphis ;
but the river is rising rapidly that the
American bottom, which extends from Alton. ILL.,,
10 Cairo is threatened. Six miles north Of
Arkansas City the waters have torn away
through the Opossum Levcc for go feet, and are
now pouring a rcsistlcss food over Chcot County
and the Tensas River basin, in Northern Louisl-
ana. The water was within two feet of the top
Sunday afternoon, when fifty feet Of the levec
was swept away.
Heforc systematic work 10 stop the crcvassc was
begun the gap wdened to 200 feet. lhe
water had fall OF fully twenty feet INTO the
bayous For three days it has been pouring over
the lowlands of Chcot County Ark. and East
Carroll Parish. La Arkansas City is surrounded by
water and thousands OF cattle grazing in the back
lands have persisted c. ). Tollinscr, Govern
mcnt engineer, with large force and several
steamboats, is trying 10 repair the break, but his
efforts have failed The gauge at Arkansas City
today marked - feet above low water mark
All business has been suspended, and those who
can afford trip are leaving the place now. From
St Louis south the river is spreading and rising
The railroads anc again the greatest sufferers.
ewing 10 oyerfiowcd or washcd-out tracks. caus-
Ing suspension Of business and the
abandonment Of trains The Iron Mountain
a. well as the Cotton Belt Railroad Com
panv. has abandoned Birds Point No.
81. ,.1-.. fle ctq be
Iron Mountain Company is keeping up communica-
,ion from Cairo. via Belmont. the transfer steamer
Junius : Morgan making daily trips THIS mode
of communication can last only day or two al
The furihcst for six inches rise will submergc
the railroad track al Belmont The Cotton Belt
people are having the hardest time Of it. II Is
said that the families Of finy employees Of the
company are living In boN-cars at Birds Point.
The clerical force AT that place and the Office OUTFIT
will 20 10 Delta until the waters subslde They
will probably embark on the Cherokee tomorrow
morning going Via Cape Grardcau.
The Mobile and Ohio Railroad has abandoned
IN, track between Wicklnc and Fillmore and
IFS trains from tie South come int" TINS city over
The Illinois Central bridge, using that company :
track from WIcklinc.
At Helena the river has risen two inches In
the last siN hours and stands foriy-iour feet i've
inches above low water. and three feet eight
inches below high water mark. From the water
IN SIGHT al Cairo it Is certainty that the river
VIII 20 AT le,st three feet higher here. and this
may bc augmented hy rains.
II has been raining steadily here since 10
O'Clock this morning. The reports to-day indicate
"A siaer of water between the Arkansas and >azoo
rivers TWO feet higher than any previous wafer
and "A man from GrrrnNIllr says the lc'ec AT tha'
place can stand only about loot more. WIN a
certainty Of three more feet {" pass here IL o'
sin, 10 look as If the lcvccs below mere aTc pouhd
,o 20. The present high water below the Ar
kanas River Was attained by +J-iool stage 1T
Cairo and "A 42-loot sta@c Al this place"
With the rain OF to-day. which seems I" oc gen
crL the danger Of a disastrous overflow seems
.f,,o.t certain Reports from lcyccs along the
Mississippi side up to p m. are thRt the Piln'l
pal lcyccs are still n good condition, oHt ih"' IN.
strain against them Is increasing every houI a
continuous rain. accompanied hN heavy Wlhus III
,ouc localities. is now falling along the line. and
.ou, disaster Is not improbable before morning
II has been raining hard for ten hours.
several steamers belonging l" Inc 'oN'rnmeh.
feet with pilcIrlNcrs. went to-day - tine pI''h
IA tbe lcNrc above Arkansas tltN. where thrN
expect 10 render all the assistance III lh'iI
power to stop tie break from emerging. A"ns
The front from Arkansas city down. IN many
places the river il such height that tl'' wafer
can BE- held back only 10y topping 'h' "N''s
with sacks filed with "nIth. me '"|'i
rcct plying between Arkansas CITY ana Lake
Province today put every boat available at th'
service of tie lcNcc works. In AZ tkansas tltl
the water is said 10 be from u inches I" : icet
deep The situation is anything hnt encouraging
twenty miles south of Lake Providence la;
the AlNitla lcvcc was swept away last night ana
the waters an spreading over ,h' ""Jolinns
country Mississippi and other lower counties
If Southeast Missouri I'm all probability. Will soon
see "A rcpcfiiion of the distress occasioncd IN tS7"
h,. rho overflow Already the river at cairo
ands Is feet with probability Of golng
10 II feet The entire lower part oi
Mississippi County is now covered by water ana
families are moving their goods HOUSES are
washed away. stock drowned and the entire crop
,s DESTROYED On high Snolls the Wild game
have taken REFUGE and is now pcrshing Hunters
Isl nitLt All are expecting greater overflow
than that Of ss3