Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-15
ANGRY WATERS.
New Orleans is Threatened With
a Disastrous Overflow.
The Levees Above the City Are Guarded
by Armies OF Men Repairing
Serious Breaks.
Washington Issues Special Bulletin OF Warn
ing to People AIong the Lower Mis-
sissippi-At other POintA
All Excitement at New Orleans.

sreciaI to the Gazette.
NEW ORLEANS, La, March 14.-The
water which flooded a portion of New
Orleans yesterday was merely temporary,
and did no harm beyond causing a scare.
The Ievees at New Orleans stand from
eight to fourteen feet above the streets,
the latter slantiug back to Lake Pontch-
artain, with fall of eight to ten feet
more. The highest water ever known
here was that o. 1874, which rose sixteen
and three-tenths feet over what
is known as low water. The
levees were built sufficiently high
to stand seventeen feet, save in the
business center of the city along the
sugar, cotton and grain landing, and
at the landing of the English steamers
at the foot of Jackson street they were
but sixteen and one-half feet above low
water to accommodate business, this
being supposed to be sufficient to with
stand any flood. A heavy rain aboYe
the city yesterday, accompanied by a
south wind, blew the water against the
levees and 1t rose temporarily to seven
teen feet, or seven-tenths of foot
ABOVE THE HIGHEST MARK KNOWN.
This rise drove, the water over the gut
tiers, and the latter were unable to carry
it off. The result was a flooding of the
front streets. Freight on the levees had
to be removed, but no actual damage
was done. A slight additional rise would
have been very damaging, however, as
the flood on Canal street came within two
inches OF the floors of the lead
ing dry goods stores. While
no injury was done, the flood
caused panicky feeling. 1t had been
believed here for years that the flood of
1874, the most disastrous in the Missis-
sippi valley, would never be exceeded,
and here in few hours the river beat it
nearly foot. The gloomy feeling was
aggravated by rain and wind storm,
which prevailed all night. Fortunately,
however, the wind veered to the north
and blew the water away from the levee.
1t fell as rapidly as it rose, and
by 8 O'Clock the streets were
dry again. This morning, however,
about noon the river again rose, and the
water poured over the levee at the sugar
district, flooding some of the sidewalks
of the neighborhood streets, but not as
bad as yesterday. at night there was
another ugly rise. In the meantime,
however, the danger of the situation was
appreciated, and energetic efforts were
taken to protect New Orleans against the
threatened flood.
The council in extra session voted
$50, 900 as an emergency fund, and the
commissioner of public works had
large force of men put to work on the
levee to-day.
The Northeastern, illinois Central
NfI nfA in fhn
of cars and men, and with their Rssis-
lance, although the water rose over
six inches.
ABOVE THE HIGH WATER MARK
at certain points on the river front, but
little flooding occurred. The water was
over the track of the Louisville and
Nashville railroad at the Girard street
crossing, but not sufficient to prevent the
running of trains. It was threatening
also at the Northern wharf, but active
work there prevented any injury.
The steamer of the Dominion line at
the foot of Dumaine street, finding it i'm
possible TO load there, as the wharf was
under water, moved to the Texas and
Pacific wharf, which is still out alto
gether.
Inc DAY was not an exciting one, put
at the same time bad news continued to
come from many points.
The sixteen miles of river in front Of
New Orleans are well guarded night and
day.
1t is not believed that a crevasse or
break in the levee cen occur. The worst
point of danger is at Carrollton, where
the levee is over fourteen feet high, and
where q break would not ONLY be dam.
aging but