The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-05-20
Ar FLOOD TIDE.

1
Houses the River Front and More
Expected Sewers Choked and Some
Bursting by the Pressure of Backwater
Reports from Other Quarters.
ST. LOUIS, May 14.-Reports received
here state that heavy rains prevailed
last night and this morning through
put Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kan
sas, Nebraska and Iowa. In some
places the rainfall was tremendous
and has swelled the already high
streams in these states until they are
beyond their banks and are now over
| lowing farm lands and causing de-
struction to crops and buildings that
| hundreds of thousands of dollars will
not cover.
The Mississippi river is feeling the
nfirx of the heavy streams poured into
it by its tributaries, and is rising at the
| rate of three-quarters of an inch an
hour. At 2 p. m. the gauge registered
thirty-two feet. This is considered the
danger line, and is rise of one foot
since Thursday.
When the full force of Thursday
nights heavy rain reaches the Missis-
sippi it is believed the stream will rise
at the rate of over an inch per hour. If
this calculation should prove correct
the damage which will follow is beyond
estimating.
All along the river bank, between the
extreme limits of the city, the water is
in the cellars of all business houses, and
covers the tracks of railroads running
along the levee to the depth of from
two to three feet. Hundreds of squat
ters who have lived for years in shanties
along the river banks have been forced
to pack their household goods and seek
refuge ON higher ground. The high
stage of the river has caused the
owners of lumber yards and elevators
located on the levee to feel con-
siderable apprehension for their
property. In many places the river is
higher than the mouth of sewers, and
this lends an additional element of dan
ger from the flood. The sewers are
choked up and the water is backing up
into the cellars and Easements of dwell
| ings and in come cases has burst the
sewer pipes.
1t is expected that the river will
steadily rise until tomorrow night,
when the climax will be reached.
| Reports received from down the river
as far as Vicksburg, Miss, state that
the river is at high stage and the cur.
rent is very swift. The levees are said
to be in fairly good order, and will
probably be able to withstand the
pressure of the heavy body of water.
| At p. m. the sun was shining, and
the indications are that the downpour
of rain has ceased, at least for the pres
ent.
Within an Inch of the Highest Recorded.
| KANSAS CITY, Mo-, May 1.-the Mis-
souri, river is within one and one-tenth
inches of the highest water ever re-
corded here by the signal Office.
1t will rise another foot by tomorrow
morning, SO says the observer. This
means that the entire village of Harlem
will be flooded and the bottoms along
the river will be overfowed. The rise
during the night was steady, and
this morning the condition along
the stock-yards district and the
packing houses is very serious. All
along the levee of the city the water is
encroaching on the shore and business
is almost entirely suspended there un-
til the water goes down. The big Ham
nibal bridge approaches are almost en-
tirely surrounded, and several shanties
occupied by squatters have been swept
away. In addition to the increased
volume of water the flood is rapidly
washing away the banks in several
places and cutting into the country,
making extensive crevasses.
| Reports from all points in Kansas
| and Missouri show that there is no
hope for immediate relief, for it is still
raining and cloudy. The reports from
| up the Missouri river are most discour-
aging, as there the river is making
| great inroads into the land and threat
ening to engulf large areas of farms.
The entire bottom is liable to be under
mined at anytime now, and heavy
force of men is working night and day
| to protect the roadbed. All the roads
across the river on the north are rum
ming, but very slowly'and carefully, for
they are in constant danger of the big
dykes breaking.
Still Raining and Rising I'm Kansas.
| Topeka, Kas., May 14.--It is raining
again in Kansas. Great torrents OF
rain fell all night in central and east
err Kansas. The Republican river at
junction City is five miles wide, and
the "Big Blue at Manhattan is over its
banks. The Kansas river at Topeka is
now over its bank and still rising. Re
ports from the west say that ten-foot
rise may yet be expected. If this be
true, and the appearances are all
that way, the bridges that span
the river at this point are all doomed.
Water has already done great damage
here, flooding houses, warerooms, mills,
factories, etc. The railroad tracks are
under water, and street-car travel with
the eastern suburbs is totally suspend
ed.
A Madly Rushing Torrent of Mud.
| OMAHA, Neb., May 13. The Missouri
river is rapidly rising and torrent of
mud is madly rushing down towards
| its mouth. At east Omaha it is cutting
away the banks in acre slices, and it is
| feared that the stream will seek its old
channel along the Nebraska bluffs. If
1T should, great damage would be done.
The owners of east Omaha believe,
however, that the riprap will protect
their city, which has been built in the
last two years.
A Rumor that Two New Bishops May be
Agreed Upon.
| OMAHA, Neb., May 14.-Bishop Good
| sell presided over the conference. and
Thomas Horroun, of Wyoming, conduct