The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-14
LEVEES GOING TO PIECES.
Numerous Crevasses Above and Below New
orleans Which Are Rapidly Widening.

NEW ORLEANS, La, June 13.-Ths levee
situation is to-day more serious than at
any time during the present high water.
Especially is this true of the levee within
a few miles of New Orleans. Last night
at II o'clock serious break occurred at
Belmont levee, ST. James parish. 1t was
not long In reaching width of seventy
five feet, and is reported to be seven feet
deep. There is a small battue in front, but
the work of closing will be- in the opinion
of those upon the scene, q very difficult
task. There is force of two hundred men
at work. hich Is being forced.
At O'clock this morning break oc-
CURED on Sharpey's levee, twenty-five
miles from the city. The break is twenty
five feet wide. and is considered a serious
one. About 6 o'clock this morning the
Ievee broke In the AvOndale plantation.
1t Is near Waggaman station. on the Texas
~ Pacific road. The latest information is
to the effect that 1t has widened To 100 feet,
and the ends are washing badly. The
depth Is eight feet. The crevasse IL consid-
cred q most serious one. Three hundred
men are at work, and there is plenty of
material on hand.
Later reports say the break on Sharpey's
Prospect plantation has become fifty feet
wide. and 1t Is considered serious. A large
II. t..
assistant general passenger agent of the
Mississippi Valley road, states that the lat
est information from the Belmont crevasse
Is that the break is now eighty feet wide.
The situation on the lower coast is de-
plorable. There are now three very serious
crevasses between this city and POydras
plantation. There is one at Villere, seven
miles from the city, which formed on Sat
urday night, and Is now fifty feet wide and
about five feet deep. The crevasse at Story.
rnnOrfeh
TO be seventy-five feet wide. At 5
o'clock this morning a break occurred at
the Merrick plantation, eleven miles below
the city. 1t Is ten feet wide and nine feet
deep. This one makes thirty breaks on the
east bank OF the river this year. Another
break twenty feet wide is reported at
Harry this morning The railroad has
abandoned its mban kment, and the tracks
are being cut to let the water through. At
Belle Chase crevasse the CRIB work has
been completed and sackin0 has been done
about half way round. The cTevasse at
Monsecour is still fifty feet wide. The
lower Mississippi, from the mouth of Red
river to Donaldsonville. has for some time
been rising at the rate of from one to two
tenths per day. This swell was caused in
part by the return to the river of the
Arkansas crevasse water, anu in part by
the flood waves coming from the Red and
Ouachita rivers.
/, was stated tonight that all attempts
to close the Belmont crevasse have been
abandoned. The opening is now two hun
dred feet wide and thirteen feet deep. The
water from this break will overflow many
valuable plantations and will eventually
damage the Illinois Central railroad, SINH
lar to the damage inflicted by the Nita
crevasse two years ago. Water from the
AvOndale crevasse has already caused sus-
pension OF traffic over portion of the
Southern Pacific railroad. and great DAM
age will result from the crevasse.