The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-04-08
AID FOR THE STRICKEN.
General Alger Acts Promptly to
Relieve Flood Victims.
ARMY OFFICERS ON THE SCENE

Thcy VIII Ascertain the Needs of tho
People, and Others who WIN Follow
Quickly WIN Distribute the Relief.
New Orleans May Have IA Crisis.
Memphis, April s.-The supreme test
of the levees south of Vicksburg and
Arkansas city is approaching. The
river at Vicksburg has fallen for some
days, on account of the rush of waters
from the main channel through the
crevasse above into the Yazoo delta.
This water is again returning to the
channel through the Yazoo river, and
ite influence is being felt at Vicksburg,
where the guage is now marking higher
figures. Within few days the crest
of the rise viii be opposite Vicksburg,
and the channel will continue to deepen
unless the levees break.
The Louisiana people keenly realize
the gravity Of the situation. The de-
struction wrought in the st. Francis
basin and the Yazoo delta may be re-
peated i'm the Tensa basin, which be-
gins in southeastern Arkansas and ex-
tends through the northeastern coun-
ties Of Louisiana. Material and men
are being hurried forward. The news
of the action of congress in appropriat-
ing a large sum for the relief of the
sufferers was gratefully received here
and throughout the overflowed districts.
Secretary Alger acted with the great
est promptNess, and today six army Of
fcers arrived in Memphis Dividing
the Mississippi into six sections, they
viii ascertain the needs of the people
Another detail of officers viii follow,
the reports of these officers, acting in
harmony with the local relief commit
tees. Memphis will be headquarters
for the purchase of supplies and dis
tribution.
The six officers selected to make the
inquiry are Colonel Haines, of the en-
gineer corps, in charge of river and
harbor works in the Baltimore dis
trict; Colonel Sanger inspector gem
erals department; Captain Gailliard,
of the engineers; Captain Martin, of the
quartermaster's department; Captain
Craig, of the signal service, and Cap-
tain Clark, of the ordnance department
The officers were accompanied from
washington by Mr. Graves, president
of the Memphis chamber of commerce
and Mr.. ]. S. Menken, vice president OF
the Memphis relief committee. TC
these gentlemen Is, owing much credit
for the expedition with which the gov
ernment relief was secured, though
they were aided heartily by their repre-
sentatives in congress and by the ad-
ministration.
The committee said that they NEEDED
no blankets or tents, as they were now
advised, though reports from outside
points on the river might show the ne
cessity for some of these later on
| What they did need now was food ant
| medicine. The supplies could be pur.
chased in Memphis to the best ad
vantage, for that was the nearest poin
to the distressed districts and woulC
serve best as a point of distribution
At Camp Congo, in the limits of Mem
/ phis a competent physician was al
ready at work, and at their suggestion
the officers will leave to this doctor
the selection of the medical supplies
to be purchased.
The six districts into which the Mis-
sissippi viii be divided for purposes
Of investigation and distribution are a
/ follows From Memphis down to Hell
ena, from Helena down to Greenville
/ from Greenville down to Vicksburg
from Vicksburg to New Orleans, from
Memphis to Cairo, and from Cairo up
Below Baton Rouge and all the way
to New Orleans not only has a grea
deal of work been done on the levees
but the patrol system is ample anC
thoroughly organized. Crevasses, un
like lightning, may strike twice in tn,
| same place, and where a weak spot hai
once developed it is considered an i'm
portant point to hold. For that reason
Bonnel, Carre, paYls Nita and othe
sorely stricken points have levee
higher and broader than almost any
where in the state, still standing a
four feet or a little less above the wate
! level These are also guarded will
| greatest care. So far not one of thes
banks has developed a weak spot.
It rimply a question Of strength t.
resist ,he pressure and the height t
keep the rising water from pouring
over the tops and weakening the base
Of the bulwarks by flooding the road
in the rear. If all the levees hold Ney
Orleans will have crisis to face.
A telegram received here from
committee OF citizens Of Helena, Ark
states that there are 5000 sufferers a
that place, and that the water Is nov
IN every house from Helena to Whit
river.