Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-03-20
FLOOD AT MEMPHIS.

Tho Water Higher Than Ever Before
Anown and Still Gradually on the Rise
Armed Men Patroling the Government
Levees- Steamer Warned on Heavy Loss
OF Live stock-Al the Railroads but One
Submerged.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 14.-The
Mississippi river is tonight higher
than recorded by the weather bureau
since Its establishment here 25 years
ago. The rise to-day was about six
inches. Numerous small dikes or priv
ate levees around towns and plauta-
tons have given way under the pres
sure from the tremendous volume of
water, but no reports of any breaks in
government levees have been received.
Armed men patrol them the entire dis
tance, however, prepared to give warn
ing by the use Of their guns in case OF
a break.
The steamer Bluff City was warned
by several shots from these guards
few miles below the city to-day, be-
cause she approached too near the EN-
llanl1ments. 1t was feared the wash
IRON her would go over the top Of the
levee and, softening it, make the way
easy for crevasse. The river at this
place is nearly three miles wide, ex-
tending inland on the Arkansas side
about two miles.
There was no loss of life or livestock
in the low-lying Arkansas district oppo-
site, owing to the fact that the over
flow is of yearly occurrence. The in
habitants, accustomed to moving out
at this season every spring, had their
effects In shape, and when the water
began to rise came across the river to
the city, where they will remain until
the flood subsidies.
On the islands in the river below
here, however, the people were not so
fortunate. The rise was so sudden and
the height so far above all previous
overfows that the residents were total
ly unprepared. At Presidents island
nearly all the live stock was destroyed,
but the inhabitants managed to reach
the Tennessee shore in safety. At Hen
"hu NhlShcuo lSiduu tle loSS VI llNc
stock is equally great, and the few peo-
pie engaged in farming there were
brought to Memphis by a passing boat.
Two boats were sent to these islands
yesterday to gather up all the live
stock which had escaped the flood and
returned to this city last night.
The big Neeley plantation, eight
miles below this city is vast expanse
Of water and the cabins occupied by
the negroes are washed away. The ST.
Francis basin is one great lake and all
previous floods witnessed by the resi-
dents of this section have been out
done.
The railroads are feeling the effects
Of the big overflow, and tonight the
Iron Mountain road is the only one
which can come into the city with any
degree of safety to its trains. The
Little Rock & Memphis managed to get
its morning train in, but no attempt has
been made to send out trains to-day.
The Kansas City, Fort Scott &
Memphis, which has not been touched
by the high water for several years,
was compelled last night to use the
Iron Mountain tracks. 1t turned its
trains over to that road at Nettleton,
Ark, and in that way reached Mem
phis. 1t suffered serious washout
near Gilmore, and Supt Sullivan sent
large force to. make repairs. The
approach to the big bridge across the
Mississippi owned by this road is
nearly mile in length. Ever since
the bridge was opened six years ago
the trestle has been frned up by fill.
ing, but owing to the enormity of the
work it has not yet been completed.
The water is tonight within few
inches of the top of this filed work and
some fear is expressed that it will wash
it away where the pressure is greatest,
The Iron Mountain tracks are still a
few inches above water, but if the rise
continues, it, too, will be compelled to
abandon traffic.
The Yazoo division of the Illinois
Central is also menaced by high wa
ter, and in some places in upper Mis-
sisippi the water is rapidly nearing the
tracks. 1t rained here nearly all OF
yesterday, but to-day has been clear
and much colder and freeze is pre-.
1ictal