Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1897-03-30
WIDESPREAD
Is the Damage From Water in
the Mississippi Valley.
The Flood, in Some Places, Reaches
the Highest Stage Ever Recorded.
Numerous Breaks in the Levees Reported
From Cairo. ILL.,, to Columbus, Ky,
Distance of 80 Miles, the Riy-
er Is 25 Miles Wide.

rivers would rise to the danger point
has been well verified, and new high
water marks have been made. That
stretch of low land country on both
sides of the Mississippi river from the
mouth of Des Moines to the hills below
Hannibal, Mo-, and Quincy, ILL.,, is
under water. At Quincy the record
Sunday night is 1913 feet with a rising
river. This is two feet above the dan
ger line Great suffering has bcfallep
the farmers in the bottoms about Pal
myra and West Quincy on the Mis-
souri, side. This sea of overflow has
ruined every lowland farm from Pal
myra north 40 miles to La Grange,
Should the rise reach another foot
every railroad in the valley will have
to be abandoned.
Horizons and Wards islands, below
Quincy, are inundated and the set
tiers barely escaped with their lives,
The Indian Grave levee, north ol
Quincy, that protects 10000 acres o:
farmed land, was still intact Sunday
night, but little more water would
sweep it away. At Louisiana, Mo, the
water is spreading over the lowlands,
At Burlington, Ia, the river is five miles
wide and has DESTROYED several mills
on the flats. At Alton. ILL.,, the rise
Saturday was very rapid. The Missis
sippi flood was met by the overflow
from the Missouri and Illinois rivers,
and the current of the latter was about
at a standstill at noon, being held in
check by back-water from the big
river. Rescue boats are busy bringing
families and stock to Quincy from the
lowlands.
Information received Sunday from
the flooded country south OF Cairo, ILL.,,
is barren of encouragement for imme-
diate relief. The half dozen points
where Saturday there were slight de-
creases in the height of the flood, Sun
day report steady rises Numerous
breaks in the levees on both
sides Of the river have served
as safety outlets. The rises re.
ported in the northern tribu.
taries to the great river are be.
ginning to be felt About all the dam
age that can come from high water has
already been done, however, and the
outcoming tide will only complete the
work of destruction. Cairo is well en-
trenched on the Illinois peninsula, and
fear there has given place to conf
dcnce. Sonth of Cairo, SO miles to Co.
lumbus, Ky, the river becomes a
sea % miles wide. Columbus
proper is on an elevation and only a
part of the town is flooded. From Co
lumbus to Hickman, another stretch of
80 miles, the levees have disappeared.
Hickman is q city set upon hill and
is a city of refuge for hundreds of ref
ugees From Hickman to New Mad
rid, Mo-, there is great bend in
the river, over which steamers
travel 50 miles down stream in
ordinary stages of water and |
are then 20 miles north of Hickman.
Hick man to reach New Madrid, ignor-
ing the river current and riding on the
turbulent yellow sea across the sites
of hamlets and plantations. South
from New Madrid to the Arkansas
state line, 90 miles there is steadily !
swelling tide that has obliterated
every landmark. From the state line
to Osceola, in Arkansas, there are occa-
sional stretches of levee, protected by
cross barriers back to the ST. Francis
hills, that have withstood the flood.
The great crevasse of Osceola of
week ago has widened and stretch of
water now extends back to the st.
Francis river and south l2O miles to
the rivers mouth, 90 miles above
Helena. This is the longest unbroken
stretch of overhowed country, and in
several places is 40 miles wide. At
Helena the greatest fear is felt.
All this enormous body of water is
now beating upon the circle leyec |
north of the town from the hills to |
the river levee. The greatest efforts
are made to keep it intact and 400 |
men were working in relays Sunday
to strengthen this two mile barrier.
Armed guards patrol the cmbankment.
Should this give way nothing would
remain OF levecs south % miles
to Arkansas City. Standing upon
the deck of q steamer the street level
Of the town Of Fr.ar's Point, opposite
Helena, is seen l. feet below the top
of the lcvce, with the river rising and
only 1G inches below the top At
GreenvilIe, Miss, Sunday. Gov. Me-
Laurin took charge of the volunteer
\
ening the levcc. At q public meet
ing held there Saturday night
every business man in the city
/ pledged himself to discontinue bust
ness and fight the flood.
The most critical points on all the
river lie between Helene, Modoc, La
coma and Arkansas City, for it is in
/ these latter stretches of levee that the
greatest water fight ever made on the
Mississippi is now in progress,
MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 29-At 1:l0
Monday morning message was re-
ceived that a large break had occurred
in the levee at Wayside, Miss, nine
miles below GreenviIle. The break is
reported to be bad one, and in a Sec
tion Of levee high and regarded as
measurably safe.
They Blew Out the Gas.
| PITTSBURGH, Pa, March 29.-Harry
| e !