The herald., 1897-04-17
Situation Again Grow
Critical
THE SUPREME TEST AT HAND
OF THE LEVERS DOWN BELOW
vICKsBURo
Every Man and Boy Along the Great
River Is at Work on the
Embankments
AssocIated Press Special wire.

ASSoCidtc0 Cos oPCCidi Wics
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 16.-Advices
from Natchez and other points below
vicksburg indicate that the supreme
test In the flood situation Is at hand. The
swift current, which is rising steadily,
is beating against the levees with such
force as to cause the gravest apprehen-
sion st many places. At Natchez the
river is near the top of the levee and
everything possible is being done to fight
back the encroaching waters. All kinds
of rumors have been current today re-
garding wholesale loss of life on Davis
island. but diligent inquiry fails to con-
firm the story. 1t Is known that three
negroes were drowned on the island. but
outside of these fatalities no further
loss of life is known to have occurred.
At Vicksburg the river is rising at the
rate of four-tenths of a foot day. The
swift volume of water pouring out of
the Yazoo into the Missouri river at a
point twelve miles north of Vicksburg
will continue for several days. The lev
ees between Bedford store. four miles
south of Delta, La, to Duckport, seven
dition tonight, and every man and boy
available Is at work strengthening the
embankment. AT some points in this
stretch of the levee the water is washing
over, anu line greatest alarm is felt.
A more cheerful feeling exists in the
delta tonight. At Greenville the back
water from Stoors' Landing, which has
been rising in the flooded part of the
town for the last three days. is station
ary and will begin to fall tomorrow
Rosedale, Friar's Point, Helena and
other places, rport an encouraging i'm
provement in the situation. The river
declined one-tenth of a foot at Green
Vile today and the fall of two-tenths
of foot reported at Cairo gives renewed
hope that the vast amount of water will
recede in time to make good crop.
At Memphis the river is stationary.
Captain Mccoy. of the steamer Bluff
City, arrived in port from st. Louis and
brings very encouraging account of the
Improvement In the condition of the over
flowed territory above Memphis. In or
der to make the trip down the river in
the day time he stayed at Upton, ILL.,,
all night. He says the water has re-
ceded sufficiently to allow steamers to
land at all places. There is a material
Improvement and the outlook in up
river points is cheerful.
ta1 ~ A BAD BREAK
vICKSBURG, Miss. April 16-The
and a half miles below Delta, La, broke
at 10 o'clock tonight. The crevasse was
120 feet wide ten minutes after it gave
L.. folx
burg. The Queen and Crescent route
train dispatcher's office reported the
break at IL o'clock tonight. The news
was sent to Delta at once. the operator
being reused out of bed. and the mes
sage of warning was sent along the line
of the railroad. The levee is very large
one and has been engaging the special
attention of the levee authorities for
several weeks Several hundred con-
victs have been employed upon it, in ad-
dition to other laborers, and so greatly
had 1t been strengthened that only to-
day the belief was confidently expressed
by men living beside 1t that it would
hold. The disaster will be a great one.
The extent will be shown the next day.
The situation along the Louisiana levees
across the river for so miles above and
below this city dwarfs every other feat
ure of the flood problem into temporary
insignificance. The rise shows no sign
Of diminution and the remaining levees
are actually In danger of being topped
by the water now pouring out of the
Yazoo basin in a sheet 25 miles wide for
a distance of 10 miles opposite this city.
In spite of the evident danger and of the
repeated warning of the weather bureau,
very few persons are removing stock to
the highlands, although 100 head of mules
we're brought to this city tonight from
6parta's plantation In Louisiana, 10
miles above here.
At several points the water has
reached the top OF the levee and is now
being held back by sacks and lumber.
The Natchez mail steamer st. Joseph
arrived early this morning with about
$50 persons from Davis island. Over 200
were taken out In skiffs. The officers of
the United States steamer Florence are
doing good work there.
Capt. Clark of the ordnance depart
ment, who has visited the territory from
Vicksburg to the mouth of the Red river
arrived on the mail steamer st. Joseph
today, and states that the suffering and
destitution at Davis island Ia great and
In his opinion. there Is great probability
of further loss of life. The island is %
miles long. and many parts of It are not
accessible except b. small yawlS or
ekiffs. and he fears<hat when the great
mood passes awaA a number will be
missing. Many families coming upon the
different relief boats are scattered and
at times their meeting. when each thinks
the other lost, Is most touching.