The herald., 1897-03-24
BIG FLOOD
NOT ENDED
Nor Is the End Yet in
Sight
THE LEvEES STILL HOLD FIRM
BUT PITILEss WATERS STILL
RISE STEADILY
Relief Committees Are Overwhelmed
With Demands for Help
They Can't Give
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 23-An-
other fall of one-tenth of foot in the
river at Memphis is announced tonight.
This very slight drop in the high water
here is not considered by the weather
bureau officials as being indicative of a
permanent or material change, but II
is caused, 1t is thought, by the giving
way of the levee above Memphis
The end of the flood is not yet discern
ible. The gauge this morning registered
S69 feet, or one-fifth of foot below the
highest point reached. This drop has
not made any change for the better in
the situation. Indeed, it is caused by
decided change for the worse in the
Arkansas districts, which have been in
undated by the water rushing through
the broken levees above Memphis.
At Cairo, ILL.,, the river is still rising.
the gauge indicating 51.3 feet, rise OF
three-tenths of foot in the twenty-four
hours ending this morning
At Marked Tree on the St. Francis
river the rise is even greater, the gauge
registering 40 feet, rise of eight-tenths
of foot in twentyfour hours. With the
rise continuing at Marked Tree and at
Cairo there is no hope of immediate re-
lief at Memphis.
The rise continues at every point be-
low Memphis except at Arkansas City
At Helena the gauge this morning reg
istered 49.4 feet, a rise of three-tenths
of a foot The river at Helena is now
124 feet above danger line.
At Arkansas City there has been a fall
of four-tenths of a foot.
At Greenville, on the other hand
there has been a considerable rise, the
gauge registering 1874 feet, rise of six
tenths of foot.
This brings the river at Greenville to
a height which is 3.4 feet above the dan
ger line.
At vicksburg the rise has been even
greater, the gauge indicating 46S feet
a rise of seven-tenths of foot since yes
terday.
At points below vicksburg the gauge
indicates that the river Is rising slowly,
but both the Cumberland and the Ten
nessee rivers are falling. Altogether
the feeling prevailing in regard to con-
ditions may be said to be more cheerful
than it has been at any time heretofore.
The report of break in the levee al
Australia, which was so extensively cir
culated this morning, has been authori-
tatively corrected. All the levees be-
low Memphis are as yet intact and are
being guarded with the greatest care
I, = xr,y,o =
are located. The hope grows more and
more confident that these levees will be
able to stand all pressure in the future
as they have done in the past, the more
so as the pressure has been somewhat
relieved by the break above Memphis.
Since the Charlottesville break no
others have occurred at any point up to
this writing.
The continuation Of the fair weather
and sunshine tends to raise the spirits
of all, and there is much less gloom to
be felt in the atmosphere than at any
former time The slightly cooler wealth
err too, points to probable continuation
of fair weather.
All the trains are again running on
schedule time with the exception Of the
through train on the Louisville and
Nashville road. Thus the wheels of
commerce are no longer retarded to any
material extent by the overflow.
No further loss of life has been re-
ported. The relief boats are no longer
kept busy, as the overfiowed territory
has been gone over and all in danger or
distress have been brought to this city.
The work of the relief committee has
assumed enormous proportions and
there is not a moment when the head
quarters on Second street are not be-
sieged by mob Of negro applicants for
every kind of assistance. 1t is almost
impossible for the committee to attend
to the needs of all who apply but they
are doing good work. 1t is especially
difficult to distinguish between the i'm
posters and the really needy as the
former are known to be much in evil
dence in the crowds which daily seek
supplies from the committee.
The utmost pains are taken to dis
tribute the rations where they are most
ly needed and the colored preachers are
rendering assistance to the committee.
GROWING WORSE.
ST. LOUIS. March pa special to
the Republic from Charlottesville, Mo-,
says: The river here rose one inch and
a quarter during the last twenty-four
hours and continues to weaken the
levees. The situation here is serious. A
terrible wind storm and three-six-
teenth inch rainfall occurred between
1880 and 10 o'clock last night and the wind
blew gale today. The situation just
across the river grows more alarming
every day. The loss Of life. of property
and Of live stock ie frightful. Even with
the three relief tugs, many have lost al;
their earthly possessions and barely es-
capped with their lives and families On
one little sawdust heap. half an acre
square. near Tiger Tail mill, on the
Tennessee side. were crowded twenty
- As,~. 4