Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-04-10
A FLOOD CRISIS.
The Supreme Test Of tho Levees
Fast Approaching.
THE FLOOD In SOUTH DAKOTA.
Reports Reaching Yankton of Immense
Volumes Of Water Being Poured into
the Jim Rivcr-The Flood I'm
paraiiclcd In the Valley.

MEMPHIS, Tenn, April s.-The SUI
preme test of the levees south OF Vicks-
burg and Arkansas City Is fast ap-
preaching. The river at Vicksburg
has been falling for some days on ac-
count of the rush Of waters from the
main channel through the crevasses
above into the delta. This water is
again returning to the channel through
the mouth Of the Yazoo river, and its
influence is being felt at vicksburg,
where the gauge is now marking higher
figures. Within few days the crests
of the rise will be opposite Vicksburg
and the channel will continue to deepen
unless the levees break, The Louis
lana people keenly realize the gravity
of the situation. The destruction
wrought by the water In the st. Fran
els basins and the Yazoo delta may be
repeated in the Tensas basin, which
begins in southeastern Arkansas and
extends through the northeastern coun-
ties of Louisiana. Material and men
are being hurried forward and the eff
fort that had marked the work of those
in charge of the lower levces has been
doubled.
A telegram was received ut Little
Rock, Ark, yesterday by J. p. Clarke
from committee of citizens Of Helena,
stating that there are 5000 sufferers Mt
that place and that water is now in
every house from Helena to White
river. The committee asks Clarke's
help and wants Helena's portion Of the
appropriation for immediate relief
Reports received last night show that
the levees on the western side of the
Mississippi from Arkansas City to Luna
and below are still holding. The
0uachita Is still rising.
A Friar's Point, Miss, dispatch says
that the breaks Mt the different places
above have lesscned the water
in the river, but the backwater
is slowly coming up. The entire coun-
try back of there is under water and
the town is cut off from all points.
Coahoma, six miles north, is entirely
under water. Many people are there
from the back country. The place is
still dry, although it is completely sur
rounded.
A telegram from Stoneville, IL miles
east of Grcenville, Miss, stated that
200 negroes were isolated on piece of
embankment near Bogue
Phalia, without food or shelter. Relief
was Immediately sent them, and they
are now being cared for. Tuesday
evening trestlc on the Yazoo & Mis-
sissippi Valley road, four miles north
of Grecnville, was suddenly swept
away, and two men, who had sought
shelter on it, were precipitated into
The rushing torrent beneath. One was
rescued, the other drowned. The
planters, citizens generally and all
charitable organizations are doing
possible to relieve the suf-
fcrers.
TIE FLOOD IN SOUTH OAK oTA.
YANkToN, 5. D., April s.-Ncver be-
lore in the history Of this section Of
The country has there occurred u flood
that compared with the one now rag
ng in the Jim river valley. The snow
covered country, reaching far into
North Dakota, is now pouring huge
yolumes of water into the Jim river.
Reports reached here Of immense rises
lar up the stream. Railroads have
suffered great loss by the flood. No
rains have entered here for nearly
week, and 1t will probably be month
before railroad traffic is restored to its
formal condition. Farmers IRE pre-
Jared for the worst.