Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-28
ALARM At NEW. ORLEANS.
The River. IL Is Thought, Can Hard
Iy Re Kent Within Banks.

NEW ORLEANS, LA, April IA leel-
ing of alarm is general. The water has
been rising 10 an overwhelming height at
Vicksburg. and all of this, as well as
much of the crevasse volume, must come
down TO the Gulf With the river here
at 10 feet above low-water marx, ms
means 20 feet II IL comes quickly, the
weakened banks will hardly be able TO
hold IL.
After working day and night for. a
month. raising and broadening the panhs,
the levee boards have been Obliged 10 20
the work all over again, and build as If
they were aiming TO meet two feet more
Of water.
The city. which can easily hold its front.
but would be endangered by crevasse
in the Ponchartrain system, has begun 10
build the protection levee above the city
TO almost double its usual size.
SITUATION AT NATCHEZ.
NATCHEZ. MISS. April H.-The gauge
here shows a rise of one tenth and half
in the last twenty-four hours, or alto,
nearly six feet over the dahger-line. ne
weather has cleared, and the hot sun
shine of to-day has greatly changed the
crowns and sides Of the levees near mere
from a mushy sloughing condltion 10
hardened crust. The levees are repoiteu'
with few exceptions, TO be in good condi-
ton. and unless the weather again
changes the people are more hopeful that
they will Withstand the great strain.
Reports at 6 o'clock this evening from
CLAYTON, La, are to the effect that the
Tensas river is rising over an inch an
hour. with a very swift current, anu ~, ~
rapidly covering plantations, anu WI
continue 10 do so for some time. as the
bulk of the headwater from the 1888
crevasse has not yet arrived. Similar
reports have been received from ItihlsE,
La. but the exact amount OF the rise
could not be ascertained.
LOSS OF LIFE.
ST. LOUIS. MO. April 2l.-The HOOD
situation tonight throughout the Neien-
boring Mississippi and Missouri river ter
ritory is one of the gravest danger. Al
several points the swollen streams nave
overtopped their banks, and burst through
the levees. Already several hyes my
been lost, and many people are imperiiled
by the rapidy-rising waters lhousands
of acres of farm-lands on both the limos
and Missouri sides of the MISSISSIPPI river
have been inundated. or will be SOON
Stock has been drowned, and crops nave
been destroyed According TO the Weather
Bureau the rivers will continue TO rise.
While Joseph Johnson. William Dalton,
Minnie Frazier, and Mrs. Ida BuSS anu
her two small children were auein Temp, az
TO ford a swollen stream In wagon at
jackson, Mo. the vehicle was overturned,
and the women and children were drown
ed.
A FRESH DISASTER.
The Hunt levee. which protected the
Hunt drainage district on the limos sue
below Warsaw. broke to-day. sending the
Mississippi over one of the most fertile
regions in the Mississippi valley. Inc
widest excitement prevailed. for Iuliy
30 900 acres of land and hundreds OF hcmes
will be under water in a few hours. Inc
lowest part OF the district is just below
the bluffs, seven miles back of the levee,
and the water is making straight Tor the
hills BY tomorrow a territory thlrteeN
miles long by seven miles wide VIII be
xr~ffh at
Couriers were sent on horseback TO the
houses back in the district, ana scene
of disorder and fright everywhere pre-
vailed Some were unable to save any
tMng, and barely escaped with their
lives. 1t is feared that some have been
caught and surrounded by the food. me
levee was covered to-day with crowd or
farmers and their wives. hurrying their
children and their livestock TO places OF
safety. Many are now camped out on
the hills. with absolutely nothing left.
POVERTY and untold suffering must inevi-
tably follow this disaster.
Appel. FOR GOVERNMENT AID.
The levee commissioners have tele-
graphed to Major NJ. Meigs. of the gov
eminent feet at Keokuk, Ia. for aid
The latter ordered the steamer Mae 10 the
spot. with barges loaded with sand bags.
and he followed shortly afterward with
the Vixen
The break may be repaired but in the
mean time the whole district is being
Hooded Efforts are being made TO keep
the ends OF the levee from being further
broker. This Is almost impossible, for
the water is rushing through the break
at a terrific rate, and it is unsafe for the
steamers to approach IL.
The situation here and a Alexandria,
six miles above. Is practically unchanged
The break on the Illinois side is drawing
the water away from here. and will prove
a slight relief although both the Mlssis-
sippi and the Des Moines rivers are rising
above.