The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-03-17
MANY FL0OD VICTIMS
Rescued from Subm ,rgod Homes
and Taken to Memphis.
TIE MISSISSIPPI STILL RISING.

Most of Those Rescued Arc Negroes, who
Are Absolutely Heipiess aud wholly
Dependent Upon Charity for sustenance.
Bat Few Fatalities Reported.
Memphis March 17.-The Mississippi
river at Memphis gauges a fraction
over 1855 feet, rise OF over one-tenth
since yesterday morning. The river
continues to rise slowly Two lives are
known to have been lost yesterday
Two negroes who live near Marion,
Ark, attempted to cross Mound lake
in q dugout when they were caught
I'm the current, their boat capsizing
and they were swept away The change
in the situation has been decidedly for
the worse in every respect, so far as
the flood and the flood victims are con-
cerned Localities that were expected
up TO the last moment to Withstand
the overflow are at last under water.
People who thought they were safe
from the angry river find themselves
hemmed in. and their danger is the
greater because of the confidence that
prevented them from providing against
It.
From every direction come reports
Of unprecedented disaster. At Marion
and in the adjacent country 400 people
are reported to be lined up on the rail-
road track. over which occasional
waves sweep and threaten to carry off
the people and live stock that there
find a precarious foothold Along the
other railroads leading out of this city
into Arkansas a similar condition of
affairs exists. Down on Presidents
Island, where it was supposed that all
persons in danger had been carried
off, 1t was learned that from so to 100
people were last evening standing in
the water and praying for the sight of
a boat that would take them off The
steamer Hardin was at once sent to
their relief. The Abbott and Itaska are
looking after Island Forty, and the c.
B. Bryan, the Minnehaha and the We'll
come are running far up beyond Mar
ion. Barges are carried wherever neces-
sary.
Nearly 1000 people have been
brought to this city already from the
overflowed country. Only a few of
these are white, and they have been
able to take care of themselves upon
arriving, as well as to extend a hand
to the negroes. But most Of the ref
nOLIllnE
but the clothes on their backs, and in
cases some stock, the latter being an
incumbrance rather than an assistance
in the matter Of finding food and ac-
commodations in town. But the citi-
zens' relief committee have found
places to house the refugees, and food
is furnished them from time to time.
Yesterday a quartet of ladies arrived
on the leyee with provisions. The sub
stantial food put new life into the dis
consulate negroes.
Many rumors of wholesale drown
ings are current, but these cannot be
verified. A wen defined report reach
ed here Monday night that five col
ored people had perished near Marion,
and a colored man and child are
known to have been drowned at West
Memphis The conditions are such
that there win undoubtedly be innum-
cradle fatalities unless the helpless are
| relieved. Great throngs gather at the
levee. 1t was almost impossible to
reach the Bryan wharf boat when she
pulled in from Marion yesterday.
There are many other points from
which come appeals for aid. It may
easily be understood, therefore that
the relief committee which has been
established in this city has it's hands
full of work. This work is being look
ed after without delay All the local
river craft have been requisitioned for
this duty, and Captain Fitch, in charge
of the United States fleet, has placed
every steam vessel and barge under
his command at the disposal Of the
committee.
At Helena the river rose very slowly,
standing at 45.8 feet, two inches below
high water mark. In the vicinity OF
Helena rain came down in torrents all
Monday night and yesterday. The
steamer Maud left there late yester-
day afternoon for Modoc with a crew
Of 40 laborers, where the government
boat Lillian, with crew, are sacSina
the levee The water at Modoc was
within about IS inches Of the top OF
the levee at last reports.
From Island Forty come reports that
| the water is everywhere, and that hu-
man beings and dumb brutes are hud-
died together wherever shallow water
offers standing places.
The people in and around Marion
Ark, are certain that in the woods tC
the rear of Marion there has been grear
loss Of life. There was a rumor to the
! elleCl LudL SeNetdl negroes uau Deer
! drowned in attempting to get to a place
Of safety, but neither names nor fact.
/ could be learned.
! The Memphis and ST. Louis packet
Mary Morton, arrived in port yester
day, and reports extending relief t
! flood sufferers below Cairo Sometime
! over a hundred men and children anC
a quantity of live stock were picked
! up and carried to Fulton. From all ac
| counts there is great suffering in tn,
/ districts mentioned, and aid is beinl
/ asked Of the citizens of Cairo,
| At Greenwood, Miss, the Yazoo rive
is rising very rapidly, and the lowlands
are now covered with water. The Tai.
| lahatchie and Yaloburha, which flow
into the Yazoo three miles above
| Greenwood are reported to be higher
| than ever before known.
The Tennessee river at Florence
Ala, is still booming, the gauge regis
! tering the highest mark reached since
1886. The water Is still rising half al
inch an hour A further rise of tw,
feet is anticipated, The levee road Il
in danger Of being swept away.
l had severe attacks of gravel and kidne
trouble; and unable to get a medicine O
doctor to cure me until Z used Hop Bitter
and they cured me in a short time
| DIsTINGUIsHED LAWYER OF WAYNE Co