Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-22
MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS BROKEN ITS
BANKS IN MANY PLACES,
SITUATION IS VERY CRITICAL.
THE BREAK IN THE LEyEE AT SANS
sOUCI Is WIDENING.
Three Additional Breaks Are Rcport-
ed Near the Same Place and the
People of Eastern Arkansas
VIII suffer Greatly
Other Breaks.

Memphis Tenn. March 2l.-To-night for
the first time in many weeks the MissiS-
sippi river Is reported falling at Memphis.
the gauge reading 81 feet against Sal at
o'clock this morning. Several breaks in
the levee are known to have occurred be-
tween Osceola, Ark, and Memphis and the
fall of the river here is attributed to these
Crevasses. The break at Sans SOuci Is
widening. and the rush of waters through
the opening can be heard for miles. Three
additional breaks, all near Sans Souci, are
reported to-day and suffering of the people
in Eastern Arkansas will surely be greatly
intensified.
The condition of the levees south of Mem
phiS is about the same on yesterday.
A dispatch from VicksburS says that the
reported crevasse at Modoc, Ark, near
Helena, is confirmed by officers of the
steamer State of Kansas, which passed
there last evening. and by dispatches re-
ceived at Vicksburg. The levee at Modoc
has been considered in hopeless condition
for several days. The water will run into
White river very fast and will find its way
back into the Mississippi in day or two.
Levee men say the effect will be merely
temporary, but to-day u decline is report
ed of from one to four inches along the
Coahmi county. Miss, levee, where the
struggle against the high water has been
most desperate. The Kansas also reported
a break lower down, but these are probably
protection leveeS.
The officers of the Kansas say that the
from Memphis south. everywhere show the
general anxiety. Lights are shining along
the levee and guards and inspectors are
covering every inch of the territory.
The river at Vicksburg has risen three
inches since a. m and tonight registers
i5.4
At.Greenyille the river continues to rise
rairdly, and a stage of 4o feet may be
expected before April l. if the levees re-
main intact.
The break last night at Modoc lowered
the water along the front of Friars point
five inches, but will give no relief to levees
and property below the mouth OF the Ar
kansas river as the water from the
crevasses will find its way back into the
Father of Waters through the White and
Arkansas rivers. swelling those streams
far above danger line. The river continues
to rise at all points south of Vicksburg
The railroad situation at Memphis is
somewhat better tonight. The Yahoo &
Mississippi Valley sent its train to New
Orleans tonight. the tracks between Mem
phis and Lakeview having been raised
above the water level. The Illinois Gen.
trail south. Kansas City. Memphis & Bir-
mingham east, are running trains on time.
The Memphis & Charleston. and Nashville.
Chattanooga & st. Louis roads are moving
local passenger trains. but the former cam
not go beyond the Big Hachie river, while
the latter road cannot cross the Tennessee.
Railroad communication with Nashville is
entirely cut off. The Iron Mountain tracks
on tne west size are sun aDONe Water,and
all roads entering the city from that direc-
ton are moving passenger trains over the
Iron Mountain tracks.
Over in Arkansas the town of Marion is
in bad condition. All the houses are
surrounded by water. and the whole face
of the earth is submerged except here and
there small Indian mound that is above
water. There are many breaks in the levee,
or, at least, many places where the water
is running over the levee like a mill
race. The water is also pouring over the
* raj nj ir,
the town of Marion, and possibly at more
At these places the current is exceedingly
rapid and the waves dash eight and ten
feet high. No other loss of life is reported
TODAY