Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-26
RIVER FALLING AT MEMPHIS.
CONTINUES TO RISE SLOWLY ABOVE
AND BELOW THAT CITY.
Reported That White River Levee
Has Been Cut by Order of the
Lcvee BOard-Fertfle C0un-
try Inundated.

Memphis, Tenn, March 25.-Another slight
fall in the river at Memphis is noted to-
night, and a corresponding rise in the
spirits of all interested in the prevailing
| conditions. The river. according to the Of
ficial bulletins of the weather bureau, reg
listers o6.7 feet. fall of one-tenth OF a foot.
The river at Cairo continues to rise, while
at Paducah it is reported stationary.
Dispatches from all points south of Men,
phis show that the Mississippi is rising
slowly. The continued fair weather is a
favorable condition. News received from
all points along the Mississippi side indi-
cate that the system of levees is still in
tact. No more breaks are reported in the
Arkansas side. All the trains are running
ous of Memphis on schedule time with two
exceptions.
The steamboat ]. H. Henry arrived from
New Orleans to-day. The Henry picked up
forty-one negro refugees and landed them
at Helena. Nearly all the women and
children have been moved out of the flood
ed country below Modoc, but the men in
most cases have remained to take care of
their property.
A special from Helena. Ark, says: A
startling rumor reached the city this morn
ing to the effect that the lower White river
levee from Modoc down had been ordered
cut by the Desha levee board, the levee
having been cut in half dozen places and
the released waters overflowing the fertile
country between Hughey's landing and La
coma Circle. drowning cattle, horses and
mules, and driving the defenseless inhabi-
tants to the levee for protection. James
Harden. who is temporarily in charge of
the Modoc telephone, says there is good
foundation for the rumor. Mrs. Harden
says that Mr.. Clint Hughey, near whose
house the first break in the levee occurred,
n har hnS ban tha &c
morning, saying he had seen the engineer
cut the levee with his own hands at a point
near the Dixie plantation.
There were already three breaks between
Modoc and the Hughey place, the smallest
of which was 800 feet wide, and as there
are now four breaks below the Hughey
place place the the inference M is that the Desha
tenn riddled in order to save the levee
around the rich country contained in the
famous Laconia circle. In 1882. the Mis-
coma circle levee, inundating more than
$1,000 acres of land contained therein. and
entailing untold loss and suffering to the
defenseless whites and blacks of that RICH
section. The levees have been greatly en-
larged and strengthened since then, but
the indications undoubtedly pointed to
at Modoc, Avenue and Heiths all showed
a stage of water unexpected and unpre-
cedented., a. sr
Greenvil1e. Miss. March 25.-The river
four hours, and is now six inches higher
than the top water mark. The levees are
Still holding on this side, but the strain is
being increased hourly. and there is no
telling what the outcome may be- The
people. whose all depends upon the stay
ing Qualities of the great embankments.
are still confident of their ability to hold
the massive waters in bounds but the out
look Is not of a nature to lend them en-
couragement. Heroic efforts are being
made all along the line, and thousands Of
men and boys are on constant duty. The
built up and strengthened in every way
possible, so that there is a fine chance of
vet escaping the desolation and disaster a
single break would bring.
Nashville. Tenn, March 25-The Nash
Vile. Chattanooga & ST. Louis bridge over
the Tennessee at Johnsonviile is loaded
down with cars filled with rock and iron
to hold 1t in place against the flood, which
is nearly level with the bridge
VickSburg, Miss. MarcE 25-The river
situation snua 10 between Greenville and Vicks-
quantities of material. sacks and lumber
were shipped from this place to points on
each side of the river to be used in raising
the ieVees and in planking them to prevent
the wash Of waves. The fight will be one
!eveeS are fresh and strong and IL is he
lieved they will hold.
Reports that the water Is flowing around
the Arkansas levees are regarded as spe-
claiiy menacing to the Tonsas basin dis
trict: Boats are beginning to run by day
night only. to avoid injuring the levees.
Friar's Point, Miss. March 25.-The only
chanSe in the situation here Is that the
gravest fears are entertained for the safe
ty of the levee at Green Grove 1t is feared
river rose here one and a half inches in the
past twenty-four hours