The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-02

SITUATION IMPROVED
Hope That the Levecs May Stand
the Strain.
ALL DANGER IS NOT YET PAST.
Many Towns and Cities Arc Under
Water.
GREAT DEsTITUTION PREVAILS
NtrSs,,. ar
GREAT DEsTITUTIoN PREVAILS
victims Of the Flood Are without
Means Of sustenancc--'rhr Work
of Rescue Continued.

Memphis. Tenn. April THE food sit-
uation In the Mississippi delta above
GNenville is decidedly better tonight az
to threatened loss OF life and further de-
strnction of levees. The half dozen crew
asses on the Arkansas and Mississippi
shores between Helena and Greenville havo
drawn an immense voluma OF water out OF
the main channel, which is spreading itself
over the low land. but With degree OF
rapidity that cuts off escape. The river
shows decline from point below Helena
10 tho Wayside crevasse. The decline
above Greenville in many places Is as
great as ten inches. However, Helena.
Ark, Is not out of danger, for the waters
from the st, Francis basin In Arkansas are
still swelling the channel of tho main river
from the mouth of the st. Francis to
point south OF Helena. for no break occurs :
until MISSIONER is reached. ten miles below
that city. The worst at Helena Will be
known by Sunday. Tho damage TO the
farming country in the delta can not be
exaggerated. Five counties will be for the
most part under water for thirty days and
the main line and branch lines of the Yasoo
and Mississippi Valley road will have more
than 100 miles of track inundated.
Opposite Perthshire. the upper crevasse.
n mile of track has completely washed
away.
Probably twenty railroad stations ana
small towns are flooded tonight, among
them being Gunnison, Rosedale, Perthshirc.
Terrene, Phala. Riverton Dahomey
storm. Benoit, Beulah. Wayside, Long
wood Refuge, saltwater, Deerson and
Australia.
But the shift is now to the south OF
Greenvlle and the levees from Ways'ae "
the mouth of the river must begin to feel
the pressure Of the movement OF the water
backing to the channel from the beita' tne
White river country and the st Francis
pasln. line east and west Oh the water
across Rosedale would probably be 80 miles
long Al oil this water must pass out be-
tween two walls oil leYeos In many places
but few miles distant one from the other.
Another rise of one-tcntlof /, a foot IN inc
river at Memphis In shovai Ey the oficial
bulletin from the Office of the weather pu-
rsau. rhe gauge tonight regiaters 5o.4 teet.
At Cairo an encouraging fall In the river
seven tenths OF foot. At Vicksburg the
river is stationary. Shreveport and other
points below Vicksburg report continued
rise.
The Louisville and Nashville and Chat
tanooga and St. Louis railways resumed
direct traflic connection with Nshvllle
tonight after n cessation OF two weeks, due
to the higher water OF the Tennessee river.
The local relief committee this evening
sent a steamboat to the st. Francis river
country TO bring ont wntcrbound people and
carry supplies of food 10 man and beast.
IL IL said that the restitution In the terri-
to.y TO he covered is fearful. but the news
OF It did not reach Memphis until today.
The following telegram was received to-
night by the Commercial Appeal from T.
@. Dabney, chief engineer or the upper
Yazoo district, extending along tho front
of Tunica and Coahoma counties: THE
influence of the violent stbrm last night
was most depressing and demoralzng to
the men who are fighting along the line.
The successful resistance OF the danger IL
very encouraging, and the sunshine OF TO-
day has induced q much more cheerful
feeling. The report from Mir. Lombard OF
ten inches fall along this division. cover
ing nineteen miles Of the lower end. due
to- the break opposite and below uH, and the
consequent present security OF that front,
ought to afford great relief. The slight
rise at Helena from the ST. Francis basin
is gradually encroaching on our margin
Of safety nj and above Friar's Point, but
has not approached, and is not likely to
reach. stage Of 30 great danger as wo
have contended against below. The Helena
rise Is nearly neutralized by the influence
OF the Arkansas breaks along the Stova.l
front and the pressure there will not he
materially increased. My conclusion In
that while the issue Is still In doubt the
outlook is growing decidedly more hope
full"