The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-22
LOUISIANA LAND FLOODED.
THE SITUATION IN MADISON PAR
IsH GROWS. HOURLY WORSE
AND WORSE.
OTHER Breaks IRE Threatened,
Railroads West of Vicksburg De-
moralized-A Leading Planter
Thinks Crop in the Del
tn Impossible.

Nicksburg Miss, April 1S.-At 6 p. m
past twenty-four hours and total of &
since the crevasse at Biggs' lcvee at 10
o'clock Friday night.
The situation at Madison parish, La.
is growing hourly worse. The flood of
water going through Bayou Vidal and
the greater part of the lands in the south
crn portion Of the parish. The water
has reached Tallulah. the parish Site
some eighteen miles west of Delta The
water had risen seven feet in the bayou
at Talluah and was rising Il foot an hour
ut noon today. Delta is about depopu-
lated only enough persons are remaining
to look after the houses. Many of them
have two or three feet of water in them
The back water is fast covering lands
north of Delta and at Young's Point
Much land is already covered p. the lat
ing fast. Relief boats aye running to
Davis island and Ke,logg's section.
Planters in Enthial and north of Mad
ison are placing their stock in reach of
boats on the river front or at stations
on the line of the Vicksburg and Shreve-
port Railway, so they can be moved in
the event of another break in the upper
portion of the parish, which is now Sc
riously threatened NIilliken's bend and
, Duckport are also threatened.
Reports from Madison parish states
that the water began rising in Brushy
bayou at Tallulah at this morning and
up to p. m. it had risen seven or eight
feet. About three miles below Talulah
the water is getting over the levees and
is overflowing everything two miles be-
low. 1t will not be on the higher land
till tomorrow, as there are several feet
of bank left on the bayou.
Richand, La, was heard from today
and reports the water going all over
everything, overflOwing Kinks and Kel's
places, also the villages of Trinidad and
Ashwood, eight miles below The line
is down some distance below Rchland
and communication was shut Off from
this point at noon today. The water is
beginning to back up Lake One, on the
line of the Vicksburg and Shreveport
Railway. 1t started this morning. Work
is still going ON at Milliken's bend levec
and they are reported in good shape
there. They worked about seventy men
},,tfe today and will work n much larger
ttarce tomorrow. The people ut Tallulah
0 building up the old levee on Brushy
,ayou as far south as Seviris, eight miles
south. in .ln endeavor to hold the water
in the bayou. Everybody is getting their
stock together, however, for they are
expected to have to move promptly.
Mr. Stubbs of the Vicksburg and
Shreveport Railroad i,ft Vicksburg in a
skiff this morning and went to Talulah
He says that he did not think he would
be ahlc to get a train to Mounds tomor-
row, as the water at that point was three
feet deep at 3 o'clock today. President
Harvey of the Queen and Crescent Rail-
road arrived from New Orleans at noon
day in regard to the situation on the
Louisiana side. The decision will depend
upon the report made by Mr.. Stubbs and
the engineer of the Vicksburg and
Shreveport and the Alabama and Eicks-
burg Railroad. An effort will be made
to handle passenger and mail from Delta
TO some point on the line west where
the trains can come, thereby Keeping up
communication. The railway was trans
fcrring here under the most adverse con-
dtions, for the break at Biggs soon made
that impossible, as the track was flooded
to the depth of several feet in less than
twelve hours. AT several points between
Delta and Mounds station much anxiety
is still felt for the safety of the line from
Delta to Henderson, as many predict the
fall will be of short duration and fear
that it will again come back to Biggs'
point.
1t is now estimated that not less than
5000 people will want relief in this coun-
ty for the next thirty days at least.
Lieut.. Crowley of the United States
army reached here today from Washing
ton by the noon train, having been de-
tailed to duty here to purchase and dis
tribute relief He has gone actively to
work and will purchase meal, meat and
molasses for distribution through the dis
trict named by Governor McLaurin.
Mr. John NJ. Coulter. one of the lead
ing planters, is in the city and makes the
following statement:
II have just returned from Issaquena