Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-23
MORE LIVES LOST.
People Drowning in Madison Par
ish, Miss.
A MAN, HIS WIFE AND CHILD PERISH
Government Takes Prompt Measures
to Relieve Those in Dangcr-The
Outlook Generally Reported
More Cheerful.

Natchez, Miss, April 21.-A terrible
tale of woe comes from Bayou Videl, In
the lower portion of Madison parish.
The water from the Biggs crevasse
caught the people there unprepared and
unaware of danger. Word was sent out
from that locality requesting that boats
be sent there at once, Us the people were
drowning. How many were actually
drowned is unknown, but Thomas
Blackman, his wife and infant are
known to have been drowned, and Mr..
T. P. Kells came near losing his life in
attempting to save them. 1t is believed
others have persisted. Boats have been
sent to the fated locality.
VIII Save Many Lives.
yicksburg, Miss, April 21.-Thanks
to the prompt measures taken by Maj.
Willard, United States engineer, in dis
patching the steamer Vidette, with
skiffs, to the country back of Coons
Landing, it is believed that all persons
in danger will be relieved in time. The
Florence, returning from there, re-
ported no cases of drowning in the back
country, though there is unquestionabiy
great danger, and the loss OF stock Is
believed to be heavy.
Relief Work.
The work of relief is proceeding here
under difficulties, the applicants being
SO numerous that it is task to systema-
tie the matter. 1t is impossible to say
how many persons are in need, since,
in addition to the large number of
fugitives from the delta and from
North Louisiana, the low lands of this
county is very large and just now prac-
tically helpless, but estimates run as
high as $4,000. That all available re-
sources will be severely strained to care
for them is quite evident. Private con.
tributions are still coming in and the
citizens here are rendering liberal aid.
The city continues crowded with refu.
gees. In fact, they are arriving all the
time. They are most tractable, orderly
people, giving the police no trouble and
their presence is consequently no bur.
den. Their temporary expulsion from
their homes is one of the saddest things
that human eye ever witnessed.
outlook More Cheerful,
The outlook is rather more cheerful
in other respects, everyone feeling en-
couraged by the decline at Cairo. AT
this place the discharge from the great
basin, having its outlet here, is Just
equal to the capacity Of the river and
OF the enormous creyasse few miles
below. The water is consequently sta,
tionary. In recognition of the vast
flood in the delta many expect slight
rise here. The decline is as yet some
weeks away, but confidence is enter.
tanned that the water will recede in
time to make a crop in the larger part
OF the delta, though, perhaps, not in
the lower levels. The Queen & Crescent
officials report that Tallulah, La, the
capital of Madison parish, is flooded
by Biggs' crevasse, though not deeply
River Falling.
Memphis, Tenn, April e1.-The rive,
at Vicksburg, Helena, Natchez and all
along from st. Joseph, La, to Bayou
Sara, La, is reported either stationary
or falling. This condition is the result,
of the vast amount of water PASSING
through the crevasses at Biggs and
Reeds levees, above Nachez and a,
Hancock's, below. The levee in the inn
mediate vicinity Of Natchez continues
to hold under the great strain, but theil
holding is now of little interest to the
planters in Concordia, Tensas and Mari
eon parishes, as the water backed ur
from the breaks above and below will
coon flood the rich lands Of these par
ishes, and the result will he almost Us
disastrous as if other breaks should oc
cur. The Red and Tensas rivers are nov
swelling and almost running over thei,
banks, and soon they will begin spread
ing over section Of 80 miles to the in
terror.