The sun., 1897-04-02
GREENVILLE IN DANGER.
THE MISSISSIPPI TOWN MAI BE
WIPED OUT BY THE FLOOD.

ments That Damned the Flood Blown Hip
by Angry CitiIens-Thousanda Homeless In
tho Upper Mississippi Valley Lives Lo.t.
GREENv1LLE Miss, April This thriving
city, with a population OF 10000 people. the |
principal commercial centre Of the fertile Yazoo-
Mississippi delta, is apparently doomed to de-
struction. It was thought last night that tor |
rents from tho three crevasses above the town |
would sweep through the valley cast of Green
vile, but at 6:3O o o'clock this morning the waters
invaded the city limits.
The wat er was sighted first as 1t ran along the |
bitches which linod tho roads, Within few |
minutes these were filled to the edge, and then |
the water formed little bitches Of its own. Then
1t crossed the low places In the road and gradu-
oily encroached on tho rows of cotton and slowly |
advanced on the high points Of ground on which |
the plantation houses arc built.
First tho outbuildings which stand low on tho |
ground were taken, and then the plantation |
houses were invaded. The people In the country
had been alarmed in time to get away from
the advancing floods Stock was driven hur-
riedly away. Great wagons, Arkansas
sledges," and ricks, to which were hitched
yokes of oxen, were hurried along the
roads loaded with household goods and
directed toward the high ridges. Many OF the
smaller houses were encrcled with great ropes,
and these securely fastened about tho
trunks of giant cottonwood trees, which it was
thought would withstand the rush Of the waters
when tho current became moro swift. AL
household goods left in tho houses were placed
on high scaffoding, which brought them in close
proximity to the ceilings, or else they were
stored In atcs the lofts of solid-looking barns
The advance of the waters upon tho city was
gradual. Newton, the place first attacked, Is
inhabited by negroes and consists Of scores of
new and neatly built cabins, which line tho
streets in the vicinity of the Yazoo and Missis-
sippi Railway tracks and the water works.
Some OF the negroes had taken time by the for o
lock and constructed roomy dugouts. into which
they loaded their belongings and their families.
Many were not so fortunate, and they began to
plead for aid from their neighbors. Invariably
aid was refused unless money was forthcoming
to pay for the trouble involved.
When the broad plats OF the level and un-
fenced ground which spread out between the
negro quarter and tho rest Of the town were
reached, the advance Of the floods was seen to
best advantage. 1t spread in long stretches
across tho level space like great fans opening
over tho land. Soon it reached the residence
section, where live the white population. The
sun was bright and warm.
Men ran about in their shirt sleeves, the per
spiration pouring from their faces. Some were
engaged in lifting pianos and other heavy ar
ticles on hastily constructed platforms and scaf-
folding Others were gathering all portable
pact mass on the broad porches which are char
acterstic of the Southern houses.
from their neighbors and extending nid In re-
turn. Soon the water began to run past the
ons hs
steps leading up TO the porches BY the time y
The ost q I'd
places far above its reach.
In tho business district showcases were raised
high along the walls and little narrow board
walks were run down the centre Of the rooms
30 that customers might do their shopping from
ms spssd to
not been running for three days. and all the
Soon in the overfiowc Cd districts boats began to
| be launched. and the inhabitants were floating
Every carpenter in town has turned boat build.
sSs pree Of has S
Eary in ths day one Of the Telegraph eompa
business, as its wires were all down and the
| doors OF the office were closed. The telephone
| system of the city is wrecked and all commpni-
East of the town the high embankment on
sippi Valley, railway turns in toward the town at
q sharp angle. During the morning 1t piled ne
town, forming with the levees on the west al.
most a funnel through which tho water ran on
For days the railroad company had been pre-
pairing for Just the emergency which now exists,
the Wsrs ESSeS It
reinforced BY hundreds of sacks Of sand.
1t was not until about noon that the citizens
shutting of the water from an outlet to the
and greatly The volume
sn came Gs demand tfat the railway embShkment
tSis e suS was anH refused S % BY the railway oeias
| The longer the water rose the graver the sitm-
| as to what should be done in the emergency.
| Finally several prominent citizens and public
aS Tebt nd % he onR S'e TAX * With Sm %has
| the result OF the conference was none would
tell but the citizens gathered on tho street
| there were earnest consultations held. Expires.
sions were heard to the effect that we Will do
| as we please. railroads or no railroads. lhch
| the mounted men rode OF. .
Some went eastward TO the railroad tracks.
| When these came out they handles small pack.
| ages, which they carried gingerly. Mounting
again, they were soon riding on to meet their
The full import of these actions was not appa-
booming, boon followed by lesser explosions at inter
but said s%Py
At the scene OF the dynamiting the explosive
was carefully wrapped and placed In holes sunk
The tracks were raised high in the air, sur
| rounded by cloud OF mud and water.
| For a moment the water on the western side
of the track seemed to retreat. Then 1t regeined
| It's force and rushed into the breach which had
been made and over the country beyond:
For twenty minutes one explosion followed
another. Then the booming ceased, and where
had appeared the strong eembankment OF the the
railway with its long black lines OF steel on top,
there We're but the rushing water and few
mounds of earth which at intervals outlined the
| course which the road had taken.
Tonight the conditions In the city are ap.
tire north portion OF the city. and continues 10
pour in through tho three big crevasses from the
north Every second adds to tho volume of the
flood of water which Is moving directly against
To The southwark at Deerneld the creyasse is
rapidly increasing it's proportions and Is over
| / doc Yards wide Tine water from this creyasse
has hack cd over the lowiands and Is rapidly ap-
| proaching the city. 1t Is but three miles south
or tho ievees on the river front the outlook 10
| not encouraging. The fall of the twenty -four
hours ending at day break This morning has
| been checked. The water became stationary.
and then during the day began to slowly rise
! again. The leyees have been greatly weakened by
| the strain which has been continuouslyupOn them
for two weeks. and yesterdays rainfall. al;