The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-19

MEMPH1Si Tenn. March 1S,-Four
F4tue Bte6lnerS, lnciuulng TWO govern
men; boats arrived in port this tnoruing
from the overHowed country north OF
Memphis, landing 4OO refugees and a
thousand head OF stock to be cared ior
by the already overtaxed blum city, The
condition Of the refugees Is pltIable.
soma are partially clothed and sick al
most unto death from exposure and
long suffering seventy-hve OF the total
brought here to-day havO been stand
Ing for hours In water waist deep,
awaiting the arrival OF the rescue
steamers. One woman from the north
OF Marion experienced the horrible
sight OF having her infant die in her
arms When the steamer hands lifted
her 10 safety she ClunE trantlcally 10
the dead babe Another family OF four
rescued said that two OF their number
were drowned Just a few minutes before
the boat arrived.
Local packets cleared In time to-day.
taking extra hands To aid in the work
o; rescuing the homeless and to
strengthen the leveCs In weak spots,
Several small breaks In the old ieVees
arr reported causing additional damage
and suffering
ported entirely submerged to-day.
These contain magnificent cotton plau-
tatiduS OF thousand acres operated
6y 900 negroes and $50 head OF STOCK.
The stock has beer abandoned, but the
owners ard hands have been landed
safe In Memphis and Cairo, Ill, a
sDsriai train lcf; Memphis this morning
via Valley route containing material To
strengthen the Delta levees. This was
sent IN response 10 urgent telegTams
calling for assistance.
Here IN Memphis vacant buildings
are crowded With refugees, the total
number now numbering a.IlO They
sleep on the floors. but have all food
aud clothing necessary. 1t seems now
they will be on the ciiy'S hands Tor
weeks and maybe month. Tie work
ot RELIEF goes bravely on. over 5000
having been subscribed thus far With
out one cent from outside cities,
The Governor OF Arkansas has re-
fused to aid the Memphis relief commits
lee. SAYING he could do nothing. Mem
phians are angry at his action, as all the
relIef extended thus far has been to
Arkansas people.
A general appeal issued to-day by the
citizens teiief committee and addressed
10 the people of Arkansas, Tennessee
and Mississippi. has met with liberal
responses In the shape OF telegrlms
Offering aid, Tennessecaas and Mlssis-
slPpE9hs are ihe more liberal IN their
offerings. Negroes OF Memphis In mass
meo;InS assembled subscribed $500 and
a great amount OF clothing nnd nruVl-
slons 10 the sufferers. Lltc reports
contain additional rumors OF heavy loss
or life IN the Interior 0f Crittenden
county, Arkansas.
EIvs More Victims.
Tonight the great good claimed tlve
more victims. Near Marion, Ark, EttG
Llx and the four children were trying to
make their way to Marion for shelter and
while attempting to cross railroad tres
lie. the strong current overwhelmed the
party and ali perIshed. The oldest child
wa4 girl aged sixteen and an Infant nf
eight months. The river is still rising at
Memphis and the indications are that 1t
VIII continue to do 90 for some time to
come.
The river tonight stands OF 36.9 feet. n
rise since morning Of one-tenth. such ls
the prOnouncement at the weather 0u-
veau az Memphis.
Shortly after / o'clock yesterday an
otilciaI bulletin was sent out from the
weather bureau Of Memphis, reporting a
fall oS two-lenths Of foot in the river
since yesterday morning. This bulletin
was published as a piece OF cheering
news In the lncal press and was tele-
grapheI over the country. Subsequently
Mr, Emery, Of the weather bureau. dis
covered that the statement contained IN
the bulletin was absolutely erroneous,
tha. no fall whatever had taken place
but that tho weather bureau employee
who had read the gauge at o'clock had
made q mistake. As a matter or fact the
river was stationary from yesterday
evening at 6 o'clock when the rise con-
tlnusd. Mr.. Emery dep!ores greatly the
mistake.
OMAHA, Nc5., March iS-Spec!ni
,eleEyama 10 tho Bee from all points n
the northwest iRdlcate that the bonds OF
winter were simultaneously broken to-
day and tho streams that have been
laard In ice for mUnthS are suddenly
turned TO raging torrents. The worst re-
p1.ts come from South Dakota, Along
ihe Missopd tonight the settlers are
Nlltlrs in darkness from rapidly In
crsasirE floods and n0rlIlns definite can
BE-, .nt1 F,,rFhst