The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-03-26
HUNDREDS IN PERIL.

dens-d Disaster Coupled with Loss II
Human Life.
MEMPHIS. Tenn, March l6.-1he Mis-
sisslppi river at Memphis tonight
gauges "a fraction over 3I.5 feet, l. rise
Of over i-iOth since morning. The
river continues to rise slowly.
Two lives are known 10 have been
lost during the day. Two negroes who
lived near Marion. Ark, attempted To
cross Mound lake in dugout when
they were caught 10y the mighty cur
rent, their boat capsizcd and they s.ere
swept away.
The change in the situation in the
past "a hours has been decidedly for the
worse in every respect SO far as the
flood and the Hood victims are con-
cerned. Localities that were expected
up To the last moment 10 Withstand the
overflow are at last under water Poo
pie who thought they were safe from
the angry river find themselves hemmed
IN. and their danger is the greater be-
cause OF the confidence that prevented
them from providing against it.
From every direction come reports Of
unexpected and Unprecedented disas-
ter. over at Marion and the adjacent
country 400 people are reported To be
lined up ON the railroad track, over
which occasional waves sweep that
threaten to carry off the Dies
perate people and live stock that there
find a precarious foothold. Along the
other railroads leading out of this city
in.o Arkansas a SIMILAR condition of az
! fairs exist.
! Down on Presidents island. where 1t
was supposed that all persons in danger
I had been carried off last night, il Is
I learned that from 80 to 100 people were
I this morning standing in the water and
praying FOR the sight of boat that
would take them off.
! From Island Forty came reports that
the water is everywhere; that human
beings and dumb brutes are huddled
together wherever shallow water offers
standing places
I The situation is truly alarming. Al
ready the known loss of lie in Arkan-
saS i 80 but il is quite probable that
several hundred negroes have been
swept away. These people will not
\ leave their homes until the last pos,i-
! bic moment. and from this reason many
are lost.
! From Osccola. Ark. TO a point oppo-
4 site Memphis the entire basin il over
flowed and 10000 refugees have been
compelled 10 seek high land. Three
I thousand refugees are in Memphis. and
1000 are camped along the line OF the
Iron Mountain railroad. Several hum
dred have sought refugee along the
kansas City. Pittsburgh n Gulf. and
thousands on the crest Of the levees
At Clarlscton. Ark. the water mas cut
through the Kansas City. Pittsburg
a Gulf railroad in three places. and
torrents are pouring into the bayous
that have an outlet in the ~. Francis
river.
ON Lloyd's plantation three women
and six children were drowned.
Three children were drowned on
Blsnton's plantation.
William Cartwright and William Cox
were drowned near Marion.
six persons were drowned on Bartons
plantation.
There is weli-detined report that
half "A dozen families on a plantation
near Buffers landing were drowned.
A relief steamer went to Presidents
island to-day. and found two families
on the roof of sarm house. They re-
fused To leave. The steamboat cap
tains report trouble i'm making the Vie
tins realize their danger. Half a dozen
boats are engaged i'm relief work. The
condition of the Mississippi levee is
alarming. Mai. Dabney. in charge of
the Mississippi levees. sent request to
Memphis to-day for aid, and a special
train was furnished by the Illinois Cen
trial To carry sacks. whcelbarrows and
tents for the worl<men.
The danger on the Mississippi side is
at >herrod and Stovall. The water is
within foot and half of the crown
OF the levee in some places. At Tacoma
Circle. in Arkansas. the water Is close
to the top of the levee. and below
Helena on the Arkansas side the water
is almost level with the top of the en-
bankments. All of the factory district
of North Memphis is under water. and
several hundred negroes living on
Bayou Gayoso have sought high ground.
relief committee went To work to-
day. Money. food and clothing were
collected and two steamboats, were sent
out The duty Of feeding the 5000
refugees here is confronting the citi-
zens Two-thirds of these are destitute.
come appeals for aid. II may easily I've
understood. therefore that the relief
committee has its hands full of work.
This work is being looked after without
delay. nevertheless All the local river