The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-30
The FLOODS MIGHTY GRASP.
The Gravity Of the Situation In Mis-
sissippi Is Deepening Hourly.
The RIVER STILL SLOWLY RISING
And the Leyees Are Giving Way beneath
the Enormous Pressure-A thousand
Men In the Field Fighting for Life.
More Rain l. Predicted soon.

shire. Miss. The situation below here Is
reported alarming.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., March 29-Gene-
raj Wilson. Chief of Army Engineers, re-
ceived a telegram from Colonel Gillespie.
president of the Mississippi River COM
mission. dated Vcksburg yesterday. as
follows:
Gauges along the river from Memphis
ii Vicksburg give food readings varying
from l-2 to , feet above any previously
recorded readings. Feeling everywhere
one OF great uneasiness and all State
Ieyee Boards are battling against the
rising floods cegardless of cost. As yet
no widely-spread damages have been re-
ported though several breaks In levees
above GreenN.lle on both banks have
occurred. Levees are seriously strained
at all points. The commission will give
an possible aid by applying money bali
ances to the protection OF the works.
The water IS rising slowly below Helena"
SITUATION DESPERATE.
NEW ORLEANS. LA, March IA
special from Helena, Ark, 10 the Daily
States, says.
The situation here is worse than ever
before. The river rose l-2 inches during
the last twenty-fOur hours and A stiff
gale has been blowing almost without =
moments cessation since o'clock last
night. Mayor Fritzen issued a proclama-
ton this morning reciting the dangerous
condition OF things and calling upon all
ablebodied men and boys 10 secure
spades and put themselves under the
cOmmander-in-chief OF the levees.
The proclamation met with hearty and
prompt response, and at this moment 500
or 500 men are working on the levees
while many others are on the hill nlling
q long line OF wagons with dirt, 10 bo
conveyed to the weakest points. The
levees are In good condition considering
the long siege. but tho heavy wind and
knowledge that the river is TO rise FOE
several days longer has nerved every
man for the most desperate fight ever
seen I'm this country. Captain Nolty. Of
the rescue boat Titan reports another
break lt is az Wood Cottage landing. .
mile and a half above Knowlions. Tho
break was 500 feet wide yesterday az tho
Titan passed there. although Il occurred
late Saturday afternoon. This break VIII
put all the country not already inundated
under water down to Laconia, and cap
tain Nolty thinks there Is little doubt
that a magnificent body OF land Will also
be deluged The break in the levee at
Lacona is already in 4 precarious condi-
tion.
ST. LOUIS. MO, March 29.-The river
IS rising steadily AZ this point, and -
now within four feet OF the danger line.
Reports recei red from upper river points
state that an immense flood Is on It's way
down and may be expected here within
the next forty eight hours. 1t IS raining
at this point this afternoon. and reports
received al the local weather bureau state
that the rain is general throughout MIS-
souri,, Arkansas. and Tennessee
reports from Alton ILL.,, az noon state
that the river is about stationary but
rise IS threatened.
FALLING WATERS.
PADUCAH. Ky, March 29.-rbe river
Is failing slowly but steadily at this
place al the rate Of about half an inch
per hour. Reports received this morning
from Danyile. Tenn. state that two
warehouses with go barrels OF coal oil
were washed away by the flood.
HOPE is STRONG.
At Helena hope Is strong but desperate
fight is being made all along the line.
To-day the entire front Will be raised frcm
one to two feet. making the leyoe from
four to five feet higher than II was when
tho flood commenced Many prolers ~
feels that she is able TO take care or
herself. and the stricken ones 10 apply 10
her for shelter. More tents are due here
to-day but more refugees are reaching
here from every point Of the compass.
OVERLOOKED THE LEVEES.
NEW ORLEANS, LA. March 9.-The
river has finally reached the top OF the
leyoes in this city, and this morning be-
gan running over into Mandcyille street.
directly in 'front.' Of the celebrated French
Market building IL is not believed that
any damage will occur 10 property.
Az urgent call from Algiers, on the
right bank OF the river. this morning f0r
help 10 strengthen the levces. which were
seriously weakened by the high water and
the heavy wind Of last night. The river
rose soven-tenths Of foot In the Dasc
twenty-four hours. and Is now eight
tenths OF a foot above the sixteen-foot
mark which is the danger line.
NEW ORLEANS. la. March "a
special 20 the Daily States from Vicks-
burg says.
At 2 r. ~ tho break south OF swifs
Water. near Waynes Station. was 10
feet wide. at varying depth OF six To
eighth feet. Levee officials are not hone
ful Of closing the break or stopping from
widening. Water from the break will 30
through Lake Lee into Deer creek. lakes
Lafayette and Washington, Steel bayou
and thence into Vicksburg \ large por-
ton OF lower Washington county and
Sharkey, lssaqucna and Sunnowcr coun-
ties Will be inundated. The Riverside
division OF the YazOO and Mississippi yal-
ley railroad has been abandoned on ac-
count Of this break steamer was sent
70 Diamond Island last night 10 remove
one hundred and fifty Louisiana conyicts
10 Illawara and Pitchers Point. where the
levees are in "A dangerous condition.
\ severe wind-storm from the east pre-
vailed on the river last night. but toe
Louisiana levees did not give away. The
steamer Bluff City coming down from
Memphis. reports the leyees Luna and
Brooks Mills. in Chicot county, Ark, as
in more dangerous condition.
CAIRO. ILL. March 29.-The river fell
one-tenth OF a foot in the last twclty- four
hours but the severe rains this after
noon will Offset the fall. and by to-mor-
row the ncOd from the North Is expect cd
10 reach here. and the river Will go
higher than ever. The Government boat
Ninnetcnka reached here last night from
Golddust. on her trip she rescued l25 per-
sons and over 200 head OF cattle.
NEW MADRID. March S.--The river Is
blows the water against the levees with
viii be able 20 withstand the waves. The
rain Is falling heavily this morning with
indications OF continuing throughout thu
day.
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WEATHER FORECAST