The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-03-26

STILL THEY II 4 J RISE
OF THE SWOLLEN WA.
TIERS INCREASED BY RAINS. al

II TIERS INCREASED by RAINS. 81.
Arkansas and Tennessee Visited BY
Heavy Rainfalls-Two Kcgroes
Lose Their Lives-Levees Give
Away Under the Severe Pressure
Of the Waters-The SUFFERING IL
Great.
Memphis, Tenn, March 2O.-Two ne
groes lost their lives as result of the
great floods which engulfs hundreds Of
acres Of land In the Arkansas bottoms.
The two men were drowned in Fifteen
Mile bayou, near Marion. Ark. There
is no cessation in the rise of the river
and the gauge registers 37.2, rise Of
i since morning. Heavy rains contin-
uel Inst night throughout the entire
region of the Ohio valley and in the
territory the drainage of which swells
the upper Mississippi. At Marked
Tree, Ark, on the st. Francis river,
there has been deplorable rise of une
foot in the last twenty-four hours; de-
plorable not only on account of the
probable damage and disaster in that
immediate section of country, but be-
cause this river swells the great vol
ume Of water in the Mississippi. where
conditions are already. so distressing.
Throughout Arkansas and Tennessee
heavy rain falls We're the rule duriag
the past twenty-four hours. The relief
fund for the flood sufferers has been
materially increased by gifts from irdi-
NvffI aves md %es< - ~
Memphis. This assistance is greatly
needed in caring for the new arrivals
which the rescue steamers bring in at
every trip. A telegram from Alodoc,
where the levee was reported to have
broken, calls Tor material for strength
ening the levee ut that point. The
levee is intact as yet, though break is
feared.
The work of rescue goes on with I'M
abated zeal. The rescue boats make
as many trips as possible during the
day, returning from each trip laden
with refugees and such household
goods and cattle as they have been
able to save. The gloomiest feature Of
the distressing conditions is the fact
that there is little or no hope of the
abatement of the high water within
the near future because of floods re-
ported in the upper valleys. The most
alarming reports concerning the con-
fition of the levees above and below
Memphis have been in circulation in
Memphis, but they have particular
reference to the levees below this point
and even below Helena. Up to this
time the people have exerted their ut
most strength to solidify and preserve
the levees, believing that by careful
watching and by applying remedial
measures wherever there was a pros
pect of q break disaster could be avert
cd. But reports from down the river
indicate that hope has been lost in
many places.
There is very reliable information to
the effect that at Modoc, Avenue,
Hughey's and other points below Hell
ena the water has gone above the
levees. and the levees being in such q
mushX condition from the rains it Is
not thought possible to protect then,
much longer from the ever-rising flood.
The people living behind the dykes in
the localities mentioned are already
flying for their lives. There is positive
information that the levees construct
ed under the direction Of the st.
Francis levee board near, Caruthers-
Vile, Mo-. has been. cut, and the belief
Is prevalent in that locality that. The
work was done by persons living on the
Tennessee side who hoped to make an
opening for the food on the ArkAnsas
side to decrease the food and thus
save the property on the Tennessee
side: A report is current of the levce
having broken at Hill House, Miss,
flooding the fine farms in that locality.
A steamer with men and sand was
dispatched to the scene of the reported
break. A special from charlottesville
says: The river rose here II inches
during the last twenty-four hours.
The levees are being watched day and
night. The letee broke mile and Il
half below town and before sufficient
force could reach the break It was !ifty
feet wide and six fcetideep and spread
ing rapidly. This break will do little
or no damage as the water will empty
into Finley bayou and then into st.
Francis river. The break will bring
about q most searching investigation
as 1t is believed it was cut, and certain
parties are suspected. Two govern
ment boats are rivetting the end Of
the break Another small break &c.
CURED in'the south end of town in the
protection levee which will only over
flow the lower portion of the city.
The Mississippi river is now twenty
inches higher than ever before in flood
history end still rising at the rate of
four inches every twenty-four hours.
The crevasse which occurred yesterday
one mile and u half below here is now
400 feet wide and rapidly widening.
1t is pouring in terrible volume OF
water into the lower part Of this coun-
ty. Much stock has been lost. There
is now no doubt that the levee was
cut by some miscreant. for Mt the point
where tho break occurred the levee
was in fine condition and two feet
above the water level.
Confirmed by the Senate.
Washington, March 2O-The senate
has confirmed the following nominal
tons: John Hay of the District of
Columbia to be ambassaGnr of tho