The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-05
TUNICA LEVEE BREAKS
POOR PEOPLE MADE HOMELESS
Hail Hundred Towns Covered With
sfx Feet of Water-Gorge Roars
Like sfasara->trenm Rises Eight
Feet I'm an Hour-The Worst Yet
to Come-Norfhern Rivers surEing
beyond Their Han nks-Great Alarm
Felt mt st. Joseph. Mo.

MEMPHIS. April 4-Another disastrous
break N the Miszixsspps lesee occurred
rnis morning ar 5 O'Clock, az Flours lake,
Ok miles below Tuuica. Miss. The Gre
vase while not yet Of great width. Is
fully fifteen feet deep. ard the water +
pouring through with fearful velocity.
This viii probably be the most dessruc-
tive break that has occurred IN the delsa.
The most fertile farm lands Of Nissiq-i9-
pi. lying in Coahoua, Lsfiore. Quitn7aa
and Tsllahafchie counties in the north
ern part OF the state viii be inundated.
anc the newly planted corn crops Will be
laid waste.
Fortunately no loss Of life Is reported.
the Inhabitants Of the stricken section
having made preparations for just such
caiasi roFsne as exists there today The
condition OF the poorer classes throughout
the Hooded area is indeed critical to-
night. Thousands Of refugees are being
puddied on the ievees and spots OF dry
land. waiting for rekef The towns of
hosedale and Tunica report that every
ming IL being done for these poor people
out that funds and provisions are fast
becoming exhausted. In the little city OF
Kosesiaie alone 100 refugees are being
cared for by the citizens. Half a hum
dred towns tonight stand In six feet OF
water, and the yellow stream is creeping
up slowly but surely.
Advic.S just received tell Of a break in
the ievee two miles south Of Helena,
Ark This Is the Ievee for which the peo-
pie OF southeastern Arkansas have made
such desperate fight. The waters from
THIS break will flood a great area and in
all probability will back up into the
streets OF Helena
Ine relief steamer Ora Lee arrived at
Mariana, Arkansas. late today, having
hA -
Francts river There were on board LOO
fett gees and 30 head OF cattle The
steamer went up the 81. Francis river as
Tar as Cut ON, and then worked her way
down stream, rescuing people from peril
Gus positions. The suffering along the ST.
Francis river is appalling. The water
through tho entire neighboring country is
tonight from six to fifteen feet deep The
relief boat had on board the body of Mrs
MacMain, OF Raggio City The body was
found at ksggio and IT was taken 10 Ma
rianna for burial. there being no land al
the former place on which 10 give II inter-
mcnt
The st. Francis is rising from three 10
i've inches daily. At Memphis tonight the
river Is slowly rising again, the gauge
registering 5Gi feet. This is a rise OF one
ten@a since last report. AT points below
NtcAsoufg the river Is rising. Il IS the
general opinion of old river men here mat
II the levees below vicksburg hold the great
volume Of water in Its right channel. 1t
VIII be little short OF a miracle.
Hoars Like Niagara
TLNiCA. Miss. April AT s O'Clock
tdis ntTning the lower lake levee where
u crosses Yellow bayou, gave way under
the tremendous pressure OF water. The
cTeFasse widened rapidly and Is now 100
yards wide throughout TSno water Is rush
Ing with deafening sound that only can
be compared 20 that OF Niagara falls The
levee was twenty feet high at the point
Where is broke today. The people not only
on the farms near the break. but uron
nose some distance from the levee back
OF II. nave lest large numbers OF cattle
10 rapidly did the crevasse widen that
the water rushing through IL was sur
hcient 10 reach the lake parallel 10 .he
lazoo e Mississippi Valley railroad at
Busnhy station. which Is FIVE miles east
% the break. in q remarkably short time
aud within an hour mad raised the lake
eight feet. The water will no doub, be
running over the railroad IT Bushby and
Gainesville before morning
Tie country aaected By this break is
one OF the anes; IN the delta. IL win
cause the submesgence OF the entire
southwestern and south central part OF
Tunica county. The food will pass into
C0ahoma county. overaowing Lulu ard
the region around Moon lake. broadening
81 II ANts- - EQf&iHH o. tue current VIII
travel 10 Coldwater river through the
Ysroo pass. while ncch OF IL will 30
southward inundating some OF the fairest
fields In COshogDa county. Thence q zil
travel down Cassidy bayou and surfower
river. finally reaching Yazoo. traverssnx
almost the entire length os the Yazoo and
MlssisstrT4 levee district
The river NJ noon began 10 fall at Avs
tin four miles above. and had fallen four
inches az O'Clock During he same time
the river FELL half an inch az ire Harris
farm. eight miles north OF he break
Above Austin the Icvee Is from two to
three feet above the aood plane. but
.here are no weak places which threaten
immediate danger
SO. Louis on Guard.
ST. LOUIS. April 4-TNe Mississippi
river az this point receaed hall foot be-
tween dark ana daylight, bBt this morning
the water began 90 rise again. and tonight
the gauge shows q 8 which was about me
sage Of the river yesterday evening The
water Is now rising rapidly. and on the
river 'front.' lively preparations are being
made against the threatening overflow.
Ievees strong at New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS. April 4-Tae RIVER here
Is slcwly rising Today's gauge registers
IT. one-tenta % a foct above the figure
of yesterday AlorE The eafire river front
the vigilance o TIRE authorities has not re-
faxed. though an the levseS are apparently
IN splendid condition ant are able 10 stand
considerable pressure yet,