Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-04-21
CREvAssEs KEEP THE MISSISSIPPI
FROM RISING.
MANY MAY HAVE PERIsHED.
BIGGs LEvEE BREAI< CAUGHT THE
PEOPLE UNPREPARED.
FnmiIy of Three known to Have
Been Drowned-WOrk on Levees
Is BEING Hnstened Every
where-Unensiness Has
Not Sul,sided.

Memphis, Tenn, April 20.-The river at
yicksburs Helena NatchcZ and all along
from ST. Joseph, La. to Bayou Sara, La.
is reported either stationary or falling to-
night. This condition is the result of the
vast amount of water passing through the
crevasses at Biggs and Reds levees above
NatcheZ and at Hancock's below. The
levees in the immediate vicinity of Natchez
continued to hold under the great strain
but their holding is now Of little interest
to the planters in Concordia. Tensas and
Madison parishes, as the water tacked up
from the breaks above and below will soon
flood the rich lands of these counties. and
the result will be almost as disastrous as
if other breaks should occur. The Red and
Tensas rivers are now swelling and almost
running over their banks. and by to-mor-
row they will begin spreading over sec
tion of country thirty miles to the interior.
Work continues OH the levees without
abatement, and everything possible Is be-
ing done to held the remainder of the levee
system intact. Refugees continue to flock
into the principal towns. and the relief
provide for the wants of the destitute. At
Memphis, the river continues to fall. Re
ports from Greenville, Rosedale and Cairo
state that an encouraging decline is noted.
Natchez, Miss, April ga terrible tale
of woe comes from Bayou Nidel, in the
lower portion of Madison parish. The wa
ter from the Biggs crevasSe caught the
people there unprepared and unaware of
their danger. Word was sent out from that
locality requesting that boats be sent there
at once, as the people We're drowning. How
many were actually drowned is unknown,
but Thomas Blackman, his wife and infant
are known to have been drowned, and Mr..
7. P. kellS came near losing his life in at
tempting to save them. 1t is believed 9TH
ers have perished. Boats have been sent
to the fatal locality.
Vicksburg, Miss, April 2O.-Thanks to the
prompt measures taken by Major Willard.
United States engineer, i'll dispatching the
steamer Nidette with skiffs to the country
back of Coon's Landing, it is believed that
all persons in danger will be relieved in
time. The Lorence, returning from there
this morning, reported no cases of drown
ing in the back country, though there is
unquestionaby great danger. and the loss
of stock is believed to be heavy. Large
skiffs were taken by the Vidette, and these
help the people in the interior. No more
breaks are reported, and the leveeS north
of this place, for which some uneasiness
has been felt, are so far secure This in
sures the security of East Carroll and the
north half of the Madison parish.
The work of relief is proceeding here TN
der difficulties, the supplicants being so
numerous that it is a task to systematize
the matter. 1t is really impossible to say
how many persons are in need. since: IN
addition to the large number of fugiHves
from the delta and from North Louisiana.
the low land of this country Is very large
and just now practically helpless.
New Orleans, April 20.-The river is 1S.g
above low water mark. and the feeling OF
ureasiness has nowhere subsidized. The fine
weather has given ample opportunity TO
make hard work an outlet for the general
excitement, and thousands of men are at
work in the city and country. Besides the
constant Strengthening of the banks. many
armed men patrol levees at night to pre-
vent the other fellows from cutting them
With three breaks in Louisiana added to
those of Mississippi. the situation should
be somewhat relieved, but the crest of the
flood wave has been lost somewhere, and
fears will not allay until the gauges show
a drop of at least two feet.