The herald., 1897-03-23
THE GREAT FLOOD
Improvement at Memphis Only Means
Greater Suffering Below

NIiSoeSt 0dilCtiiS DCiOW
MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 22-The riv-
er continues to fall slowly at Memphis,
the gauge tonight registering a fraction
under 81 feet, fall of about an inch in
forty-eight hours, but the decline of the
great volume of water at this point is
due to the breaks in the levee at Car
ruthersville, Mo-, and Sans Souci, Ark.
The railroad situation tonight shows a
decided improvement officials of the
Illinois Central railroad announce all
trains on that road are again running
on time The Yazoo and Mississippi val
ley road has also been reopened. The
Iron Mountain remains above water on
the west side of the river
Two negroes are reported to have been
drowned today at Horn Lake, few
miles south of this city.
The fact that the rise continues at
Cairo and other points not affected by
the Charlottesville break is sufficient for
belief that the slight drop here is not
Indicative that the beginning of the end
of the flood is at hand.
At Cairo, Arkansas City, GreenviEe
and Vicksburg there has been steady
rise since Saturday morning, and at all
these points the river Is far above the
danger line.
At points below Vicksburg the rise
continues slowly and steadily. The out
look, both as to the condition Of the
country and the refugees, remains the
same. The lifeboats bring In daily their
loads of destitute people to be housed,
cared for and fed by Memphis people,
with whatever assistance may come
from those outside the city. Besides the
people that must be cared for there is
the stock, too, which has been saved
from starvation. The owners. having
no means to feed themselves, cannot
feed the horses and mules without
which they will be powerless to make a
crop after the waters subside. The men,
| bers of the local relief committee have
more than they can do in the work of
distributing rations and providing quar-
! ters for refugees 1t has been found
necessary to telegraph to the secretary
Of war asking for enough tents to ac-
| commodate 1000 people If Secretary AL
| ger accedes to this request, and there
| is every reason to believe he will, the
situation will be greatly relieved. The
number of refugees has increased so
greatly that the relief committee find
| themselves unable to provide suitable
quarters. The fact that there is so
much crowding in those places where
lodging is provided is thought to be
somewhat menacing to the public health.
COLD WEATHER WANTED.
| OMAHA, Neb., March PA special
| to the Bee from Yankton, S. D., says:
| The ice in the Missouri is still gorged
below this city. 1t is in what is known
as Haggins' Bend, opposite st. Helena,
where the ice gorged in 1881. The bend
is the narrowest in the river, and Is what
is known as an elbow bend. On both
| sides are solid bluffs for the ice to pile
against. The ice is reported as being
out at Springfield, thirty miles up the
river. but there is gorge above and be-
low that place, and as a result the river
lowered ten inches here today. The ice
| in the river is very firm. Fears are en-
| tertained here of warm weather setting
| in above Should 1t do so. with the gorge
| in this particular bend. a general over
| flow would result. The weather to-
night is colder here.
! At vermilion, s. D., the water in the
river has fallen two feet today, sup
posed to be caused by the ice gorge at
Yankton. The Vermilion river is clear
of ice, and people are moving back to
houses on the bottoms.
| WILL FIND THE FLOODS
ATWOOD, Kas. March 22.-The prai-
ries of Western Kansas are covered
with great drifts of snow. which has
been falling since Sunday night. The
roads in many places are blocked, as the
snow was accompanied by a high wind
that drifted 1t badly. The railroad cuts
are filled with immense drifts, and trains
are delayed to some extent. The snow
will prove Of great value to farmers.
SIOUX CITY, Ia, March 22.-All dan
ger from high water is past for the pres
lent. The rivers are clear of ice and go
ing down. There are ice gorges up the
Missouri river. but none nearer than
| Vermilion.
All the railroads resumed business to-
day out of Sioux City. except the Mil
waukee. whose western and northwest
ern lines are badly crippled, owing to
loss of several bridges and washing out
of several miles of track.
Today Mayor Clapp received the fol-
lowing telegram from Secretary of War
| Alger: Have wired quartermaster at
st. Louis to ship you for flood sufferers
all tents with poles and pins on hand"