The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-03-24
DEATH IN THE DELUG !.
Many Fatalities Attend the Over.
flow Of the Rivers.
Fertile Valleys of Arkansas and Mississippi
are Inundated-A Shotgun Patrol of
the LeveeS - Thousands OF
Refugees Crowd Into
Memphis.

bner udlI-lnCu raise IN Une MISSISSIPPI
means the devastation Of property and
probably loss of life unequalled in
the food history Of this section. The
rise is threatened because rain is still
falling. Seven persons are reported
drowned so miles below Charlottesville,
Mo. A stretch of country over 100
miles long from point 70 miles north
of Memphis to point so miles south Of
here is submerged in places to depth
of ten feet. The fei tile valleys OF
Tennessee and Arkansas are COM
pletely inundated and many lives have
been lost, fencing and dwellings swept
away, inhabitants destitute and home
less, and left to starve or drown by the
rising tide.
Reports from tributary streams show
rains and rapidly rising rivers, floods
from which will soon be emptied into
the Mississippi, adding to the danger
when hurled against the already weak
ened levees now patrolled hourly by
armed and desperate men, provided
with sandbags to strengthen the weak
places or to close threatened crevasses
and rifles to shoot down any miscreant
who would venture to cut the embank-
ment and allow the waters on his
plantation to find vent in the low lands
of his neighbor. The floods now par
take of the nature of deluge. AS far
as the eye can see nothing but water
meets the gaze.
Six hundred people were rescued
Thursday on the Arkansas side of the
river and taken to Memphis, but there
are flooded districts so situated that
relief boats cannot reach the stricken
ones. On island 80, 100 sufferers and
considerable live stock were rescued
by the steamer Itaska. Neither man
nor beast had tasted food for over "a
hours Human beings and helpless
brutes are huddled together awaiting
assistance all along the Iron Mountain
and Kansas City, Fort Scott s. Gulf
tracks.
Five hundred people were forced to
fee from the floods in Dyer and Obion
counties, Tenn. The legislature of the
state has been appealed to for help, as
there are 5000 destitute refugees in
Memphis and more arriving every hour
GAVIN. Ark, March 9O.-The water
rose two inches Thursday night. For
many miles the country is flooded and
water Is up to the Iron Mountain
tracks. Hundreds of section hands
are striving to keep the water back
with dirt bags. At every station the
negroes are gathering, waiting to be
taken away. Many get on the trains
and are carried without pay. Super
intendent Roe, Of the Iron Mountain,
has given orders that none are to be
put off. The fatalities are enormous
and probably will never all be known
Mr.. Holliston, who arrived here with
his family from near Rosebud island
four miles from Arkansas City, reports
the death of woman and five chill
dren. The water came up, and though
the unfortunates climbed ON the ia BILE.
and chairs, the food finally reached
over their heads. William Cartwright
and William Cox, working ON farm
near Rosebud island, lost their live.
Thursday. They were in a dugou
starting for stock and the current up
set the boat. Cartwright could moi
swim and Cox tried to save him, but
both perished.
Jake Carter lost his life at Gavir
Thursday night. His dugout was upse
by rushing waters His companion
Sterling, was saved by climbing a tree
Jane Chapman, on old colored woman
just arrived, reports the death of sis
persons she could not name. A father
tried to save his wife and children in 6
dugout and it tipped, drowning three
The water killed others in the house
Charles BurlSley was drowned while
trying to save his hogs. He could moi
manage u dugout. A mountain ot
household goods is piled up at every
railroad station. Houses along the
road are submerged to the roofs and
cattle are standing in the fields with
only their heads above water.
HELENA, Ark, March 2O-The river
at noon Friday was within two inche.
of the highest water on record here.
The sun shone after one of the mos
prolonged downpours Of rain for many
years, and conditions are more hopeful
CAIRO, ILL.,, March 20.-The river ros,
4-10 of foot in "a hours and the pros
pect is that it will go to high watel
y,h;ob 1. faat Tba
have organized to be prepared to NEE
any emergencies and to watch tn,
levees around the city. Except for 1
short distance in front, the levees ar,
So feet high. They show no weakness
anywhere. The Cotton Belt railroad
in Missouri had to abandon it's tracks
to Birds Point and passengers ar,
brought over in boats. People in tn,
low lands above here had so much tim,
to prepare that no losses have occurred
except to farming lands. Birds Poin
is entirely under water and the Cottor
Belt and Iron Mountain trains canno
enter Cairo.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, March 20.-Th,
Cumberland river registers 46. feet
Rain fell all Of Thursday, and contin
ued Friday. There is prospect of tn,
greatest food on record. The highes
recorded water in the Cumberland riv
er was in 1888. when it reached IS feet
PIngree Loses.
LANSING, Mich, March 2O.-The su
preme court of Michigan decided yes