The record-union., 1897-03-17
So Far as the Flood and Flooded
Victims Are Concerned.
From Every Direction Come Re-
ports of Unexpected and Unpre-
Cedented Disaster Localities
Thought to be Safe From Overflow
Now Under Water, Hemming in
People on All Sides-BeIief That a
Great Number of Lives Have Been
Lost.

MEMPHIS, March 16.-The MiSSiS-
sippi River at Memphis tonight
gauges fraction over thirty-six feet,
rise of over one-tenth since morning.
The river continues to rise steadily.
TWO lives are known to have been
lost during the day. Two negroes who
live near Marion, Ark, attempted to
cross Mound Lake in a dugout, when
they were caught by the mighty cur
rent, their boat capszed and they were
swept away.
The change in the situation in the
past twenty-four hours has been decid-
eddy for the worse in every respect, SO
far as the flood and the flood victims
are concerned. Localities that were ex-
pected up to the last moment to with
stand the overflow are at last under
water. People who thought they were
safe from the angry river find them
selves hemmed in, and their danger is
the greater because of the confidence
that prevented them from providing
against the flood.
From every direction come reports of
| unexpected and unprecedented disas-
ter. Over at Marion and the adjacent
country 400 people are reported to be
| lined up on the railroad track over
which occasional waves sweep, threat
ening to carry off the desperate people
and live stock that there find pre-
carious household.
Among the railroads leading out of
this city into Arkansas a similar con-
dition of affairs exists.
Down on Presidents Island. where If
was supposed that all persons in dan
ger had been carried off last night, it
| is learned that from fifty to 100 people
| were this morning standing in the wa
ter and praying for the sight of a
boat that would take them off.
From Island 40 came reports that the
| water is everywhere; that human be-
ings and dumb brutes are huddled to-
gether wherever shallow water offers
standing places.
There are many other points from
which come appeals for aid. 1t may
easily be understood, therefore, that
the Relief Committee which has been
established in this city has it's hands
| full of work. Captain Fitch. in charge
| Of the United States fleet, has placed
every steam vessel and barge in his
command at the disposal of the com
| mlttee. BaTges are carried wherever
| necessary Nearly 1000 people have
been brought to this city already from
the overfiowed country. Most Of the
refugees are negroes, who saved moth
ing but the clothing on their backs.
Many rumors of wholesale drowning
are current but these cannot be veri-
fed. A well defined report reached here
last night that fifty colored people had
persisted near Marion, and a colored
man and child are known to have been
drowned at Mound Lake The condi-
tons are undoubtedly such that there
Will be innumerable fatalities before
long, unless the helpless ones are re-
| lieved
Interest in the flood animates every
body in the city. This is evidenced bv
the great throng that gathers on the
| ievee. This afternoon, it was almost
impossible to reach the Bryan wharf
boat when she pulled in from Marion.
At Helena the river rose very slowly
to-day, standing tonight 45.S, two
inches below high water mark. In the
vicinity of Helena rain came down in
torrents all last night and to-day.
The steamer Maud left here late this
afternoon with a crew of forty laborers
for Modoc, where the Government boat
| Titan is sacking the levee. The water
| at Modoc was within about eighteen
inches of the top of the levee