The sun., 1897-04-06

Crowded Isiand-Helenn's strong Appeal.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 5.-The break which
occurred on the Mississippi side of tho river at
Flower Lake yesterday has widened to 1000
feet, Persons from Memphis who 1t this
afternoon describe the view as terrible. Tho
water tears through the crovasse with terrible
force Behind the break was great number Of
large trees. These were swept away in few
moments Tho fall in about $50 feet is twenty
feet and it is thought that at tho end Of the fall
the water has torn an immense hole in the
ground.
A hundred negro cabins have been swept away
and the cattle loss has been enormous The
water will spread over the lower part Of Tunica
county and aood all OF Coahomu. The main
line of the Yozoo and Mississippi Valley Rail-
road is cut in n dozen places and little of the
riverside division is out Of water. The great
question with the planters is the duration of the
food In the Delta. II the flood Is gone by May q
crop can hc planted and it can mature, but un-
less the cotton is in the ground by May 10, the
cotton will be poor In quality and the danger
from frost will be great.
Here the river has bccn stationary for the last
forty-eght hours. The relief boat Ora Lee came
In to-day from the st. Francis basin, having
licvcd the immediate wants OF about 900 peo-
pie. Reports OF suffering in the basin have been
received in great numbers, and this afternoon
plies and hurried into the st. Francis country.
Calls for help from tho White River basin have
also been received. A committee from Louis
vile Is here, and the members will report that
The accounts Of the situation have not been
aggcratcd.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, April 5.--The Cumberland
River has invaded the low lands of the city
again. and merchants ana families In those dis
trtcts vacated their premises in haste today.
It,n 10. faat Sr-il hs, ncbn to
night At Burnside there has been a rise Of
eight feet in the last twenty-four hours, the
gauge there recording ffty-eiEht feet of water
at o'clock this morning and half an inch Of
rainfall last night. Within twenty-four hours
two and three-quarters inches OF rain has fallen
ct up.river points. Without further rainfall
the maximum rise at Nashville will probably be
reached on Wednesday morning; it should not
exceed forty five feet.
ST. PAUL. Mimi, April 5.-The Mississippi has
remained stationary at eighteen feet for several
hours. and Weather Bureau officers are hopeful
that it will not go much higher. The Lafayette
School is surrounded on all sides by water, and
was closed this morning. Engineer Rundlett
built boom in the river this morning to protect
an endangered pier Of the Wabash street bridge
City Engineer Copellen has closed the Tenth
avenue bridge at Minneapolis for fear that 1t
will be wrecked. The bridge cost 100000. 1t
At South st. Paul Staple & Kings ice
house collapsed this morning. E. Carriers ice
house is In twelve feet of water. and the ice it
contained has floated away.
Four hundred people in tho vicinity Of the
Washington avenue bridge. Minneapolis, have
been forced to leave their homes, At Winona
all saw mills except that Of the Winona Lumber
Company have had to shut down, and foot and
half more of winter will make it, too. close.
n .. u "a
men at work moving lath from low land to q
place of safety. Merchants on Second street
are moving goods out Of their cellars, and resi-
dents on the low lands on West Fourth street
are leaving their houses. The Diamond Jo dock
Is under water. The second levee wall IL
now covered, and a foot more rise will
badly wash the Levee Park. constructed
at great expense last year. The bridge
over the Wisconsin Slough, on the road
to the high wagon bridge. has gone out, cutting
of travel to Wisconsin. Both the passenger
bridges between Fargo and Moorhead are closed.
The water is two feet high Front street and
Northern Pacific avenue, and four blocks OF
paving are headed toward Winnipeg. Bottoms
are being put In TO prevent further damage.
Cheyenne River. west Of Fargo. has begun to
rise, and is flowing across the prairie and food
ing the entire west side OF the town. Many fam
lilies will be compelled to move unless the water
quickly. SGdrIy every DdScIncnt IN Fargo
is flooded, including the press rooms OF all the
newspapers.
OMAHA Neb. April 5.-Flood reports from the
interior Of the State not reassuring, and the
Missouri continues to rise. The st. Paul and
Omaha washout on the Bloomfield branch.
west Of Randolph. will not be repaired until To-
morrow. The washout has stopped all traffic
on the branch since Friday night. Water in the
Logan is very high between Wakefield and Pen
der, and 1t is expected to rise at Lyons tonight
The water has three feet TO rise before 1t can
reach the Omaha tracks.
ARcoLA. Miss, April 5.-In the heart Of the
overfowcd country which has received the
waters that rushed through the yawning Gre
vase at Wayside nine miles below Grcenville, |
Aroola stands to-day high and dry, little town
Of 500 resident inhabitants on n direct west
ward line with the crevasse, the haven toward |
which the people for miles around have been |
heading and will continue To head until tho |
rushing currents block their progress and make |
II himpossible TO move the teams. Tonight the |
place contains 5000 people, and from every di-
rection more are making their way 10 the little
Island of less than two hundred and forty acres |
Into which the town has been converted.
After o'clock this afternoon, when the Yazoo |
and Mississippi Valley train started for Vicks- |
burg, the place. with its $500 refugees was |
shut off from all communication with the out |
side world. Long lines OF box cars have been
left on the side tracks on both sides of the rail
way station. and in each OF them two or
three negro families have their homes. Barns, |
stores, houses. garrcts OF dwellings. and every
other place where man or child stretch out
nave been seized for shelter by the plantation
laborers. The 5000 persons here must soon
lace famine unless help comes or the flood re-
cedes.
HELENA, Ark, April 5.-W. NJ Neal, Vice
President of the State Board OF Trade. has re-
eeI'ed u message from the President of the |
s'ac Board of Trade asking him to join In tho |
request Of the Arkansas delegation in Congress |
70 beg Congress- for aid for the food sufferers. |
Inc following telegram has been sent TO Sena-
0rs j. X. Jones and j. ii. Berry:
All country south o! Helena Is one vast sea |
oi water Numbers of refugees increasing every |
noar' In this emergency help will be needed for |
Tue helpless. Helena wants nothing on her own /
account, as she is amply able TO take care OF her.
''' IN any emergency, but for others less fortu- |
nate join In asking for $50. for Arkansas" |