The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-03-16
HOMES UNDER WATER
Many Victims Of the Mississippi
Flood in Memphis.
PATHETIC TALES OF DEsTITUTIoU.

A Great Break in tho Leveo Near Nor
0ena, Ark, Which Has doubtless Re
suited in Loss Of Life-wholcsaIe De
struction of Live stock
Memphis, March 16.-The river has
broken all records, the gauge last night
registering 1914 feet. The rise contin-
ues at Cairo, New Orleans and all in
termediate points News of the first
serious break in leyees reached this
city yesterday. It occurred Saturday
near Nordena, Ark, 90 miles above
Memphis. The river is raging through
the crevasse at a terrific rate, having
the tremendous fall of IS feet to give
it force and send it to deal death and
destruction i'm the lowlands of Missls-
sippi county, Ark. There win be no
attempt TO stop the break. as the st.
Francis levee board has no boats OF
worltmen on the scene, and the people
are busy saving their lives and live
stock.
The break is the more terrible be-
cause loss of life viii surely occur from
IT, Indeed, the most sanguine of those
who know the conditions there do not
dare TO hope that all the people In the
lowlands escaped from the flood when
it came upon them Saturday night.
The levee which gave way is i'm front of
Mississippi county, and it is thought
the water win almost, if not entirely,
cover that county
The steamer city Of Osceola passed
down a short time after the break oc-
CURED and rescued number of un-
fortunate people For miles and miles
to the west of Memphis not home is
habitable. on the overlooked land,
where the current is not strong it is
not difficult for the people to escape
with most Of their household truck on
skiffs, dugouts or rafts, and the surface
Of the water in every direction is dot
ted with these little craft
At Marion, Ark, the available
steamers fit for such duty have been
employed rescuing the flood victims,
and some of the sights that have been
met are truly pathetic. Down on the
levee are stored great stacks Of goods
of all kinds the household property of
fugitive negroes or poor whites, and
there are great numbers Of live stock,
horses and cattle that have been saved,
while still greater numbers have been
lost before relief could come.
When the first relief boat, the c. B.
Bryan, got to Marion there was a great
rush on the part of the people, white
and black to get aboard with their
property. Negroes had been standing
in the water with their stock for hours,
waiting for this moment. In Marion
there is not standing room for a dozen
people that is not now under water
except on the railroad. Up and down
the river very few signs of life are
manifested on any of the plantations
and as there has been no means of
saving the stock it is certain that
nearly all has perished
Nearly all the refugees that are
brought to this city are totally with
out means Many of them slept on the
levee last night, while others found
temporary accommodations at the
homes of friends in the city. A hun
dred citizens of Memphis got together
and devised means to send relief boats
TO the overflowed district, and to fur.
nish support to the food victims wher
they are brought to this city from tn;
surrounding country
It is reported this morning that five
persons living ON -Four Mile bayou
near Marion, Ark, were drowned IN
the flood yesterday At West Mem
phis yesterday afternoon Jake Carter
colored, and child were swept away by
the torrent, and both perished.