The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-05

miles below this city, gave way at point
one thousand feet north of Long Lake
under direct charge OF Mr.. Pillow. the most
superb water fighter in all this country.
Mr.. Pillow had been given charge of this
ness and because il was pivotal. he has
held il against big odds only to see il
crumble away before his very eyes. Mr..
Pillow was an eyewitness and says the
force of the current swept the superficial
crown which he had built at great eX-
pense literally off the original levee. In an
incOnceiVably short time the crevasSe was
250 feet wide. At first IL was confined to
a depth of about three feet. which is the
height OF the superficial crown. but grad
ually ii wore away the main levee and is
now running through TO depth of eighteen
feet. the full depth OF the original leVee.
very stiff current sets in at this point
and Mr.. Pillow fears the Long Lake leVee
will be reached and washed away. in which
event several of the finest plantations in
the country, including his own magnificent
ruined. The Long Lake levee has a base
of about three hundred feet and IS forty
feet high. 1t corresponds in size and inn
portance with the YaZoo pass levee, which
is nearly opposite IL. If this levee should
go 1t would precipitate prodigious volume
of water on the rich places along Long
lake. AS II is the loss Is heavy. IL is safe
to say that over 60.0O0 bushels of corn are
lost and damaged by this break. in addi-
tion to the great loss OF cotton seed. hay.
etc. With the exception of two mules and
several head OF cattle, no loss of stock is
so far reported. The only loss of life
ported Is the six-year-old child OF Luke
pie. living on the Straub place, just below
WilIiamsons. This occurred a short time
after the break was reported.
RESCUED FROM PERIL.
"The relief steamer Titan. owned by the
government, went back TO the William
son store, just below the break, and
brought up ninety-two souls from that and
adjoining plantations. all of whom were
taken in charge by Chairman Butler, of
the relief committee They will be quar-
tered in the colored knights of Pythias
Hall tonight and tomorrow they swell
the population of Camp Black. They were
fed by the committee tonight, as they had
no time to save anything. One man, who
lived Immediately In front OF the break,
VIM. Beasley. got his wife and six children
to the levee by the hardest work, but the
only piece of property they brought from
their humble cabin was a solitary bedtick
filled with straw. The people brought up
this evening were those Immediately be-
hind the leYeeS. Others further Dack had
already gone to the hills. Tents had been
reserved for them i'm anticipation of a big
break at Hubbards or F1tzhugh's, but the
negroes had no idea that any levee
watched over by Pillow would ever give
way.
I'm the city the excitement is intense.
Everybody thought the water would back
Immediately into the town and there was
great activity in moving household goods,
and especially in 'jacking up pianos: Ihere
were many consultations as to whether the
water should be permitted 10 back INTO
the city or an effort be made to keep IL out.
In the southern end OF the city the Arkan-
Midland railroads dump forms spen-
did levee with only "a single opening In IL,
"a culvert twenty feet wide. left open to
carry off the surface drainage or the city,
and this has been closed. Helena will be
a dry town despite adverse circumstances
unless the drainage pumps should prove IN
adequate.
Prom the effects of the Williamson and
Flower lake breaks the river has fallen SIX
inches here since morning, greatly relleV-
ing our leXee. But we are not out or dan
ger yet. Another break has occurred. 1t
was at the Hubbard front, just below the
just as the pressure was being relieved by
reason OF the Williamson creVasse. IL Is d
break and occurred in a peculiar way.
Hinehie Rice in Sharge was zeal called upon on
the levee. where large volume OF water
was issuing. Men and sacks happened 10
be available and sack after sack went into
the hole until the flow was stancneu. SUD
away. a big geyser made Its appearance.
Levee, sacks, earth, etc, went INTO the ar
and the long beleaguered levee was rent
apart. The creVasse is now 200 feet wide
and widening with each hour. Mayor Pur-
Wis has called to tell me he is going Tonight
on the Titan with men to try 10 save the
Long lake levee, which will be eaten III
two by morning if eomething is not zone
to save The current through TIE William
son creVasse strikes the base OF the Long
lake leVee on the inside at an angle, ana
is gradually beating IL down. AS tne ievee wee
cost an immense sum desperate efforts VIII
be made 10 save IL. The HuDDard Dredk
is four miles south OF the Wllllamsoh ere
vase and five miles north or the WestoVer
creVasSe. Ii simply adds TO the volume OF
wafer which is devastating all the Old
Town island and Old Town ridge country.