Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-03-25
STILL THEY II RISE
DANGERS OF THE SWOLLEN WA
TIERS INCREASED by RAINS,
Arkansas and Tennessee Waited Nv
Heavy Rainfalls-Two Negroe.
Lose Their Lives-Levecs Give
Aw.v Under the severe Pressure.
waters-The Suffering I.

Memphis, Tenn, March 21.-Two no.
proes lost their lives as result of the
great floods which engulfs hundreds of
acres of land in the Arkansas bottoms.
The two men were drowned in Fifteen
Mile bayou, near Marion, Ark. There
is no cessation in the rise of the river
and the gauge registers 37.2, a rise of
1 since morning. Heavy rains contin-
ued last night throughout the entire
region of the Ohio valley and in the
territory the drainage of which swclls
the upper Mississippi. At Marked
Tree, Ark, on the st. Francis river,
there has been deplorable rise of one
foot in the last twenty-four hours; de-
plorahle not only on account. of the
probable damage and disaster in that
Immediate section of country, but le-
cause this river swells the great vol
ume Of water in the Mississippi, where
conditions are already so distressing.
Throughout Arkansas and Tennessee
heavy rain fails were the rule during
the past twsnsy-four hours. The relief
fund for the food sufferers has been
materially increased by gifts from illdi-
viduals and from firms outside of
Memphis. This assistance is greatly
needed in caring for the new arrivals
| which the rescue steamers bring in at
every trip. A telegram from Modoc,
where the levee was reported to have
broken, calls for material for strength
ening the levee at that point. The
levee is intact as yet, though break is
feared.
The work of rescue goes on with I'M
abated zeal. The rescue boats make
as many trips as possible during the
day, returning from each trip laden
with refugees and such household
goods and cattle as they have been
able to save. The gloomiest feature of
the distressing conditions is the fact
that there is little or no hope of the
abatement Of the high water within
the near future because Of floods re-
ported in the upper valleys. The most
alarming reports concerning the con
dition of the levees above and below
Memphis have been in circulation in
Memphis, but they have particular
reference to the levees below this point
and even below Helena. Up to this
time the people have exerted their Ut
most strength to solidify and preserve
the levees, believing that by careful
watching and by applying remedial
measures wherever there was a pros
pect of a break disaster could be avert
cd. But reports from down the river
indicate that hope has been lost in
many places.
There is very reliable information to
the effect that at Modoc, Avenue,
Hughey's and other points below Hell
eDa the water has gone above the
levees, and the levees being in such
mushy condition from the rains it is
not thought possible to protect them
much longer from the ever-rising flood.
The people living behind the dykes in
the localities mentioned are already
flying for their lives. There is positive
information that the levees construct
ed under the direction. of the st.
Francis levee board near CarutherS-
vile, Mo-, has been cut, and the belief
is prevalent in that locality that the
work was done by persons living on the.
Tennessee side who hoped to make an
opening for the flood on the Arkansas
side to decrease the food and thus
save the property on the Tennessee
side. a report is current of the levee
having broken at Hill House, Miss,
flooding the fine farms in that locality.
A steamer with men and sand was
dispatched to the scene Of the reported
break. A special from charlottesville
says: The river rose here IA inches
during the last twenty-four hours.
The levees are being watched day and
night. The levee broke mile and 4
half below town and before sufficient
force could reach the break it was fifty
feet wide and six feet deep and spread
ing rapidly. This break will do little
or no damage as the water will empty
into Finley bayou and then into st.
Francis river. The break will bring
about most searching investigation
as it is believed it was cut, and certain
parties are suspected. Two govern
ment boats are rivetting the end of
the break. Another small break &C.
Cured in the south end of town in the
protection levee which will only over
flow the lower portion of the city.
The Mississippi river is now twenty
inches higher than ever before in flood
history end still rising at the rate of
four inches every twenty-four hours.
The crevasse which occurred yesterday
one mile and a half below here is now
400 feet wide and rapidly widening.
1t Is pouring in terrible volume Of
water into the lower part of this coun-
ty. Much stock has been lost. There
is now no doubt that the levee was
cut by some miscreant, for at the point
where the break occurred the levee
was III fine condition and two feet
above the water level.
Confirmed by the Senate.