Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-04-08

sst< Was likely to9Tffse until
the S0:foot gauge would be reached. This
point was expected to be attained by Sun
day night At O'Clock this afternoon the
river marked 2S.7 feet.
Heavy rain began falling shortly before
noon, and continued for several hours, ac-
companied by high wind. Several rain
and thunder storms prevailed throughout
Missouri and Southern Iowa, and these
will swell the streams, which are now run
ming bank full.
kilograms to the Scrip s-McRae Press
Association, from various points in the
West and Southwest, are TO the effect that
the situation is hourly growing worse,
At Helena, Ark, rain has fallen heavily
for nearly four hours, and at noon there
was no indication of cessation.
A slight break occurred in the levee this
morning, but was quickly repaired
At Little Rock, Ark, rain began falling
at $50 O'Clock this morning, and at noon
was still coming down in torrents. Rail
road traffic from the North is badly de-
layed.
At New Orleans rain fell heavily in that
city and north.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April At was murky
and dark this morning, and 4 fine rain was
falling and a stiff breeze blowing from the
West against the levee. The greatest APP
prehenson is now felt for the people behind
the levee at Austin, Miss, 4 few miles be-
low this city The force Of men ON the
levee at Austin, Miss, and McCloud has
been increased, and thousands of dollars
have been spent for sacks, into which to
place dirt and gravel. The bags and their
contents are placed on the top Of the lcvee
few miles below McCioud. The water
has forty miles Of country to flow over land
between the two the levees are only two
miles distant from each other. The strain
on these leyees, one Of which is in Arkan-
sas and one in Mississippi, is tremen-
duous If there is break in the Arkan-
sas side the Mississippi levee will be re-
lieved of its strain, and the same would be
true of the Arkansas levees should the
Mississippi levees give way.
Guards armed to teeth, patrol the levees
night and day and shoot down any per
sors who attempt to land on the bikes.
Last night two men were killed at different
points on the Mississippi leyees. Each
man had q can Of dynamite. An accom-
plice of the men leaped from the boat when
the levee guard arrived and started to
swim to the Arkansas shore. He was
drowned, for no man could swim in the
Mississippi river currents at the point
where the shooting occurred.
ST. LOUIS, April Sat New Orleans,
rain fell heavily, and north of there last
night and this morning, swelling the levees.
In the course of an hour this morning five
reports came that the city was threatened
with breaks along the Gretna, Algiers and
upper leyees. Two steamers were loaded
with material to repair the threatened
breaks. Despite the heavy rain, a large
crowd assembled along the levee watching
the onslaught of water. Every business
house is preparing for the worst. An army
of about two thousand men are at work
strengthening the levees in front of and
above the city.
JACKSON, Miss, April >8-Thc citizens
of that portion Of the delta already over
flowed get more comfort from the warnings
Of the weather bureau sent out today than
do those below Vicksburg, where no breaks
III the levees have vet occurred, inasmuch
as Chief Moore informs them the worst is
yet to come. This city is in constant COM
munication with the delta country because
of social and business relations, and be-
cause of the greatest interests involved.
The State has eleven big convict farms in
that section, all Of which are now more or
less under water.
A private letter from a merchant at
Rolling Fork ,Sharky County ,whichis forty
miles south of Greenville and fifteen miles
from the Mississippi river, but directly on
Deer Greek, says;
cit is water, water everywhere and more
coming. l have been forced to move my
entire stock up stairs, and am all right pro-
vided the building does not float away"
The ladies, what few remain, and negro
women and other shoppers, are travelling
in skiffs, dugouts and all sorts of crafts.
The situation is critical and overflow is a
serious matter for this country, but if the
water goes off by May, we can make good
crop, if not until June, we can make half
crop, which is better than whole crop in
the hills.
Governor Mcl.aurin received the follow
ing telegram this morning;
Executive Mansion,
"Washington, April 8, 1897.
"Governor of Mississippi, jackson:
"Please report Immediately number of
people suffering for food and shelter in the
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