The record-union., 1897-03-28
In Spite Of the Overflow Above and
Below the City.
Fears That the Levees Above Will
Soon Give Way To-Day, Unless
the Rise Ceases, Meaning the
Flooding of Thousands of Acres of
Valuable Farm LandS-The Situa-
tion at Vicksburg, Mississippi,
Very Serious.

QUINCY Qll), March PA flood
crisis prevails here tonight. At 6
o'clock the Mississippi passed the IA
feet 8 inch mark, and is still rising at
the rate of one-third of an inch per
hour, in spite of the fact that the river
is from three to eight miles wide above
and below here. Ferryboats moved a
number of families and droves of stock
from Horizons Island which is now al
most covered with water. Residents on
the opposite side of Quincy Bay were
forced to abandon their homes.
Farmers have been fighting the ris-
ing water night and day on the levees
north of town. 1t is feared that all the
levees will go by the board tomorrow,
unless the rise ceases. The first break
in the leyees will mean the flooding of
thousands of acres of valuable farm
lands.
SERIOUS SITUATION AT VICKS-
BURG.
VICKSBURG (Miss), March 21.-The
rise in the river now seems to threat
en- the most serious damage to the lev
eeS, being without a precedent. Latest
reports tonight from as far north as
Greenville, Miss, and from both sides
of the river, are that the levees are be-
ing held at all points.
A special from Lake Providence, La,
complains of the lack of tools and ma
terial, of which large quantities, how
ever, are now en- route from this city.
1t is hoped they will arrive in time The
situation is daily more grave, and a
crisis seems near at hand. The peo-
Mo n Iaa
devoted courage and endurance. The
river here rose six-tenths in the last
twenty-four hours. The gauge at 6 p.
N. reads 4S.1 feet.
FLOODS IN ARKANSAS.
HELENA (Ark), March 27.-The
water is rushing through the large cre-
vase mile and a half north of Mo-
doc with tremendous force, tearing up
trees and hurting them as if but small
sticks. Considerable difficulty is be-
ing experienced in getting labOrers, but
this morning Sheriff Burke and several
deputies took every man in sight and
forced them into service. Dinner was
served on the levee to-day, that no time
might be lost. The river here has ris-
en- two inches to-day and tonight
stands at 80 feet, five feet above the
danger lire.
FALLING AT MEMPHIS
MEMPHIS CTenn), March 27.-The
gauge at Memphis tonight registers
1854 feet a fall of two-tenths Of foot
The condition is all the more favorable
because the river is falling above. The
serious phase of the situation has been
transferred to Greenville, Helena and
points south, as the river is slowly ris-
ing at these places and great alarm is
manifested.
DANGER GREAT.
GREENVILLE (Miss.), March 27.-
The citizens of Greenville and sur
rounding country abandoned their
usual vocations to-day and worked up
on the levees, headed by Governor Nc
Laurin, Railroad Commissioner J. J.
Evans and prominent railroad officials.
In response to a call from the Govern
or, special trains We're run over the
Southern Railway and the Yazoo and
Mississippi Valley Railroad carrying
about 600 men. These forces were di-
vided into squads and put to work un-
der competent engineers The levees
are intact all along the line on both
sides of the river in this vicinity, but
as the river is still rising, the danger
is great.
RIVER BOOMING AT ST. LOUIS.
ST. LOUIS, March 21.-The river at
this city is beginning TO boom. If the
rise continues as now seems certain the
water will soon be above the danger
line and great damage will result to
property on the Illinois side of the river.
The rise has been nearly two feet in
the past twenty-four hours. From the
sudden rise it is believed that ice
gOrges on streams tributary to the
Mississippi have broken and that the
spring freshet is now on it's way down
the river.
FLOOD IN GEORGIA.
OUITMAN (Ga), March 21.-The
country around here is at present food
ed with water. The creeks and rivers
are out Of their banks. and they are in
many places impossible.