The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1897-04-30
THE FLOOD SITUATION.
Alarm at New OrIeans-Reports From St
Louis Of Lives Loss and nany People
Emperiiled,

EmperIiIed.
New ORLEANS, April 27.-A feeling
of alarm is general. The water has
been rising to an overwhelming height
at Vicksburg, and all of this, as well as
much of the crevasse volume, must
come down to the Gulf. With the
river here at nineteen feet above low
water mark, this means twenty feet.
It it comes quickly the weakened banks
will hardly be able to hold it. After
working day and night for month,
raising and broadening the banks, the
levee boards have been advised to do
tl4p aU4n .,s. .>9.siA, -s-.e- o...--- ~
if they were aiming to meet two feet
more Of water. Tie city, which en-
easily hold its front, but would be en-
dangered by g crevasse in the Ponchar-
train system, has begun to build the
protection levee above the city to al
most double its size.
ST. LOUIS, April 27.-The flood situa-
ton tonight is one Of the most gravest
danger. At several points the swollen
streams have overtopped their banks
and burst through the levees, Already
several lives have been lost, and many
people are imperilled by the rapidly
rising waters. Thousands Of acres Of
farm lands, on both the Illinois and
Missouri sides Of the Mississippi river,
have been inundated or will be soon.
Stock has been drowned and crops
destroyed. According to the Weather
Bureau both rivers will continue to
rise.
While Joseph johnson, William Dal-
ton, Miss Frazier, Mrs. Ida Bagg and
two small children were attempting to
ford a swollen stream in a wagon at
jackson, No, the vehicle was overturn
ed and the women and children We're
drowned.
The Hunt levee, which protected the
Hunt drainage district Oh the Illinois
side below Warsaw, broke to-day, send
Jug the Mississippi over one of the most
fertile regions in the Mississippi valley.
The widest excitement prevailed.
Fully 30, 900 acres of land and hundreds
of homes will be under water in few
hours The lowest part of the district
is Just below the bluffs, seven miles
back of the levee and the water is max
ING straight for the hills, By to-mor-
row a territory thirteen miles long by
seven miles wide will be covered by
water.
COuriers were sent on horseback to
the houses back in the district and a
scene Of disorder and fright every
where prevailed. Some were unable to
save anything and barely escaped with
their lives. 1t is feared that some
have beer caught a0d surrounded by
the flood
The levee was covered to-day with a
crowd of farmers and their wives, hur-
rying their children and their live
stock to places of safety. Many are
now ca.nped out on the hills with alb,
solutely nothing left. Poverty and un-
told suffering must inevitably follow
this disaster,
Levee Commissioner Shatfer at once
telegraphed to Major NJ. Meigs, Of the
Government fleet at Keokuk, Iowa, for
aid. The latter ordered the steamer
Mae to the spot with barges OF sand
bags and he followed shortly after with
the Vixen.
The break may be repaired but in tie
meantime the whole district is being
flooded. Efforts are being made to keep
the ends of the levee from being fur
ther broken, This is almostimposslble,
for the water is rushing through the
break at terrific rate and it is unsafe
for the steamers - approach it.
Virginia Lvrching.