The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-20
GREAT FLOOD
DAMAGE.
Situation Along the Lower
Mississippi Awful.
Biggs CreVasse Widening With
Disastrous Rapidity.
MORE LEVEES BREAK.
Thousands of Acres of Newly
Planted Crops Destroyed.
River Points Crowded With
Stricken Refugees.

Memphis, April 20.-Another break in
the leVee on the Louisiana side is re-
ported near Natchez.
The situation at Biggs, where the
water is rushing through the crevasse
in torrents, is growing worse. Madison
parish is fast becoming inundated and
the water will extend to other parishes
destroying thousands of acres of new
ly planted crops. Vicksburg, Natchez,
and other river points are crowded with
refugees, and everything possible is be-
ing done to alleviate the suffering of
the poorer classes.
Calls for aid have been sent out from
several sections of the overlooked Mis-
sissippi Delta and while the waters
are slowly receding, the suffering and
destruction increases. The situation
throughout the Delta today is about the
same as on yesterday. 1t was a beau
tifuI day in the flooded district and the
planters hope that the waters will be
carried away in time to make good
crop.
Natchez, April 2O.-The first break on
the Concordia parish front occurred
yesterday when the Glasscock leVee
gave way. This leVee is located ABOUT
% miles below Natchez and is near the
lower end of the levee system of the
parish. A large force of men were at
work on the levee raising and strength
ening it, when suddenly the 1aborerS
saw the muddy water begin to bubble
up at the lower end. Almost instantly
the seething water tore great hole
through the embankment. The water
rushed through at a great rate ana pc
gan spreading out in the lowlands ad-
jacent.
The water from this break will in
undate the lower part OF the parish
from MOrVille down to BrabStrOn cover
ing a number of fine plantations. Inc
flood from this creVaSse will be met by
the waters from the north. 1t will en-
tail q vast amount of suffering of the
people of the neighborhOOd and relief
will have to be extended to them. This
leVee was II feet in height and when
the creVaSSe occurred the water on the
front was between 10 and IL feet high
against it and four feet on the back,
while the fall of the water running
through it is 6 to Z feet. Captain Der
by the United States engineer in charge
of this district and Assistant Engineer
Hardie, went down to the preak TO-DAY
carrying so men with them, for the
purpose of trying to tie the ends OF the
break The creVasse is reported to be
from 800 to 900 feet wide and still cav
ing.
Vicksburg, April 20.-The situation in
Madison parish, Louisiana, IS growing
hourly worse. The flood of water gong
through the Biggs break in the levee is
fast covering the lOWlands and IS mood
ing Ray Vidal and the greater part OF
the land in the southern part or the
Darish The water has reached IalIu-
Ian, some IS miles west OF the DeIta'
At Omega the floods are coming fast,
and the Milliken's Bend and Duckport
levees are both caving.
Richland La, reports the water go
ing all over everything, overHoWlng the
Kings and Kels places, also the villages
of Trinidad and Ashwood, eight mics
below Richland.
It is estimated that not fewer than
5000 persons will want relief IN TINS
county for the next 80 days at least.