New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-10
IN THE FLOODED REGION.
A CRY OF DISTRESS FROM INUNDATED
MISSISSIPPI.

FORTY THOUSAND DESTITUTE PEOPLE IN ONE
COUNTY ALoxE-rrIE MIGHTY FLOOD PRESS
ING AGAINST THE LOUISIANA LEvEEs
Jackson Miss. April 0.-The Associated Press
reporter at Greenville, the centre OF the ilooded
district telegraphs at p. m as follows
THE first cry of distress from the flood SUI
ferers Of the Mississippi Valley was sent ou'
yesterday evening by the citizens OF ureeh'''e'
when they appealed to the Government io' sup
plies to feed 10000 people In this county a'one
The message means that the Delta peoPie !"
Washington County at least have throw" up
the sponge and have but little hope, II any, OF
making crops this year. This message was au-
dressed to Congressman Catchings ana Wv
ernor McLaurin. and asked for S125,OOO for I'M
mediate use of those who will soon be desttu'e
for thirty days.
Reports from the Sunhower and Tallahatchie
river bottoms bring tidings OF the spreading VI
the waters every moment. Al Cih'Nauae
Coahoma County, the water had riseh ''i'V
feet last night, and was still rising al the ia'e
Of six inches an hour. windstorm "n'c"
prevailed all last night caused fresh aIaii WI
the river frcnt and levee guards were s'a'ioheu
all along the line Of levecs here. the riVei
still stationary at a mark higher thah ever u
fore, and there Is no prospect OF reiiei' "'
Western Union and Southern telephone wires
from here are down, and there is no comnunica-
tion over these routes. skiffs and yawls and
RATS are making trips daily into the interior
with food and general plantation supplies
Greenwood, Miss, April 0.-TEe faZoo river
fef2h inches a, this place during the last twelve
hours Reports from Taahatche ana Cold
water rivers show gradual fall and little fear is
ITALIA I, oto1io La
counties will suffer materially from the flood
Two-thirds Of the water from Flower Lake
break is going through Coahoma County into the
SunHower River. and that section OF the country
is completely inundated, and great loss OF prop
erty will inevitably result from the greatest 1000
that ever passed through that section Inc
Southern Railway track is nearly all submerged
through both Sunfower and Washington coun-
ties. Train service Is suspended from Ittabena
to Greenville and all communication by teie-
graph with that place is cut off.
VicksburC. Miss April 9.-It was wild night
in Vicksburg last night. a fierce northerly gale
was blowing and the lake Is now nearly three
miles wide ard Is white with foam. The waves
have a long sweep at the Louisiana levee AMI
nav do them great harm.
A private levee at Sargent's Point broke yes
terday evening. overlooking about 1000 acres
or land on the Kellogg plantation. which had
already been planted. This was on land outside
Of the main line of the levees.
New Orleans, April 9.-The river at New-Or-
leans is well over the lS-foot mark. The highest
previous record was 1T.9 in 1899. 1t Is now 49,
The engineers expected 1886 but that was upon
the arrival Of the food wave. which Is still en-
route. Last night City Engineer Bell predicted
that the river would go foot higher. and the
Levee Board has secured consent TO blockade
many streets leading TO the levee. Low places will
be raised at once and work on the line begun
with renewed energy, for time Is short.
The worst feature OF the situation Is the daily
storm. Last evenings blow was the worst so
far doing considerable damage and tearing
steamship and a steamboat away from their
noorings. All the levee boards base their hope
OF holding the line upon fair weather, but April
IL always a stormy month here. and this month
is far from proving an exception Inc urencn-
ing and battering the banks are receiving are
beginning to tell, and the danger calls are be-
coming frequent. relief trains now going out py
night as we'll as day.
With the greatest food and the stormiest
month coming together. the Louisiana levees
have borne the brunt magnificently, and even II
thcy fail to stand indefinitely. the advocates or
the system will feel encouraged to urge upon
Congress its extension and perfection.
Washington. April 0--Heavy rains have fallen
during the last twenty-four hours in the basins
Of the Ohio. Cumberland, Tennessee and Lover
Nississippi and light rains in the basins OF the
Missouri Arkansas and Red. The Ohio Red,
Cumberland and Upper Arkansas rivers nave
risen The Mississippi has risen from ST PAU
to Davenport at St. Louis, and from Arkansas
City TO the mouth.