Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-04-04

Memphis, Tenn, April 3.-The heavy
floods in the Mississippi, north of Cairo.
and the rise in the Tennessee and Cum
berland rivers will throw another
world of water into the already filled
st. Francis basin, and as all this will
have to pass through the narrow levee-
bound channel, beginning ten miles
above Helena. to the first break ten
miles below that city, the fate of Helena
and the low and fertile country behind
the Tunic county, Mississippi, levee, is
problematical. The people of Helena
have increased the height of their
levees two feet, but the water is now
even with the new crown. The leyees op-
posite Helena we're reported last night
to be in a precariOus condition and
the heavy rains of to-day have added
TO their weakness.
In the Mississippi delta water is fast
spreading over the entire country ana
the main line Of the Yazoo and Mis-
sissippi Valley railroad is reported to
be in bad way. Many thousand peo-
pie have been made homeless, ana
appeals for aid have gone forth. In
the lowlands of Arkansas, a call Tor
food has been made and the people OF
Little Rock will Ike immediate action.
Starvation confronts $1,000 people
Tonight, r. C. Graves and j. S. Men
kin, of the Memphis relief committee.
20 TO Washington to ask the general
government to lend assistance. The
local relief committee has demands that
will exhaust all present funds. they
are from Mississippi as far down as
Greenville, and from nearly all OF East
ern Arkansas. The visitors to Wash
ington will ask for $4,000 to be used in
buying rations. Ten thousand dollars
have already been expended by the local
committee and probably $4,000 more
of contributed provisions have been
distributed. 1t now looks as II famine
is ahead. No more breaks in the levees
are reported tonight, but 1t is feared
no human power can overcome the
force of nature below Vicksburg, and 1t
is believed by many to be only ques-
ton of few days before the same con-
ditions that now obtain IN the Della
will exist in EASTERN Arkansas and
Northeastern louisiana.
Little Rock, Ark, April 9.-This has
been a day incessant with repeated
storms of violence, lowering clouds and
increasing appeals for help from the
suffering people Of the overhowed por-
tion of the State. From all sides come
the advices Of swollen streams, wreck
ed bridges, washouts, landslldes ana
DELAYED and abandoned trains.
An appeal for succer from upwards OF
500 sufferers in the Indian Bay country
where 5000 acres are already under
water and where the back-water Is stilI
rising. was granted, and a boat with
weeks rations for 500 was sent to their re-
lief The steamer Eugene has gone 10
Arkansas Post with provisions for refu-
gees who have congregated there, and also
=. supplv Of feed for their stock. The APP
neal TO the Governor for aid from Lulu
ST Francis county. was referred by the
local relief committee to the Memphis
committee. the place being accessible to
that CITY. and boat has gone to their aid.
In view OF the rapidly increasing number
Of sufferers and the increasing area oil
overhowed country, a telegram was to-day
sent to the Arkansas delegation in Con-
gress, saying:
"Nfust have at least fifty thousand dol
lars Of government appropriation for re-
lief of Arkansas flood sufferers. Prompt
action IS necessary. Delay means great
distress loss OF life and property.
lcigrad "W W DICKINSON,
president Little Rock Board Of Trade
ST. LOUIS. April "a special warning
is issued by the local weather bureau OF
fcials to-day. saying: The river at 81
Louis will continue 70 rise; more ram Is
indicated In the Mississippi and Missouri
watersheds this afternoon and to-nls'-,
and il now looks as II the danger line OF
20 feet will be reached at 81 LOUIS W'tnIh
two days. The Missouri and Cppe- MIS-
sissippi will continue to rise. warnings
have been sent to all points on the Mlssi3-
sippi from Keokuk to St Louis to prepare
for further rise of about two feet.
NEW ORLEANS. April 3.-The river mas
been stationary for two days, and Whlle
occasional winds and rains have created
uneasiness. the section is in enjoyment OF
the breathing spell promised by the en-
gineers. The time is being put 10 good use,
Boatloads and trainloads OF SACKS ana
lumber are being sent out in every hirec-
tion boats and depots Of supplies are be-
ing placed at regular intervals, and even
snots not exactly dangerous are being
treated with the engineers prescription oil
more dirt. The railroads are keeping en-
rines and trains ready for emergencies
and are running patrol trains all the
time. increasing facilities for early discoV-
cry and prompt repair Of any breaks.
Last night a ten-foot hole was found In
4 levee near the Union plantation. above
the city. and was promptly stopped. This
is the only accident so far between New
orleans and Baton Rouge. On the oppo-
site side Of the river the banks are oelng
held with equal success. The engineers
still consider the Tensas and Firth district
levees in need Of most care, and this fact
ie working good. for great quantities OF
material and armies Of men are being
used there. so that they will be better
nrepared to meet the greater strain Whlch
is hound TO come With a rising river
ahove with the ST. Frances and other
rivers soon to pour volumes into the Mis-
sjssippi. and with the crevasses exhaust
tnq their relief effect. beside returning
most OF the water 10 the main stream. 1t
can be seen what week is before the
levee system
The break at Leblanc. on Bayou la
t7orcbe was considerable OF a surprise.
The levees on either side Of the stream are
especially strong, but the side on which
the crevasse occurred was believed TO be
much the stronger. The banks on the
AtchafaIaya side are foot and more be
low those on the other side. and breaks
there were considered a certainty. II was