The herald., 1897-04-04
A WORLD
OF WATER
Sweeping Down on Towns
Now Flooded
WHOLE STATES THREATENED
FIFTY THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE
STARVING
No Human Power Can Long Stay
the Waters Progress-Gov-
ernment Aid Asked
WHOLE STATES THREATENED
FIFTY THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE
STARVING
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, April 3.-The heavy
flood 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 filed St.
Francis basin and as all this will have
to pass through the narrow levee-bound
channel beginning ten miles above Hell
ena to the first break. ten miles below
that city, the fate of Helena and the low
and fertile country behind Tunica coun-
ty, Miss, levee Is problematical. The
people of Helena have raised the height
of their levees two feet. but the water
is now even with the new crown. The
levees opposite Helena were reported
last night to be in precarious condi-
ton and the heavy rains of today have
added to their weakness.
In the Mississippi delta water Is fast
spreading over the entire country. Many
thousand people have been made home
less and appeals for aid have gone forth.
In the lowlands of Arkansas, call for
food has been made and the people of
Little Rock will take immediate action.
Starvation confronts $4,000 people. To-
night r. c. Graves and J. S. Menkin. Of
the Memphis relief committee, go to
Washington to ask the general govern"
ment to tender assistance. The local
relief committee has demands that will
exhaust all present funds They are
from Mississippi as far down as Green
Vile, and from nearly all eastern Ar
kansas The visitors to washington
will ask for $4,000 to be used in buying
rations Ten thousand dollars has al
ready been expended by the local COM
mittee and probably $4,000 more Of con-
tributed provisions have been distribut-
ed. It now looks as ii famine is ahead.
No more breaks in the levees are re-
ported tonight. but it Is feared no hu-
man power can overcome the force Of
nature below vicksburg, and 1t is be-
lieved by many to be only question Of
a few days before the same conditions
that now obtain in the delta will exist
in Southeastern Arkansas and North
western Louisiana.
At Memphis the water Is reported as
stationary tonight. The hopef ul view
of the fiood situation which prevailed
some days ago has been repeatedly dis
sipated by reports from the Upper Mis-
sissippi and it's tributaries. which are
rising at rapid rate, with every indi-
cation that immense volumes of water
may be expected to pour into the Upper
Mississippi through IT'S tributaries and
eventually increase the already APPALLING
conditions existing In the middle and
lower Mississippi valley.
. AT ST. LOUIS.
ST. LOUIS, Mo, April 3.-The Missis-
sippi river rose. five inches here today
and tonight the water is nineteen inches
below the danger point. There is every
indication that the flood win be above
the danger line within few hours To-
night the flood has risen to nearly the
level of Chestnut street. which is one of
the highest streets in the levee district.
In the district occupied by "squatters"
the water Is already in the streets. but
the fact attracts little attention. Busi-
ness men along he ievee are very uneasy
and are continuing with increasing vigor
their efforts to protect their property.
During the afternoon the water crept
up to within few feet Of the Missouri
Pacific tracks north of Lucas avenue
and south OF Rutger street. The Iron
Mountain depot and freight yards at
Plum street and. levee are threatened.
The encroAchments of the food upon
East St. Louis within the past twenty
four hours have not been as great as was
anticipated.
The Missouri river at Leavenworth
has risen two feet and two inches within
the past twenty-four hours.
SUFFERING INCREASES.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. April s.-This
has been a. dAyiof incessant rains within
repeated storms of violence. lowering
clouds and increasing appeals for help
from the suffering people of the over
flowed portions of the state. An appeal
for succor from upwards of 400 sufferers
in the Indian Bay country, where 25. 900
acres are already under water, and where
the back water Is still rising. was grant,
ed today by the relief committee Of the
board Of trade, and boat with weeks
rations for 500 was sent to their redief.
The steamer Eugene has gone to Ar
kansas porte with provisions for the
refugees who have congregated there
and also a supply Of feed for their stock.
The appeal to the governor for aid from
Lulu, st. Francisco, was referred by the
local relief committee to the Memphis
committee, the place being inaccessible
to that city and q boat has gone to their
relief. ~.
In view of the rapidly increasing num-
Der of sufferers and the increasing area
OF overfowed country, telegram was
today sent to the Arkansas delegation In
congress, urging an appropriation Of at
least $4,000 for the relief OF flood slf-
ferers in Arkansas. Governor Jones to-
day received q telegram from the war de-
partment BY Secretary Alger requesting
an immediate report as to the number
Of psrgona sunering erom the want OF